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.

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“Faitt,” James announced proudly.

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

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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, you and James 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.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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“I love you too,” she replied.

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“The love I always expected,” James said, toddling up and grinning up at his parents.

​

The family laughed and shared another warm, affectionate embrace.

​