That sounds just great. We’ll have the proposal over to you sometime in the next two or three days.” I’m smiling when I hang up after talking to the representative of the company that will most likely be my next client. I fire off a quick email to my assistant, confirming she needs to get the finalized version of the proposal over to me for review.

“Sam?”

Maddie’s knock at the door to my office is well-timed, and it’s with a smile that I get up to answer. “What is it?” I ask, tussling her curly hair and taking her hand to let her lead me to the kitchen. One thing I love most about having my own consulting company is being able to work remotely. Why pay overhead for an office when I can do everything from home? I’ve been successful in the past year, but I’m nowhere near needing more space than what I have here.

Besides, there are situations in which working in my pajamas, with my feet up, might come in handy in the near future.

“I made lunch!” Maddie waves her arms with a flourish, showing off her handiwork. For a seven-year-old, she didn’t do half bad. Tuna sandwiches, salad, and Nutella cookies.

“Very well done, young lady.” I kiss the top of her head before shooing her into her chair. “Just make sure you finish all the good stuff before you start in on the good stuff.”

She laughs impishly before I sit opposite her and we share lunch, and as we always do when she is on a school break. Sometimes, I can’t believe my luck. I fell into the family I always wanted. She’s such a great kid. Even after eight months of being married to her father, she hasn’t lost her charm. I couldn’t ask for a better stepdaughter.

“Are you finished working for the day?” she asks, chomping on a mouthful of sandwich.

“Yup. And Daddy should be home soon, too.”

“Where is he? He doesn’t work on Saturdays anymore.”

“I know, and that’s such a good thing. He had to pick something up from the store.”

“Oh! Ice cream?”

“No!” I laugh. “Something even better. I promise.” At least, I hope she thinks it’s better. I know I do.

My husband gets home just after we’ve finished eating, and he’s carrying a gift bag in one hand. My heart skips a beat, the way it always does when Lincoln enters the room. I never thought marriage could be like this. Lord knows, I didn’t have the strongest example while I was growing up. Every day I get to wake up beside him is a joy, one which hasn’t lost its magic over the past months.

“Ooh, what’s that?” she asks, eyes wide. “Is it for me?”

“Maybe it’s a gift for Sam. What do you think about that Big Eyes?” he teases, holding the bag high enough, so she can’t reach it.

“No, it’s not. It’s for me. Sam told me,” she says, hopping up and down with one arm outstretched.

Both Lincoln and I laugh. The kid doesn’t miss a trick.

“Yes, it’s for you,” he says and hands over the bag.

I pat a spot beside me on the sofa, signaling for her to sit with me. My stomach’s a little woozy, which is nothing new lately.

Our eyes meet over the top of her head as she fishes her gift out from the thick thatch of tissue paper. I can see he’s just as nervous as I am. What if Maddie turns out to be one of those jealous kids who doesn’t want to share the attention?

“What is this?” she asks.

“Open it, you big silly,” Lincoln prompts.  

She pulls out the t-shirt.

I hold my breath as she lets it unfold in front of her.

The words are clear. Big Sister.

We watch, neither of us saying a word, as she takes it all in silently.

“Honey?” I whisper, my throat is nearly choked with emotion.

“Sweetheart?” Lincoln asks, sliding an arm around her shoulders.

“Does this mean…I’m gonna get a brother or a sister?” She runs one hand across the front of the shirt over the words, as though she needs to touch it to believe the message.

“A brother,” I explain. “You’re going to have a baby brother. In around five months.”

“Five months?” She jumps up, glaring at us. “I have to wait five whole months for the baby to come?”

“Um…” Lincoln and I exchange glances. “Does this mean you’re happy?” he asks.

She stares at us curiously. “Why would I be anything else?”

“Um… Just us being silly,” Lincoln replies.

She throws herself into his arms, squeezing him around the neck. “A baby! A brother! I’m gonna be a big sister?”

“You really are happy, honey?” I ask, my eyes misting. I couldn’t bear it if Maddie had been moody or mad about the baby growing in my belly. It would have broken my heart.

She comes to me, smiling from ear to ear, and looks down at my belly. It’s only ever-so-slightly swollen four months in. “Is he in your stomach now?” she whispers.

I nod, too choked up to speak.

“Do you want to see if you can feel him kick?” Lincoln asks.

Maddie frowns. “Is he being naughty? Is he kicking Sam?”

“No, honey, he is just moving around and that feels like a gentle prod.”

“Ohhhh.”

“So do you want to feel?”

She nods and places one palm over where the baby is sleeping. I’ve never seen such reverence in my life.

Lincoln takes my hand, his fingers closing over it, reminding me that I have everything.

Life is perfect.