MAY 5
I finished buttoning Harper's dress. She kicked her feet, giggling. Merlin came to stand in the doorway of the nursery. She smiled. "I can't believe she's already six months old. It seems like she was born just yesterday."
"I know. It's crazy. Before we know it, she's going to be graduating high school and then moving out."
My wife groaned. "Please don't say that. Now I know how my mom felt. And I left her earlier than some kids do."
"Not that much earlier, really." I lifted Harper into the air and kissed her cute little nose.
"I told you that you wouldn't screw up, Arthur," Merlin said smugly. "You're so good with her."
"Finally. I've gotten the hang of this fatherhood thing. At least I actually know how to calm her down now." I smiled at my daughter. "I've never loved anything or anyone so much before."
"I don't know whether to be touched or offended by that," she said, her voice teasing.
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "You know what I mean. I love you with all of my heart, Merlin. And that's never going to change. It would devastate if anything were to ever happen to you. But I think it would completely destroy me if anything were to happen to Harps."
"I know. I feel the same way. She's so precious."
"She really is."
There was a knock on the door. Before either my wife or I could get up to answer it, Morgana came into the nursery. She had something hidden behind her back.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Don't you knock?"
"I did. I just didn't wait for an answer before I came in. Hey, the door was unlocked."
"That doesn't mean you get to just walk right in. A normal person would wait until they're invited in."
"Whatever," she answered, rolling her eyes. "How's my little Sugar Bear?" She reached out and pinched Harper's cheek, which got a giggle out of my daughter.
"Don't call her that. She's going to hate it when she's older."
"Well then, when she's old enough to tell me that she hates it, I'll stop. Meanwhile, I come bearing gifts!" She brought out a bag from behind her back.
"For what?" I asked slowly.
"Um, for Harper's half-birthday. Duh. She's six months old today."
She'd probably gotten her a bunch of toys that she did not need. "You're going to spoil her rotten. You can't celebrate her half-birthday. Who does that?"
"I do, obviously. And it's my job as her aunt to spoil her rotten. You'll never be able to stop me from doing that."