Page 51 of Daigo

"Shelby-Anne-"

"Quiet. Just feel."

He opened his mouth to blast her for scaring him like that when he felt the shimmer against his hand. The shimmer became solid movements strong enough to lift his hand. His eyes flew to hers in wonder. "Is that-"

"Our babies are moving." Tears brightened her eyes as she pressed her hand over his. "From the feel of it, they're going to be very athletic. Oh, Daigo!"

"I know." He had to swallow the lump that had lodged itself in his throat. It was all real now. He was going to be a dad, and he made a vow that he would break from the mold his own father had made, the example he had set. He was going to love these children as fiercely as he could and offer them a life of love and protection. They were going to know every day that they were loved and cherished.

"They stopped." He kept his hand there, hoping they would start moving again.

"Probably tired." She linked her fingers with his. "It's a miracle."

"Yes, it is," he agreed huskily. "Shelby-Anne."

"Yes?"

"I want to apologize for the way I behaved when you first approached me with the idea of IVF. I handled it badly."

"And you've more than made up for it." She went up on her toes to brush her lips against his. "You've been quite terrific. Being there for me, holding my hair when I puke, putting up with my disgusting cravings and mood swings. Always supporting me." She blinked back the tears. "Oh, let's go downstairs to see the rest of the place before I blubber all over you."

"I don't mind when you blubber." He kissed her tenderly and felt the surge of love enfolding him. "You look cute when you blubber."

"Right." She snorted. "Show me the rest."

The library would make a perfect room for her office. The walls were lined with books, some of them first editions. He told her that Sally would be taking some and had offered to leave the rest if they wanted them. There were two powder rooms and an oyster-pink salon with delightful antique furnishings. The dining room was large enough to seat more than thirty people, but there was a smaller, more informal dining room next to the kitchen.

A den would serve as his office, and there was a multimedia room, much to her delight.

"Sally loved to view her movies in comfort and style," he told her as they stepped into the theater-like atmosphere.

"It's lovely," she murmured in a hushed tone. The screen was large and set above a dais, giving the theater effect. Chairs were grouped on either side of the room, and there was a lovely old grand piano in one corner.

"She played?"

"And very well too. We could get tutors."

"Hmm."

"So?" He turned her to face him. "What do you think?"

"I think I should call Maeve to set up a consult. I need to tell her what I want for the children's rooms and ours." She touched his face with her fingertips. "You're a damn good husband."

He grinned. "I try my best. Now-"

She squealed when he swung her into his arms.

"Why don't we go and christen that ugly bed?" he asked.

"We can't."

"Why not?"

"You said it's going to be shipped-" He cut off the rest as he closed his mouth over hers.

With a sigh, she capitulated and spent an hour in naked abandon sampling the really ugly bed, with the very firm mattress.

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