A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone for being so patient with me. I realized something as I finally sat down to complete my story. While I told myself that the delay for this chapter was because of a busy schedule, I recognized that it was more about Someone reminding me a little about patience. Nothing that I come up with alone can even begin to compare to the results I can achieve through God. After waiting with patience myself, I have the next chapter to present to you. He uses everything possible as a learning experience, doesn't He? :-) The final chapter is complete, and I will be posting it in a few days after a little editing.
Chapter Twenty-Four:
Waiting with Patience
"… A few minutes later, pulling the front door open, we left the house, realizing that change was waiting for us on the other side." I paused, listening to the rain hitting the window panes.
The light sigh interrupting the rhythm of the rain caused me to glance back to my arms. The clasping fingers… the pursing lips… the deep brown eyes that suddenly fluttered open before slowly falling shut…
Tiptoeing over to the bassinet placed beside the bed, I lowered her down, watching her breathing return to its deep, slow rhythm. "My little Hope Anne…. I can't even begin to tell you how this little story of ours is going to go from here… I guess we'll just have to wait patiently while our Writer inscribes our next chapter…"
"'We eagerly wait for it with patience.'" A faint whisper added. Turning around, I saw Jamie lying on her side watching us.
"I thought you were asleep."
She shook her head. "I couldn't miss Hope's first story time with Daddy, now could I?"
"Well… she was asleep before I even got to the opening night of the play," I muttered as I climbed onto the bed and curled up behind Jamie, resting my hand on her side.
Even though I couldn't see the smile, I knew it was there. I could hear it in her voice. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to tell it." Jamie lifted my hand, sliding back up against me before resting my arm in front of her.
Nuzzling up to her, my words were just audible. "The story of you and me…"
"And the importance of Hope," she finished.
Lying there, I reveled in the feeling of having my wife within my arms, listening to the small breaths coming from the bassinet not two feet away. I drifted into a restful sleep, thinking, "If there is such a thing as perfection on earth, I have definitely found it…"