She sighed heavily and didn’t lift her head. “Mad,” she mumbled into thepillow.
I continued to rub soothing circles on her back. “Why’sthat?”
“Because you’re gonna have anotherbaby.”
“Do you not want a sibling?” Iasked.
She paused. “I dunno.” She half-heartedly kicked her legs up and down in theair.
“So you’re not sure how youfeel?”
Finally turning her head, she faced me with a sigh. “Iguess…”
“You know,” I said, stroking her hair back. “Flint and I won’t love you any less just because there’s a new baby on the way. We both love you somuch.”
Casey frowned. “But now Flint doesn’t need meanymore…”
I blinked at her in shock. “What do youmean?”
She looked away and stared at the floor. “‘Cuz now he has his own baby… he won’t care about me asmuch.”
My heart broke for my daughter. “Oh, Casey. That’s not true at all.” I reached over and pulled her into a hug. She sniffled into my shirt. The anger etched into her features had dissipated, replaced now by a childlikesadness.
“How do you know?” shemumbled.
I rocked her gently in my arms, the same way I did when she was a young baby. “Because I know Flint. Don’t you see the way he looks at you? He would do anything for you,Casey.”
She just laid her head in my lap and sniffled. I figured now was as good a time as any to ask Flint to comeinside.
“Flint?” Icalled.
His gentle footsteps fell across the floor before he slowly creaked the door open. I nodded at him to come closer. He sat on the edge of the bed next tome.
“Casey? Do you want to tell Flint how you feel?” I askedher.
She buried her face in my lap and mumbled something unintelligible. Flint frowned inconcern.
“Casey, what’s wrong? You can tell me. I’m here,” hesaid.
She turned to him, her face red and streaked with tears, but wouldn’t meet his gaze. “You won’t… like me anymore… because you have your own babynow.”
Flint’s jaw dropped. Instantly he reached over and picked up Casey, cradling her gently against hischest.
“Now, you know that’s not true,” he murmured in her ear. “You will always be my first child, Casey. Nothing will change how much I love you, not even a new baby. Do youunderstand?”
She sniffled. “Will you still watch movies withme?”
“Of course,” he soothed. “Tonight we can watch a movie, if you want. Whichever one youlike.”
“With chocolate milk?” sheasked.
He smiled. “With chocolatemilk.”
She inhaled and let out a shaky sigh. She hugged her arms tightly around Flint’s chest - or at least, as much of it she could with her short reach. “Will you still take me hunting like youpromised?”
“Of course I will,” Flint growled affectionately. “I never forgot. We’re going to go out, just you andme.”
Casey smiled now. Flint wiped away the tear streaks on hercheeks.
