Page 91 of Old-Fashioned

I hit play on the video.

And then cursed myself when my Baby girl woke up from me laughing but was thankful that she settled back against my chest.

The only one who didn’t wake up was Birdie.

No, my woman was dead to the world.

And she deserved it.

More than deserved it.

I put my phone on silent, pocketed it.

I was going to make sure it stayed quiet in here so she could get some good rest.

Only… what I didn’t count on was my Baby girl, getting fussy, and my woman already had the Mama gene in her.

She woke up instantly, looked at me, then at our baby and sleepily said, “I bet she’s hungry.”

And when our Baby girl latched onto her nipple, I wanted to bite my knuckles to stop the groan that wanted to escape.

“Well, I never thought you could get any more gorgeous than you do right now,” I whispered as my eyes continued to take in the vision before me.

She shook her head and sighed, I could tell she was still tired, and I made a mental note that the moment we made it home, I would handle everything so she could take a hot bubble bath and relax.

Staring at my daughter, her head full of nothing but soft black hair, the only thing she got from me, everything else was all her Mama. And I was all here for it.

And yes, I wanted to slap myself upside my head forever thinking I could wish to hate my daughter’s face if Birdie was taken from me.

Three days later we were home, Rilee was in a little bouncer while I worked on some stuff for the bar, and Birdie had just gotten out of the bath and was curled up in our bed, dead to the world.

As I looked at my princess, I couldn’t help but shake my head.

When Birdie told me the name, she wanted to gift our daughter with, there was nothing I could say.

Because without Miss Maggie, I wouldn’t have my Birdie.

It wasn’t until we talked about it that I fell in love with our daughter’s somewhat unique name.

Therefore, after Miss Maggie, aka Margaret Viola Goldstein, Rilee Viola Black was born.

And if I had any other doubts about how good of a dog Ryker was, I didn’t have any after this.

Ryker lay curled up in front of Rilee.

And no matter where she was in the house, Ryker was there.

I dared anyone try to get near Rilee.

Because not only would they have to go through her mama, and me, but Ryker as well.

I hope they have a death wish because they will surely meet their maker.

Epilogue

Birdie

Over the past couple of months, I wouldn’t have guessed this, but any time Abel was home, all I had to do was feed Rilee, he did the rest.