Matthew smiled widely as The Queen Coral approached the London docks. He had only been away from Amy for a month, but he missed her like mad. Even after five years of marriage, he still found himself every bit as in love with her as he had been on the day they were wed. In fact, after the birth of their son, James, who was now three years old, he had found that he could love her, and him, even more still.

When they were first married, Amy had traveled with him, and she had enjoyed seeing parts of the world to which she had never traveled. Her eyes would light up each time the ship would dock in a port in a new country, and her girlish excitement had always been instantly infectious to him.

However, once they discovered that she was pregnant with James, they had decided that it would be best if she remained at home when he traveled. He conjured up images of his wife and son’s faces, and the smile, which had been permanently on his face since his wedding day, broadened. His heart began racing as he thought of the sight of his small family greeting him upon his return.

Moments later, his belongings were being loaded into the carriage that would take him home. He gave his ship’s crew the usual maintenance orders, as well as his plans for his next departure, which he expected to be in another month’s time, and then he rushed off the ship. As the carriage rolled along the road, he whistled to himself. He felt that there was no way he could ever be happier than he was, and he whispered a prayer of gratitude.

After what felt like ages, but Matthew knew was only about half an hour, the carriage, at last, pulled up in front of the home he shared with his wife and son. He leaped from the coach before it came to a stop and started for the front door. As he did, however, he heard a delighted, high-pitched squeal coming from the field at the left side of the manor. Matthew changed course and walked toward the small meadow.

He saw Amy and James first, and he stood and watched them for several moments, his heart filling with love and pride. Amy was sitting on a large blanket in the middle of the beautiful wildflowers that grew all over the manor’s property. There was a picnic basket beside her as well as a handful of James’s toys. James himself was toddling around in front of his mother, laughing and squealing as he chased Faith in circles.

The cat, now fully grown, was every bit as sweet to James as she had always been with Matthew and Amy. She would let him tug on her tail and pick her up in what had to be uncomfortable positions. She also seemed to love what she was doing with him just then. She would stop mid-chase and roll on her back and wait for James to approach and rub her stomach. She would then put her front paws on James’s arm and begin licking his hand, which would send him into a fit of giggles. Then, she would leap up, and the chasing would begin again.

As though sensing his silent presence, Amy turned her head toward him just then. When her eyes met him, she smiled brightly and rose from the blanket. Matthew rushed to meet her and gently picked her up by the waist, spinning her in a circle before kissing her sweetly and embracing her. James took notice of the commotion and ran toward his parents.

“Papa,” he grinned, wrapping his chubby arms around the hugging couple’s legs.

Matthew released his wife to scoop up their son in his arms. James giggled as his father swung him around in the air, kissing his cheek.

“How is my strong little man?” Matthew asked.

The child turned in his father’s arms and pointed to Faith, who was crouching nearby in the grass, as though preparing to pounce on Matthew.

“Faitt,” James announced proudly.

Amy giggled. “He has been working very hard on learning to say her name.”

Matthew beamed at his son. “Very good, my boy,” he said. “And how is Miss Faith?”

As if on cue, Faith made three short leaps through the grass until she reached Matthew’s feet. There, she came to an abrupt stop and began winding herself around his legs. As he put James back down on the ground, he reached down and stroked the cat between the ears. She began purring and licked his hand, which was her customary greeting when he returned back from his ventures.

“How was your trip, darling?” Amy asked, taking his hand and leading him over to the blanket on which she had been sitting.

Matthew knelt down beside her and kissed her hand softly. “It went better than I expected,” he said. “I went for a business meeting about the ships I was telling you about, but I ended up securing a deal in the coffee trade as well.”

Amy clapped her hands together and kissed her husband on the cheek.

“That is wonderful news,” she said.

Matthew nodded enthusiastically. “And hopefully soon, James and you will get to travel with me,” he said. “This is a wonderful time of year to be out at sea.”

Amy smiled and blushed and opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by James.

“Faitt,” he said again, holding the cat in a very awkward position.

Matthew laughed, gently rescuing the still, but wide-eyed, feline from his son’s tight grasp.

“It most certainly is Faith,” Matthew said, scratching the cat behind the ear and kissing her on top of her head before placing her gently back down on the ground.

“But you must be careful. If you hold her incorrectly and hurt her, she might show you how sharp her claws can be.”

Amy giggled, taking her turn to pet the cat, who was now rolling in the grass in front of her.

“She adores James,” she said. “She tolerates everything he does to her. I believe she understands that he is small and that he does not intend to harm her.”

Matthew smiled at Faith warmly. “That is more good news,” he said, laughing as Faith suddenly stopped rolling, crouched as she had with Matthew, and went bounding after a giggling James, who was now chasing a butterfly. “And I do believe that you are right.”

Amy turned back to Matthew and took his hands in hers. She looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes, and she blushed again.

“And all this good news has come at the best of times,” she asserted, suddenly looking very shy.

Matthew smiled curiously at his wife. “Why is that?” he asked.

She glanced over her shoulder, then leaned close to her husband and put her lips next to his ear.

“Because soon, James will not be our only little one,” she said.

Matthew looked at Amy’s face, a smile spreading rapidly across his face. “Do you mean…” he trailed off, his voice thickening with emotion.

Amy nodded and giggled both anxiously and excitedly. “I am expecting our second child.”

Matthew leaped to his feet and gently helped Amy to hers. He picked her up once more, twirling and kissing her as he had when she had spotted him.

“I love you,” he said, pulling her close and caressing her cheek.

“I love you too,” she replied.

“I love you,” James said, toddling up and grinning up at his parents.

The family laughed and shared another warm, affectionate embrace.