"Daddy..daddy...look" she said pointing excitedly, "I think he likes me." Two strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her up to get a better look in the window. "You know what...I think you’re right, princess. Wanna take him home?"
Her eyes lit up as she bounced up and down excitedly in his arms. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you Daddy...oh, wait till mommy sees." He put her down on the ground and took her hand. "We better go in and get him then," he said giving her a kiss on her cheek. As they entered the door of the store her face lit up. "Daddy, what if he’s a her." He chuckled as he lead her through the people standing in line. "I guess you better think of a boy and a girl name then."
A few minutes later she sat in the back seat softly stroking the whining puppy. "Daddy, I think she’s scared. Should we sing to her?" He glanced up at her through the rear view mirror and smiled. "What would you like to sing, princess?" She looked out the window as she thought quietly to herself. "Let’s sing your song daddy...the God spent a little more time one." He smiled brightly at her as he started the first verse of the song.
As he drove through the traffic of the late evening his soft soothing voice filled the car. Moments later when he glanced back to see his baby girl again, he found her asleep with the puppy curled up in her arms. As he watched her for a few more seconds he said a quiet thanks to God for bringing so much joy into his life. The success of his career was nothing compared to the joy that being a father and a husband brought to him.
He pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine turning to watch her sleep another moment. He slowly opened the door and climbed out quietly so that he didn’t wake her. As he opened the door and unbuckled her seatbelt she stirred slightly before opening her eyes and going straight into his arms. She laid her head against his shoulder, cradling the puppy in her arms carefully as he carried her into the house.
He carried her up the stairs and into her room to lay her down gently on the bed. She opened her eyes and smiled at him as he kissed her forehead gently and tucked her in under the covers. "I love you, princess" he whispered as she drifted back off to sleep. He heard a noise in the doorway and turned.
A smile spread across his face as he looked at her. She was truly the one love of his life. Never had anyone been so much a part of him as she was. He walked to her and opened up his arms. She instinctively went to them, hugging him tightly. "Mmm...I missed you baby." He pulled back to look into her sparkling blue eyes before softly whispering, "I missed you too."
She glanced over at the bed where their baby lay sleeping and smiled. "She sleeps the same way you do." He turned around and looked at her before looking back to his wife. "What can I say? It’s a Chasez thing, I guess." She smiled and squeezed his hand as they walked over to her bed. She leaned down and kissed her on her forehead, "Night princess...mommy loves you."
As the couple turned to exit the room a soft little tired voice broke the silence. "Mommy." "Yes Jaycee," she answered, walking back towards the bed. "I got a new puppy," she whispered as she lifted her arm up for her mommy to see, "I’m a mommy now too." She smiled down at her daughter and stroked the sleeping puppy’s head softly. "Does he have a name?"
"Her name mommy...it’s a girl puppy" she whispered before yawning. "Her name is Princess." She smiled down brightly at her daughter while stroking her hair. "That’s a beautiful name honey." She sat up slowly and hugged her mommy tightly. "You and daddy call me princess so I thought since I’m her mommy I should call her princess too."
As she laid back down on the bed the sleep she had been fighting slowly overtook her. She snuggled down deep under the covers and whispered, "Will you sing the God song again?" "Sure baby," JC whispered to her before softly singing the chorus to her. He sat down on the edge of the bed and slowly stroked her hair while Faith stood behind him listening. When he was sure she was asleep he turned around to find Faith smiling brightly at him.
"I love you" she whispered before leaning in to kiss him softly. She could feel him smile against her lips as she pulled back to look into his eyes. "I love you too baby," he whispered softly before kissing the end of her nose and leading her by the hand out the door and down the hall to their own room. When he opened the door he was surprised to find candles softly glowing and rose petals lining the room. They were gingerly sprinkled over the bed and tables. He turned to her bright eyes as a smile played on her lips. He ran his fingers softly along her cheek and kissed her softly. "What’s all this for," he asked curiously. She smiled brightly at him as she reached down to take his hand before placing it on her stomach. "Let’s call it a little gift." As he glanced from their hands on her stomach to the smile that had spread broadly across her face he realized what she meant. He scooped her up into his arms and held her tightly breathing in the scent of her shampoo. He looked up into her teary eyes as he felt the tears well up in his own.
"This...this was your appointment today," he asked choking back tears. She nodded her head and wiped away a stray tear that found it’s way down his cheek. He scooped her back into his arms and hugged her again. She giggled as he sat her back down and placed his ear to her stomach. "Did you like your gift baby?" He looked back up into her teary eyes, "Baby, I love it...I love him or her...I love Jaycee...and God...Faith, I love you." As he kissed her again another tear fell down his cheek as he silently thanked God again for giving him such special gifts.
