Page 101 of Son of a Preacher Man
Chuckling, Bo tipped his chin toward the lawn. “They’re giving her a run for the money, huh?”
Leah ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. His son chased after her, while his wife chased after him.
“Slow down, Kade. You’re wearing Mommy out.”
Yeah, even though Kelly agreed to name their son after the boy he’d loved, everyone called him by the middle name she insisted upon. It was a K name, after all.
“Sure looks like it.”
“How did we get so lucky?”
Some would say the universe, or God himself, ordained it. Maybe that was true, but he didn’t think so. Sipping on his beer, Kodiak dropped his arm to circle Bo’s waist, and he smiled. This man. This selfless, beautiful soul. He’d saved his life more than once and he loved him. He always would.
“Luck had nothing to do with it, brother.” He squeezed him to his side. “But love is everything. Even at my lowest low, you showed me that. We earn the love we have, and we earn it by loving.”
“Yeah, I suppose we do.” Bo smiled at him. “I love you, man.”
“I love you too.” Kodiak smiled back. “I think I need to rescue my wife from our two-year-old.” He patted his thigh. “C’mon, Bernie.”
“And I’m coming with you.” Bo chuckled. “I need to steal my wife back from Red.”
Grabbing another beer on the way, they walked arm in arm toward the lake house lawn. And their wives. The bernadoodle faithfully followed along. Bo went left to his Avie, while Kodiak went right to his Snicks.
“Gotcha.” Scooping up his son, he hoisted him high in the air.
Kicking his little legs, Kade let out a belly laugh.
He lived for those.
“Thanks.” Kelly seemed out of breath.
Kodiak set his son down between them, each one taking his hand. “You all right?”
“Yeah, just a bit winded.” She elbowed him. “I’m not a runner, you know. He gets that from you.”
“I know.” He grinned.
Smiling at him, Kelly bit her lip. “I think we should have another baby.”
“We can barely keep up with this one, Snicks. I’m thirty-eight—”
“And I’m late.”
Ohh.
“You are?”
She nodded.
“How late?”
“A couple of weeks, give or take.”
We’re going to have a girl. And I hope she’s just like you.
Lifting his son, Kodiak spun around with him in his arms. Bernie barking his head off, he kissed his wife. “I love you.”
“You’re happy?”
