"Party? Party? Birthday… presents…" The child excitedly babbled. For him at his tender age of three, party always meant birthday with lots of presents. Without hesitation, Jacob leaned his five-foot nine inch frame down and scooped the little boy up in his hands. He planted a loving kiss on his small brown cheek as he pulled the boy up and allowed him to sit on top of his forearm.
"Not exactly a birthday… I'm your daddy now." He explained patiently and with ease.
"Will there be cake," was all that Markus wanted to know.
"Hmm, maybe not cake but how about pancakes with lots of maple syrup."
"Jacob, you're spoiling them rotten." Louise reprimanded while smiling lovingly at her new husband.
"Don't worry; I'll buy you pancakes too." He joked at his wife and then gave her a playful wink causing her dimpled cheeks to flame red. Abruptly the one-year old Dinah began pulling on the leg of Jacob's pants. He looked down and was greeted with an angelic smile and open arms indicating that she too wanted to be picked up and carried.
"Up… Up…" She pleaded impatiently. Jacob smiling down at his step-daughter then shifted the weight of Markus a little to make sure he was securely locked into his arm.
"Hold on tight," he admonished the little boy. Markus tightened his grip around Jacob's neck. Jacob bent down and with his other free arm scooping up Dinah and carrying both of his two stepchildren back to their minivan. His new bride paused to take an appreciative and loving look at the sight.
"C'mon baby, the kids are hungry." He turned around stopping for his wife to catch up. Carefully she lifted up her gown to prevent herself from tripping and then quickened her pace. Once she reached them, she locked an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his strong shoulder. The happy family continued onward reaching the van and then loaded up.
"That's right Markus; family- we're a family now." Jacob explained as he started up the van and then the van slowly made its way out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
- 11:51 p.m.
It was night time, and they allowed the baby to sleep in his crib in the room with his mom. Marla felt stronger now and got up testing the strength of her legs. After seeing that she had enough strength in them to support weight and to walk, she then went over to her son's crib. Peering down into his lovable face she smiled as she gently traced the outline of it as a fallen teardrop splashed against his soft brown colored cheek. She then picked up her son and walked over to the window in the room. It was almost midnight and she wanted to bless him properly for his first full day into the new world. She was happy that the maternity ward was located on the twelfth floor of the building. It gave an awesome view of the city but she had been fortunate that her window also gave a breathtaking view of the sky.