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Five months later, Molly fusses in a lacy silk christening gown, trying to yank the bonnet off her head as her Uncle Rory holds her as cautiously as if she were a bomb. She’s baptized, and when the water touches her forehead, she stops crying and blinks her big blue O’Halloran eyes in curiosity.

“You like the water, don’t you, baby,” Rory croons to her.

He is doting and enraptured with his niece. Once we could have visitors in the hospital, he charged in with flowers, balloonsand a stuffed bunny the size of a five-year-old child. He kept trying to get me to ‘rest’ so he could hold her. He took about a hundred pictures with his phone, all of her just sleeping in the bassinet. Then there were the selfies.

“Please stop putting Snapchat filters on my baby,” I laughed when he showed me the cartoon dog ears on her sleeping angel face.

“Send me that one,” Mickey mumbled, because he couldn’t stand for there to be a picture of his daughter that he didn’t have.

In the days and months that followed, I think we changed her outfit four times a day because of all the gifts we had gotten. Dresses, hats, sleepers, tiny Nikes and little baby Ugg boots. Her Red Sox onesie and hat. It was like a tiny fashion show with photos. When she sleeps, which was most of the time, it’s hard to make myself nap because I love to gaze her. The curve of her cheek and her perfect tiny fingernails and the whorl of dark hair on her head.

“I’m too happy to sleep,” I tell Mickey. But then he curls up behind me and spoons me, pulling me back against his chest and I nestle in as warmth and sleep drag me under. I’m pretty sure I’m the happiest anyone has ever been.

EPILOGUE

KATE - THREE YEARS LATER

Molly squeals as she runs along the sand in her polka dot, ruffled bathing suit. Mickey chases after her, pretends to be tired and shouts that she’ll never beat him in a race. She screams with glee and turns around, flinging herself in her daddy’s arms. He puts her on his shoulders and carries her out in the ocean. I snap a picture because I can’t resist. My heart is so full of joy every day. This vacation is just what we needed, a time relax as a family.

Once Molly tires herself out running around on the beach, we carry her back to our bungalow for a nap. I wrap my arms around Mickey and kiss him. I’m ready for some time with my husband.

“While she’s asleep let’s take advantage of this hot tub,” he says, indicating the huge spa on our veranda.

I smile at him and shake my head. “Sorry, you’re just going to have to take me to bed.”

“I’m not complaining, but why?”

“Because pregnant women aren’t supposed to get in hot tubs,” I say with a grin.

“Pregnant?” he says and picks me up and swings me around. “We’re having another baby!”

I hold on to him, drunk on his joy and glad I waited to tell him until we were alone.

“Let’s celebrate,” I suggest.

“You want me to order some sparkling cider from room service? Anything you want, Katie.”

“I want you. Right now,” I tell him mischievously. And I don’t have to tell him twice.