Page 61 of Hope After Loss

“Did you hear that? She said Momma,” I exclaim.

He walks over to us and goes down on a knee. “Hey, Baby Duck, you decided to start talking today, huh?”

She squeals and grabs a fistful of his wet hair before pulling him to her and gumming his forehead.

“Easy,” I tell her. “For some reason, you’ve been her favorite teething toy lately.”

“It’s because I’m yummy,” he says, and Kaela giggles.

“Tell Weston who your favorite person is,” I urge.

Kaela’s big blue eyes turn to me.

“Say, Momma,” I prompt.

Instead, she blows a raspberry.

“Come on. Please. Say Momma,” I beg.

Kaela reaches for my chin, and then she takes a deep breath and belts it out, “Ma-ma.”

My eyes fill with tears, and I pull her into my chest.

“Wow, that was awesome, Baby Duck. Can you say Weston?” he asks.

I laugh. “I think that might be a little ambitious for her second word.”

“Nah, she can do it. Weston. Wes-ton.” He breaks it down.

She gives him a curious look, and her fingers go to his mouth. He nips at them, and she grins.

“Give it a go. Wes-ton.”

“We-We,” she tries.

Excited, he looks up at me.

“Did she just call me We?” he asks.

I snicker. “I believe she called you a wee-wee.”

He jumps to his feet. “I thought so. She called for me!” he exclaims and reaches out for her.

Her little arms come up, and he takes her from me.

“Yes. Let’s overlook the fact that she called you a pecker,” I quip.

“She did not. My girl doesn’t talk like that. Do you?”

Kaela leans over and bites at his nose.

“Just because she doesn’t talk like that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know one when she sees it,” I tease.

He places one of his hands over her little ear and presses the other to his chest.

“She’ll never ever see one,” he declares, then looks down at her. “Not ever.”

He kisses the top of her head as she squirms to get loose.