Page 40 of Muskoka Miracle (Muskoka Shores #7)

When he was training or playing away games proved the best time to fine-tune them.

She had to send a sample to the record label in a few weeks, and had decided to give Dan a special birthday surprise, not dissimilar to something else she’d once done.

He might be the better of the two of them at surprising with a special dinner location, but she suspected he valued her efforts just as much, if not more, judging from the worn-out CD she’d once made him that she’d discovered in a drawer.

She hoped he liked this birthday surprise.

* * *

Dan spent his birthday in Dallas. The lengthy road trip had taken in games in Florida and Texas over the past few days, so he was itching to get home. At least their early hours flight after the game meant they’d get a much needed couple of days rest before the next game.

He made his weary way to his apartment and unlocked the door, noting the darkened room, before noticing some balloons and a little handmade sign with “Happy Birthday Daniel!” inscribed on it. He gently placed the keys on the side entry table, then slowly, quietly made his way to bed.

Sarah’s sleeping form stirred. “Hey there, you. Happy birthday.”

He shifted closer to her, wrapping an arm around her satin clad middle, before kissing her on the cheek. “Thanks.”

“Good result tonight,” she mumbled, eyes closed.

Yeah, it had been, as they’d won, and he’d finally scored a goal, the first one since preseason. That was a nice monkey to have off his back. “Good result today.”

Today’s scan had showed signs that the hydrocephalus markers were improving, so Sarah had reported.

“It’s so good to have you home,” she murmured.

“It’s good to be home.”

She opened her sleepy eyes then, moving so she could place her arms around him. “Back where you belong.”

Exactly.

The next day, a day off, meant he could celebrate his birthday in a more relaxed manner than yesterday. Which meant sleeping in, spending ‘quality time’ with his wife, then sleeping some more, then eating a very late brunch.

The plan was to have dinner with his folks and Sam and Alexa and maybe talk wedding things, or so Sarah had said.

But right now she was eyeing him with that expression that said she was up to something. “Why do I get the impression you’re planning something?”

She instantly tried to blank her face, scraping her hands down her cheeks as if that could help. It couldn’t. He could still read her like a book.

“I might just have a birthday present for you.”

He caressed her middle. “This is the best present a man could have.”

“Well, I hope you might like this one too.” She held out her hand.

“Fine. Where are we going?”

A few minutes later he was seated in her studio, while she sat at the keyboard. “Am I getting a private concert?”

She pouted. “You’re not supposed to guess.”

He stifled a chuckle. “Sorry. I meant, are you demonstrating how to put together a baby cot?”

Her nose wrinkled. “I don’t really want to do that just yet.”

He glanced around the room. Did it need painting? “We probably do need to think about doing that soon, though.”

“The baby is not supposed to come for three more months,” she protested.

He loved that they were now talking when , not if . “Three months will fly by. What else do we need?”

She gave him a list of baby essentials, including strollers and car seats and all manner of things.

A tiny baby needed that much? Huh. “I’m sure we’ll be given some. I know my parents want to buy a baby car seat.”

“They do?”

“Mom mentioned it last week.”

“I didn’t know.”

Oh. “Maybe that was supposed to be a surprise.”

“I can act surprised.”

So could he. “So.” He rubbed his hands together. “When does the cot putting-together begin?”

“Well, I know this will shock you, but I wasn’t actually going to do that.”

“No way. You weren’t?” He glanced around, frowned. Was this space going to be big enough for her studio, and that much baby paraphernalia? Especially if this baby had some special needs?

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Look, don’t get excited, but if—when—I retire, where would you like to raise our family?”

“Our family ?” She smiled. “You sound like you’re planning more than one.”

“I’d have a whole hockey team if I could, but I’m not the one who has to carry them for nine months.”

She grimaced. “Men have no idea how lucky they are.”

Oh, he had some idea. “So, where would you want to live if you could live anywhere at all?”

“You mean that wasn’t a rhetorical question?” She peered at him. “If not, then really, do you have to ask?”

That meant Sydney, then. Just the thought of moving countries and all that would entail was liable to melt his brain. Although, come to think of it, that’s exactly what she’d done… But there was time to think about that.

“Hey maybe once the baby is born, and as soon as you’re well enough, we’ll go visit.”

“Really? You’d be willing to travel for all those hours with a screaming newborn?”

He smiled. “ Our screaming newborn.”

“Ours.” Her face held awe. “Do you wonder if it’s a boy or a girl?”

“All the time,” he said promptly.

She laughed. “Then why don’t you want to know?”

“Because there are so few surprises in life, I feel like this should be one of them.”

“I don’t care what sex it is,” she said softly.

“Neither do I,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Can you believe it’s only three months away?”

“No. Considering all we’ve gone through it sometimes still seems unreal.”

He kissed her nose. “So, back to that question before. Depending on what I end up doing, we don’t have to stay in this apartment.”

“We don’t? Oh Dan, I’d love to live somewhere else.

Can you imagine how squashy this will be once the baby arrives?

And how on earth will we lug up strollers and baby stuff?

Jackie’s told me she’s often gotten down to the car and strapped little Charlie in, then remembered she’s left something up here, and had to unstrap him and come all this way again, then do it all over.

” She gestured to the room. “This space has been perfect when it’s been just us, but add one more—especially one who’ll have so much stuff—then how on earth are we going to fit that in? ”

“So that’s a yes, then.”

She got up from the seat and flew at him. “That’s a total yes. Yes, and please .”

His laughter was stolen by her kiss, and it took some time before they finally returned to the purpose of their visit here.

She finger-combed her hair. “Sorry for distracting you, birthday boy.”

“Hey, this birthday man ,” he emphasized, “is happy to be distracted like that any time you like.”

She smirked at him, then gestured for him to resume his seat. “Okay, I’m giving you a preview of a new song.”

His chest warmed. He could count on one hand the number of times Sarah had done that. “Is this for a new album?”

She bit her lip and nodded.

“You haven’t mentioned a new album. Is this for Heartsong?”

She shook her head. “I think that season is done.”

“Whoa. Really?”

“The touring part, and maybe the recording too. Tisha has said she still wants me to write, but I feel like my time doing the other things is done.”

Wow. His heart was soft. “That’s a big call.”

“It feels like it.”

“Heartsong has been a big part of your life for a long time.”

She sniffled. “I know.”

“Hey.” He opened his arms, and she crawled onto his lap. She fit a bit less easily these days. “It’s okay to cry.”

“I’m not crying because I’m sad. Just…feeling emotional because it’s the end of an era, I guess.”

“God has new adventures up ahead.” He placed a hand on her belly.

She tucked her face next to his jaw. “And not just with a baby.”

That’s right. “Your new album. Can I hear something from it?”

“Okay.” She kissed his scar then slowly extricated herself from his arms and the chair, and moved to the keyboard and piano stool. “But this is the first time I’ve played it for anyone, so you need to tell me if it’s too cheesy.”

As if it would be. And as if he would. “It’ll be perfect.”

She rolled her eyes, but then smiled and ran her fingers over the keys, and began to sing.

By the time she finished he was wiping away tears. Who cared if he was now thirty-four? She’d written that song for him . Described him . To a tee.

“You okay there, tough guy?”

He blew out a breath. “I didn’t think pregnancy hormones were catching.”

Her smile turned tender. “So it’s not bad, then?”

“It’s beautiful. You should sing it at Sam and Alexa’s wedding.”

“Hmm. Good idea.”

“Seriously, Princess. I don’t think anyone has ever made me feel quite so honored before.”

Her face lit, like she had another secret she couldn’t spill. But he’d let her keep that one. This gift she’d given him was the best gift of all.