"Hey, babe," he said to Natalie, bringing their daughter to her.
As soon as McKenzie saw her mother, her arms stretched out and Natalie took her. "Hey, boo-boo kiss." She nuzzled their baby, gave her downy-soft hair kisses. "Look at how pretty Daddy dressed you." Then to Tony, she said, "You got her all dressed up just to come over here?"
"Nope." A smiled worked its way over his mouth. "I got her dressed up to go pick up these."
Tony reached into his back pocket, producing an itinerary and airline tickets.
"What's this?" Natalie asked, her face bright with wonder. She was so beautiful to him. Motherhood had changed her, softened her features and put a glow on her skin. Her complexion was flawless and dusted lightly with a blush across her cheekbones. The dark plum of her shirt brought out the green in her eyes.
"We're going to Tuscany. McKenzie, too." Leaning forward, his lips touched hers in a tender kiss. "Happy Mother's Day, Natalie."
"Tony!" Iris gushed.
"That's my son-in-law," Fred said proudly.
Sarah put her hands on her hips and just smiled, then laughed and said, "Well, Steve is really going to have a hard time topping this one."
Tears formed in Natalie's eyes and she blinked them back, her lips parting. "Well…oh, my. Tony. I don't know what to say."
"Say you love me." He grinned that grin that he knew shot straight to her heart.
With every emotion shining in her eyes, she said, "I love you."
And he felt every bit the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
