"Tim's finally asleep," he announced quietly as he entered their bedroom. "I'm afraid he has very high expectations this year after what happened last Christmas."
"I'm pretty sure we're ready for him, Patrick. He's going to love the bicycle."
"I hope so." Patrick rubbed his face. "Is she asleep?" he asked, looking over the side of the cradle.
"Yes. She went down almost instantly. I think we may have finally learned how to go to sleep by ourselves, haven't we?" she whispered to her daughter.
Patrick pulled his wife into his arms. "What a difference a year has made, sweetheart. I can't bear to remember Christmas Eve last year. And now, Tim's healthy, you're healthy, and we have the sweetest baby girl there ever was. I'm afraid to ask for anything else, I'd just be greedy."
"I do have a special gift for you. But I'd like to give it to you tonight, just between us."
Patrick grinned wickedly. "Sounds good to me."
"No, dear, not that sort of gift." She shook her head at him. "Why is that always your guess?"
"Wishful thinking?" he placed a kiss behind her ear, working his way down her throat.
"Patrick. Later. I want to give you your gift now. I've been waiting for days, and I can't wait any longer!"
He sat on the edge of their bed, hands outstretched. "All right, ready to receive!"
"It's not as simple as that. I couldn't wrap it." Shelagh told him.
"Why not? Is it so very large?"
"No, it's not so very large. It's only about the size of a lemon."
"A lemon?" He looked puzzled. "It's the size of a lemon, but you can't wrap it." He considered for a moment. "Can you give me another hint? Where is it?"
"If I tell you where it is, you'll guess what it is!"
"Shelagh, you're not very good at giving hints."
"I know. That's why it took so long for us to find each other, remember?"
He pulled her on to his lap. "Oh, I remember, all right. How about I just unwrap you?"
"You're getting warmer…"
"I like this present." He nudged her chin up to give him access to her collar bone.
Shelagh whispered in his ear, "Patrick, we're going to have another baby."
"Mmmm. She'll sleep for a few more hours yet. We have all the time in the world."
"No, Patrick, you're not listening to me." She placed her hand on his jaw, and guided his eyes to hers. "I don't think you heard what I said. " She whispered her secret in his ear again.
Patrick stilled, then looked at her, puzzled. "You want to adopt another baby? So soon?"
"No, dearest."
"Then, I don't understand."
"Patrick, I'm pregnant," she told him.
Looking at his stunned face, she hurried on. "I knew something was different. I wasn't just tired from nights up with Angela. I've been queasy at different times of the day, and I've felt other symptoms, too. So I went into Town to see Mr. Horringer. He confirmed it, Patrick. I'm 14 weeks pregnant."
"You're pregnant? But-how?"
"The procedure seems to have removed enough scar tissue to make implantation possible. Oh, Patrick, he said that he was certain the baby had settled into my uterus. Dr. Horringer has every expectation that we'll have this baby." Shelagh's eyes glistened with tears.
Patrick couldn't move. Shelagh placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him. "The baby is coming at the end of June. Angela will be 8 months old by then. I know it seems preposterous, but think how wonderful it will be. The two babies will grow up together. They'll be practically twins! And two isn't so much more than one. And Timothy can help, and by the time this baby comes, I'll be so much better at managing my time. And don't we tell Tim that love always grows to fill in where it needs to be? Oh, Patrick, please say you're glad." Exhausted, she buried her face in his shoulder.
Slowly, Patrick lifted his arms and held her tightly to him. She felt him start to shake and raised her head. Her eyes met his as he began to laugh. "Patrick?"
Finally catching his breath, he fell back on their bed, pulling her down with him. "Shelagh Turner, you have a gift for making me a very greedy man."
A/N: For the record, Shelagh must be suffering from placenta brain already. Two is a hundred times more than one.