Chapter 24: Daddy

On the ninth of November, I woke up with Keith's hand already on my stomach.

It had become the first thing I felt every morning, warm and heavy and certain.

"Happy birthday to our children," he murmured into my shoulder.

"They're five."

"They're five, and they're going to be in our bed in about a minute."

"Then we have a minute."

He rolled me onto my back and kissed me slowly, and his hand slid lower.

The door banged open before we were halfway.

"Mama!" Milo yelled. "Is it cake time?"

"It's seven in the morning," Keith said into the pillow.

"Is it cake time at eight?"

"Ask your mother."

June climbed over his back in her red boot and settled between us.

"I want the dinosaur one again," she announced.

It was a year since the video.

No network had hired Preston again, and his wife had moved to Portland.

She had mailed the twins a book about whales, and I didn't know where Preston lived.

I checked the mailbox at noon and found a cream envelope with no return address.

Inside was a card with a cartoon dinosaur on it, and a line of handwriting.

Happy birthday, Milo and June. I hope you're well. P.

I stood on the porch with it in my hand.

Keith came out of the house behind me with a roll of tape in his teeth, carrying a banner.

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