The Greatest of These (Sequel to Kansas Summer) -- Faith

January 1, 2004

--Colin

        I sit in the old leather sofa with Jenna, wrapped in three thick blankets, watching the fire, and holding my darling wife in my arms.  We kiss slowly, deeply as the clock turns to 12:00.  As we pull apart, we gaze into each others eyes, the dancing fire reflecting in them.

        "Happy New Year, Colin," Jenna whispers, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing.

     I press an arm to her back and reply: "Happy New Year, Jen.."  She lifts her head off of my shoulder and gazes up at me.  I take her chin gently in my weathered hand and smile.  "I remember just about this time last year," I whisper.  I feel a shiver run up Jenna's spine.  "Just look at you now."  I give her another kiss.  "You have made me the happiest man in the world."

      Jenna takes my hand in hers and presses it to her bare midriff.  "I hope to make you the happiest father in the world in eight more months."  She moves our hands around her stomach.  "The baby's just getting eyes," she muses, breaking into a grin.

       I take my hand from under Jenna's and place it around her, holding her close.  I feel tears run down my cheeks as I look down at her rosy, smiling face, brimming with hope.    It's a miracle that she's here by my side.  To see her smile after what she's been through, I would climb Mount Everest in shorts and a t-shirt.  But luckily for me, she's already smiling.  

        And I'm going to be a dad.  The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I'm up to the challenge of parenthood.  I return my gaze to Jenna's entrancing brown eyes and my fears melt away.  The way she smiles back at me seems to say "We'll make it through this together".

        "So the baby can't see what we do--yet?" I remark to Jenna with a raised eyebrow.  She chides me silently with a stare that I only laugh at.

        "I guess not."