Candy Kisses

Epilogue

Monica hurried into the living room. Momentarily her gaze was captured by the specially mounted gold belt buckle Dirk had won at the NFR competition in Las Vegas two months previous. She smiled and lifted her gaze from the award on the mantel to the family portrait above it.

Beside her, Dirk said, "Darlin' you'd best get going."

She gnawed her bottom lip. She was running late for her first real outing since Candi's birth, but she was reluctant to leave her three week old. She started to make an excuse to stay home, but Dirk, holding their baby, laughed and said, "Honey, I've got all the bases covered, and besides that, Tessa is here. We'll manage for a couple of hours. Please go meet your girlfriends at Dixie's Cuppa Joe and enjoy yourself.

Grinning sheepishly, she replied, "I'm sorry for being such a worry wart."

"No, sweetheart, you're just being a new mother."

Monica gazed lovingly at Candi.

Tessa entered the room. "Mom, you'd better hurry."

Dirk handed Candi to Tessa. "Sweetie, why don't you hold your sister while I walk Monica to the truck."

Tessa cuddled her baby sister and sat in the rocking chair in front of the hearth that Monica often used to comfort or feed her baby, or just stare at her in wonder.

Monica said, "Okay. Okay. I'm outta here. Just let me give my Candi some kisses and my Tessa some kisses. I love my girls."

Dirk was waiting in the kitchen when she stepped inside and pulled her into an embrace, waving a chocolate morsel. "I'll trade a kiss for the last ChocoDrop in the box."

Monica grinned. "Who would have thought Alligator's latest flavor would be so tasty?"

Dirk teased, "First my kiss, then you can have your Rhubarb ChocoDrop!"