New Beginnings on Whisling Island by Julia Clemens

Author:Julia Clemens [Clemens, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickled Plum Publishing
Published: 2020-04-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

"Good morning, baby girl," Gen said as she awoke her beautiful daughter. Gen lifted Maddie into her arms and nuzzled against her sweet-smelling hair, allowing the loveable girl to wake up little by little. This was one of Gen's favorite times of the day, when she got Maddie all to herself. Because Levi had to be at work before Gen did, he was usually rushing in the mornings. Whereas Gen had all the time in the world to get Maddie ready for the day.

"Morning, Mama," Maddie said, and the word filled Gen with so much warmth and pleasure, she worried she just might burst. Nothing could’ve prepared Gen for how fully and utterly she’d fallen in love with Maddie. But she had. A part of her even wondered if she could ever love the growing babe in her belly as much as she loved this little girl in her arms.

But by all accounts, especially the ones Bess and her aunt had told her, Gen didn't need to worry. Her heart and ability to love would grow with each child. Gen's love for Maddie would stay unlike any she'd ever known, and Maddie would forever be the child who’d made Gen a mother, but she would feel love for her next child in a new and just as beautiful way.

As Gen held Maddie in one arm and cradled her growing belly with her other hand, she felt an immense ache in her chest that reminded her of the two people she truly wanted to turn to with all of her questions but who were no longer here. Bess had been incredible in every way, but sometimes Gen wondered what life would’ve been like if she had her parents back, even just for one more day. Man, she missed them. But if there was one thing the last fifteen years had taught her, this was the way life was now, and dwelling on what could’ve been only served to hurt Gen's heart. She would always hold the memories of her parents in her heart, but wishing that she’d had more time or focusing on what she’d been robbed of helped no one. Especially Gen.

But she loved moments like this one, where she could remember both of her parents with a smile. Becoming a mom herself reminded Gen that she'd had the very best examples of parenthood. And she hoped she could make them proud. One thing she was sure of was that her mom and dad would’ve adored Maddie.

Gen let Maddie out of her arms and onto the ground as Maddie toddled sleepily to the photo of Mal that Gen and Levi had framed and set up on Maddie's bookshelf. Maddie took the photo into her arms and then gave her mom a kiss. Gen had only had to initiate the tradition once and Maddie had kept it going every morning. Gen liked to imagine Mal got to be with them for that moment each day.

"What do you want to wear?" Gen asked after Maddie set down the frame and then walked to her closet.

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