Number Two! I kinda wrote Matt out--again. I guess you could say he hasn't been born yet. But next time he'll have a bigger part--Promise.
II. Simple Lessons
"Daddy, do I love you and Mama?" Mu nearly fell over at his young daughter's sudden question. The surprise on his face shone clear, Murrue nearly laughing because of it.
Evi had walked up to him and now was standing before him, waiting for an answer. Not knowing what to say, Mu tried to put it in his simplest terms that Evi could understand.
"Well . . ." he wondered, "Do I love you?"
"Um . . . no." She grinned.
Mu was shocked—Evi seemed so sure. His shock showed. Evi scratched at her head, confused at his answer.
"Then . . . yes?" With her obvious puzzlement, Mu couldn't fight the urge to palm his face. Evi's face screwed up in return, hands finding hips.
"Oh, I don't know, Daddy," she huffed. "You're get me all confused! I don't know how to tell—That's why I asked you."
Mu stared back at his daughter, unsure of what to say. He glanced up at Murrue standing beside him for help, but she was awaiting his answer as well, expectant smile to her face. His clear eyes narrowed at the response.
An idea.
He knelt himself down on the hard kitchen floor to level himself with his daughter.
"C'mere," he muttered with open arms, grin to his face. Evi's face lit up as she ran to wrap her small arms around her father. A laugh rumbled deep in his chest as his hand found hers.
With confusion swirling in the brown eyes of both his wife and daughter, Mu guided his little girl's palm over his chest, letting it rest in a very particular place.
Through her hand he could feel his heart beating. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest . . . the steady reminder of everything.
"There's your answer, Evi," he smiled, warmth to his features. Murrue smiled, looking on. Evi cocked her head, confused at the deep pulse she was feeling.
"This means you love . . . ?"
"Yes," Mu answered simply. He leaned closer to Evi and began to whisper, like it was some big secret. "This here beats only for you and your mother." One glance up to Murrue but more meaning to his words. "Always."
Fascinated by her father's explanation of 'love', Evi looked up to search his face. He just stared back. She cautiously moved forward and came close enough to rest her cheek on his hard chest.
Mu stole a look up at Murrue who had since sat down on the floor across from them. It was moments like this that made Mu and Murrue thankful for everything all over again.
Hearing his beat pulse through her had a strange, calming effect on the girl. She loved the sound, was entranced by it, and never wanted to be away from it. Never.
That love.
But, Evi did pull herself away, making a face as she did so. It was a face of distaste, but the soft sadness in her eyes stole the scene.
"But I don't have that . . ." She mumbled, drawing herself away from her father's chest. He cocked his head.
"What do you mean?"
"I can tell, can't I?" Evi shrugged, slight annoyance to her tone. "I'd know if I had that." She pointed to his chest, to where she'd heard his heart.
Mu caught Murrue trying to stifle a small laugh.
"Evi . . ." He mused. Without waiting, Mu reached out to grab up Evi's small hand once more.
Her hand was so tiny as his curled around it. Mu held in an inward shudder at the knowledge. Her young hand was small, but he could remember a time when it was even smaller. She was growing up—somehow too fast for him to handle.
The hand he'd captured rested nicely in his, but Mu slid the exploring palm of Evi's onto her own chest and rested it over her own heart.
The shock and surprise on her face came instantly as she felt her own soft beat. Her utter awe at the truth was enchanting, her parents smiling as they looked on.
But that slight sadness came back.
"Ah, but it's not like yours, Daddy. . . ." She muttered, dropping her hand. "Does that mean—"
"That only means that you're still growing, Evi," Murrue chose that moment to softly cut in. The hidden exhaust in Mu's eyes was easy for her to see.
He smiled as Murrue turned Evi around to face her.
"Believe me, if you were Daddy's size, what you feel . . . it'd be so much bigger," Murrue whispered, unabashed excitement showing in her tone, dancing in her amber eyes.
Evi couldn't believe it.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Bigger than even Daddy's . . . ?" Evi's eyes were so large at the idea, Murrue couldn't keep back a smile.
"If you want it to be."
Evi's face was so filled with sudden joy, it lit up the room instantly. The day had become a little brighter, the sunlight from outside a little warmer, the melting of parent's hearts a little faster.
But her smile fell soon to a thoughtful mission. Slowly, she moved closer to her mother, frequently glancing up into Murrue's face to make sure it was okay. When she came close enough, and Murrue still hadn't shooed her away, Evi's smile returned as she jumped into her mother's arms, squeezing tightly.
"Evi!"
But Evi wasn't listening. She was busy nuzzling her face closer to her mother's chest, eyes closed, straining to find it.
When Murrue's hurried heartbeat came to Evi's ear, the wonder in their daughter's face had them falling in love again.
"Ah!" The girl could contain herself, pulling away. "Mama's got it too!" She grinned, pulling herself closer again. "I can feel it! Mama loves us too, Daddy!"
"Yes," he murmured quietly, eyes dancing. "Yes, she does."