Page 92 of By Your Side

I looked at Mark, and his eyes were misty as he swiped his finger across my cheek to catch the stray tear.

“It’s a girl. We’re having a girl.”

I put my hand over my mouth and watched the last of the confetti fall to the ground.

“This is it, Dr. Cutie. You, me, and a baby girl make three.”

The party shrank down to the two of us as he brushed his lips to mine, rubbing slow circles on my belly.

“You know it, Officer Handsome. But from now on, I think a new name is in order.”

“Oh, and what’s that?” he asked, rubbing his nose along my neck.

I tugged on his collar and brought his lips down to mine one more time as our friends and family surrounded us, shouting congratulations.

“Daddy.”