The Marriage Clause by Dahlia Rose Page B

you. I remember you were almost ten pounds. She’s such a blessing, a new addition to our family,” Brownie said.
    “With parents who will love her and great grandmothers to spoil her,” Gran added.
    “We’ll take her to the nursery and get you cleaned up and moved to a maternity suite,” Rhonda said and took the baby from Mikael. “Then she’ll be brought to you and you can keep her in the room, unless you’re sleeping then we’ll take her to the nursery. Major, you can stay as long as you like, and both of you will be wearing arm bands that match little Isabella’s.”
    Gran and Brownie opted to leave for the second part of the process where she delivered the afterbirth and was cleaned up. They got to hold Isabella before Mikael took them home and left with a plan to hit ever baby boutique in Manhattan the next day. Much later she was resting comfortably in her suite and she fell asleep after a quick meal.  She heard Mikael’s voice and it pulled her from her sleep. He was standing at the window looking over the New York skyline, rocking the baby in his arms. Outside the lights of the city glittered in the backdrop of the dark sky and she listened as Mikael spoke to their daughter.
    “You’re going to love your room, your mommy created it. I helped a little bit but she was the brains of the operation.” Mikael kissed her forehead and then her tiny hand. “I guess I should let you know I’ll be an over protective dad and that the military allows me to have weapons, so boyfriends may be a hard time for you. I mean, thirty is a good age to date in my opinion.”
    “Traumatizing her early?” India asked gently.
    “No, I think she deserves much better than any man this city could offer,” Mikael answered. He walked over and handed her the baby before pressing a kiss on India’s lips. “How are you feeling?”
    “Sore, but happy and empty, I kinda of miss feeling her moving around in my tummy,” India admitted.
    “Wanted to keep her to yourself, that’s selfish,” Mikael teased.
    “Do you love her as much as I do already?” India asked suddenly.
    “That and more.” Mikael sat on the side of her bed. “I love you so much, and here you give me the greatest gift a man could ask for. How can I not cherish you for the rest of our lives for Isabella?”
    India smiled. “I love you too. We’ll need a son so she’ll have a playmate.”
    Mikael grinned. “I was thinking the same thing.”
    “In a few years,” India laughed. “I know that look.”
    “Now all we have to do is have a wedding,” he said. ‘We kinda did it in the wrong order, didn’t we?”
    India shook her head. “Not at all, we did it our way. First friends, lovers, parents, and then husband and wife. It sounds just right for our crazy family.”
    Isabella gave a small cry and India looked down at her lovingly. “Time for a feeding I assume? Mikael hold her a minute while I get the buttons of this night shirt.”
    He took the baby gently and soon India had her suckling at her breasts. She was unashamed that Mikael watched with interest and stroked the baby’s soft curls as she fed. They talked about the future and all the plans they had. With the New York City skyline in the backdrop, they made the perfect picture of a family.
    * * * *
    One month later…
     
    Mikael stood in the church waiting for his bride to be walked down the aisle.  It had been a hectic month with a new baby at home and then two holidays back to back. It was New Years Eve in New York and the crowds would be flocking to Times Square to watch the ball drop, regardless of the freezing temperature. This year Mikael would bring the New Year in with his wife and daughter.  He didn’t want a new year to begin without having India as his bride. Brownie and Gran were leaving later in a limousine for their annual Atlantic City party. But right now they were with India and Isabella as they got ready in the dressing room of the church.
    In a small Catholic church