Second Chance at Love(84)

Baby Noah responded by bouncing up and down in his mother’s arms. Karen kissed his cheek again as she sat in Dom’s lap.



This is heaven, Dom thought as he held his wife and new baby in his lap. Although he loved being a father to Ashley and Kyle, he wouldn’t change this experience for all the riches in the world. Watching his son grow in his wife’s belly, feeling him kick and witnessing him coming into this world, sounding off his arrival with a set of lungs that put Luciano Pavarotti to shame, had been beyond amazing.



Leaning in, she softly kissed his lips. “Morning, baby.”



Smiling against her lips, he commented, “Now that’s more like it.”



She purred deep in her throat as Dom delved in, taking her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.



Noah wiggled on his mother’s lap until he was able to stand up, leaning against her chest for support. A tiny, chubby hand began to whack his father’s stubbly jaw. Breaking the kiss, Karen and Dom laughed. Being the bright, baby that he is, Noah bounced up and down, showing off two tiny bottom teeth as he smiled and drooled at his parents.



“I don’t think Noah likes you kissing me,” she teased.



Dom chuckled as he kissed his son’s forehead. “Dude, you gotta stop blocking your old man.”



Karen laughed and stood as she handed the baby to Dom. Going over to the stove where Dom had left a plate of scrambled eggs and turkey bacon, she opened the range top microwave and set the timer for forty-five seconds.



Pouring a cup of decaffeinated hazelnut coffee, she put in just enough flavored creamer to make it sweet. Although the timer went off she didn’t remove the plate. Instead she leaned against the kitchen counter. Taking a sip of the hot brew, she smiled behind her mug. “Big Poppa, you better get used to the blocking.”



“Why’s that?” he asked as he grabbed Noah’s hand before he could get a hold of the rim of the glass of orange juice.



Pulling the mug away from her lips, she pointed to Noah, who was now reaching for the tiny bowl his daddy had fed him oatmeal cereal from earlier.



Thinking Karen was trying to signal for him to keep Noah from sending the bowl airborne, Dom repositioned the squirming babe on his lap. He hadn’t expected her to say, “Because you’re about to get another one of those.”



Dom leaped from his chair. Using his free hand he pumped his fist in the air. “You hear that Noah? Momma Bear is having another baby bear!”



Karen threw her head back and laughed. She had anticipated that Dom’s reaction would be as such. He loved being a father.



Now she couldn’t wait for them to tell the kids. Ashley and Kyle were crazy about their baby brother. They spoiled him something terrible and baby Noah loved every minute of it. Walking the short distance to her husband, Karen stood on tippy-toes, giving him a tender kiss on the lips. “Thanks for making all my dreams come true.”



Smiling down at her, Dom returned the kiss that was just as tender. “Ditto.”



All was right with the world in the Peretti household.