“No, but I’d like to see her, just the same.” She looked at him uncertainly, wistfully. “Do you think maybe down the road we could have her call me Mommy?”
“I expect she’ll be delighted to start before the next baby comes.”
“Next baby?”
“You didn’t want Caroline to be the only one having a baby, did you? Penny can be the big cousin, but wouldn’t you like another, one of your very own?”
“Penny will be my very own, the child of my heart. I love her, Josh. But yes, I wouldn’t mind a whole houseful of kids. And in my house they’ll get to run and yell and get dirty and have a dog and everything.”
“Slide down banisters and learn manners at an early age.”
“That, too,” she said, reaching out to touch the future. Her future was Josh.
Epilogue
“I want to see, I want to see,” Penny yelled, jumping up and down.
‘‘You’ll get to see, let Michelle open it first,” Josh said as he handed Michelle the fancy wrapped box.
‘‘What it is?” Michelle asked, reaching up to give her husband a quick kiss. She and Penny had been home just a few minutes when he walked in.
‘‘Just a little lagniappe. See if you like it.”
Michelle smiled and walked into the living room. The anticipation built as she delayed. Sitting on the sofa, she gave Josh a quick glance. A little gift. Her first from Josh, how could she not love it.
She slipped her finger beneath the edge of the wrapping paper.
In only a moment she withdrew the framed photograph. It was of the two of them on their wedding day. Tears of delight threatened as she traced the line of Josh’s jaw. They looked radiant, just like any couple marrying should look on their special day.
‘‘Wherever did you get this?”
‘‘Your friend Bethany took a whole slough of pictures, don’t you remember. She asked me if I wanted to have some large copies. I liked that one best.”
‘‘And you have the others?”
“All of them. I didn’t know if you’d want to see them. But they are her gift to us, and a surprise for you. Do you like it?”
“I love it!”
“If you like, I thought we could put it up somewhere,” he said diffidently.
“I love it. Almost as much as I love you,” she said softly as he sat beside her. Penny crowded on the other side.
“I want to see, Mommy. I want to see,” Penny said, pulling on Michelle’s arm.
Still not used to being called Mommy, Michelle felt a warmth in her heart. The same warmth she felt every time she met her husband’s eyes.
Michelle showed her daughter the picture, remembering that day. How things had changed. She was loved and loved. She was no longer on the outside looking in.
“Oh, Josh, Abby called earlier. She still has the folder on our father and said to tell you she’ll bring it in to the office tomorrow. I meant to tell you before, but I forgot.”
Two small palms bracketed Michelle’s cheeks as Penny stood beside her and turned her face. “Forhave, Mommy, don’t say got.”
Josh burst out laughing at Michelle’s stunned expression.
“Explain that one away,” Josh dared.
Instead, she gathered the little girl in her arms and turned to Josh, all the love in her shining from her eyes. “I’ll just count my blessings instead.”
At those words, he leaned over to kiss her and Michelle knew she didn’t need to find her father to complete her life. It was complete with Josh.
—The End—
Did you enjoy this story?
If so you may enjoy the next book in The Talmadge Sisters series,
Trusting Abby or you might like Because of You
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More books by Barbara McMahon
The Talmadge Sisters
Letters to Caroline
Michelle's Marriage Deal
Trusting Abby
The Harts of Texas Series
Rebel Heart
Tangled Hearts
Reckless Heart
Cowboy Heroes Series
Blue Bells on the Hill
Cowboy's Bride
One Stubborn Cowboy
Crazy About a Cowboy
Never Doubt a Cowboy
Cowboy Marshal
Summer Cowboy
Second Chance Cowboy
Movie Star Cowboy
Tropical Escape Series
Island Rendezvous
Come into the Sun
Island Paradise
Destination Romance Boxed Set
Rocky Point Series
The Family Next Door
Rocky Point Reunion
Rocky Point Promise
Rocky Point Hero
Elite Security Mystery Series
Trusting Jake
The Ultimate Billionaires
The Cynical Sheikh
Falling for the Sheikh
A Sheikh of Her Own
The Unforgettable Sheikh
Other Books
A Soldier's Christmas
I'll Take Forever
Jared’s Promise
The Paper Marriage
The Christmas Locket
The Banished Bride
Cowboy Charade
The Cowboy’s Special Christmas
Mail Order Bride
Because of You
