Thinking Out Loud

Chapter 17

"Hey baby," Dianne cooed, "Welcome home." She pushed the door open and stood aside to let Joe through, carrying Annie in her car seat. She was only two weeks old but they had already seen her grow so much.
"We've been quite lucky," Joe said, thinking out loud, "she's got no health concerns at all. She's perfectly healthy and yet she was a month early.
"We're very lucky," Dianne smiled. "This gorgeous little girl has already turned our lives upside down and I'm just so happy."
"Me too." Joe put the car seat down and stepped closer to Dianne. "Me too." He kissed her gently, his hands coming to rest on her waist as hers settled on his chest. "And I just can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." They looked into each other's eyes as their foreheads rested together. Dianne smiled shyly, the dimple in her cheek deep and noticeable.
"Me neither." From her seat, Annie woke up and began to fuss, her tiny little face creased as she cried. Pecking Joe's lips again, Dianne stepped away and picked Annie up, cooing at her gently.
"Hey baby girl, it's okay. Mummy's here. Shh shh." Joe stood back and admired his two girls, the most important and precious things in his life, the two girls who he'd do anything for, fully aware they had him wrapped around their little fingers. But he didn't care. He was just happy to have them both.

"Hey Di?" Joe poked his head into the bedroom to see his fiancé sat up on the bed feeding Annie.
"Yes? She looked up with a smile. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. Do you want anything bringing up?"
"No, I'm okay. Once Annie's finished, I'm gonna try and put her to bed and then I'll come down and sit with you. Well, at least until this one," she nodded at the baby attached to her, "wakes up or I fall asleep."
Joe laughed softly. "Okay." He kissed Dianne and stroked over the back of his daughters head with his finger. "See you in a mo, I'll make you a drink."
"Thanks gorgeous." Joe walked out of the room, shaking his head as he went. The smile he had had on his face since Annie was born hadn't left once, but there was no stopping it.

"Thank you," Dianne smiled as she took the cup from Joe and sat down next to him on the sofa, watching the tv together for the first time in a while, a baby monitor in front of them on the coffee table. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Joe turned the tv down slightly and leaned into her.
"How you feeling?" He asked. "It's been quite an eventful couple of weeks."
Dianne took a deep breath. "It has. I'm just... I don't really know. I don't have a word to describe it."
"Neither do I," Joe whispered, nuzzling into Dianne's neck. "I thought my heart was full before," he began, "but then you gave birth to Annie and it's even more full. I'm such a soppy git, but I love you so much and I can't wait to marry you."

"I'll get her," Joe whispered as Annie woke them both, fussing from over in her cot. "You got it last time, it's my turn," he said firmly as Dianne went to climb out of bed.
"Okay." Kissing her cheek, he climbed out of bed and crossed over to Annie, scooping her up and taking her out of the room.
"Shush baby, Daddy's got you. What's the matter? You can't be hungry, you were only fed roughly an hour ago. And," he felt her nappy, "you don't need changing so what do you want princess?" Annie kept on crying, the saddened look on her face hurting Joe. Walking into the nursery, he switched the light on and sat in the armchair, holding Annie tightly to his chest and stroking over her back. Running out of options, Joe began to sing the first song that came to mind, his voice soft and gentle as he sung to his baby girl.
So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we
"You're so cute." Joe looked up in surprise to see Dianne stood in the doorway, her phone in her hand and a loved-up smile on her face. "My heart just flipped."
"I thought you'd gone back to sleep. Did you film that?"
"Yes, it's too cute not to." Dianne walked over to them and knelt down in front of the chair, leaning on Joe's knees, looking up at him. "What did she want?"
"Attention," Joe smiled, "and a little sing-song clearly." Nodding towards her, Dianne smiled as she saw Annie back asleep, peacefully laid in Joe's arms.
"Bless her. Come on, let's get some sleep whilst she is." Dianne stood up and walked back to their bedroom, Joe just behind and climbed back under the covers as Joe placed Annie down in her cot as gently as he could, desperate to keep her asleep. Sliding under the duvet, he reached out and brought Dianne into his arms, breathing deeply as she nuzzled into him, her head tucked under his chin. They both fell asleep, legs entwined under the covers.

•••

"How are you doing Dot?"
"I'm good Mum. Annie's doing so well, and Joe and I are coping just fine."
"That's a relief." Rina's voice came through the speakers of Dianne's phone just as Joe came out of the bathroom.
"Hi Rina!" He shouted from behind the phone.
"Hi Joseph! Where's my grandchild?" She asked, looking at Dianne.
"I'll get her." Leaving her phone propped up against her pillows, Dianne walked over to the cot and picked up a very happy baby. "She's such a happy baby," Dianne cooed. "She's no trouble really."
"Bless her, goodness me. She's grown!"
"Hasn't she just," Dianne grinned. "That's all the milk, isn't it baby. Never stops eating this one!"
Rina laughed. "You were the same Dot. Always hungry."
"She still is," Joe said as he came out of their walk-in wardrobe, fully dressed for the day.
"I'd deny it." Dianne turned around and smiled at him, "but I know it's true."