I was exhausted, spent the entire night without my wife and son. I had been out, dealing with the cattle that didn't make it through the snow storm and selling their meat off at market since there wasn't much else I could have done. I took care of the cattle and made sure the family and work horses were doing just fine. Jane seemed to enjoy the warmth of the barn, only annoyed by her mother dragging her back close to her.
I was starved for a good meal. Charlotte had been taking care of Harry, Trying to catch up on her own sleep and ensure I didn't freeze to death. My poor woman hadn't slept a wink without me in bed that night prior, leaving us both to crave a deep sleep in the embrace of each other.
I wrapped my arms around my wife, hugging her as she was standing at the wood stove, stirring the hot thick soup she was making. She had dough rising too in a bowl with a cloth over it on the counter, only making the house smell even better.
"Where's our boy?" I asked her, kissing the back of her head as I gave her a squeeze.
"Sleeping. He had a melt down for a hour or so and wouldn't let me put him down for hours last night. He wouldn't sleep this morning, but I fed him twice in a row to put the little stinker to sleep."
I chuckled, knowing our boy had my appetite. "Like father like son."
She nodded and yawned. "I think I may go straight to sleep after dinner." I agreed with her, too tired to think of staying up any more.
She just put the pot on the table to get started with my first bowl, knowing I would have multiple. It was when Harry began to cry for her.
She sighed and looked so exhausted. "I'll be back. Have a bowl." She told me, insisting Before kissing my forehead.
His cry only stopped minutes later, pleased to be with his Momma.
Charlotte had Harry swaddled and cradled in her arms. She sighed and managed to slide the buns onto a pan before baking them.
I knew our son had my nose. We had joked before that I would give her large noses babies, but this wasn't funny any longer.
Charlotte stroked Harry's cheek just before picking up her spoon which rested on the edge of her hot bowl of soup.
"I'm mortified that he has my nose."
Charlotte looked so hurt. She just stared at me very seriously and said: "I kiss it each morning, knowing it's my favourite feature on his little face since you gave him that nose."
I frowned, setting down my spoon. "Look at my nose, Charlotte? He's going to be laughed at by every girl who he tries to talk to. It happened to me."
She looked to our son and sighed as she turned her attention back to my face. Her stare sunk into my eyes while she spoke. "I never laughed or thought it wasn't right for you. It really isn't large, Tom. I love you nose and I love how our son has the same."
I just was worried that the poor kid would never get a walk home with a girl if he had a nose like mine. "I just worry."
She nodded and adjusted Harry in her arm. "He's the most beautiful newborn child I've ever laid eyes on and I've seen many. He's so round and perfect and is heavy, but perfectly healthy."
I agreed with her, giving up on my meltdown about his nose. "He really is."
She nodded and smiled to me as I stood. "See? I knew you felt the same. He's perfect just like you." She told me before pecking my lips and heading to the cold room to get us butter for the buns I was retrieving, tried of waiting for them.
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