Mary Beth was awed. “She’s perfect. Look at her little fingers. Oh my. And those teeny-tiny fingernails. What a beautiful baby. Hello, Amanda. Welcome to the world.”

Carrie came over to make sure she was doing everything correctly. “She likes you. I can tell.”

“That’s wonderful. I like her. And you’re doing a very good job as her big sister, Carrie.” The baby gurgled as Mary Beth rocked her.

Eve looked pleased as she sat down gingerly on the edge of the bed. “Let me tell you, everything’s different with the second one. You don’t hover so much.”

Carrie got busy with the splendid present Mary Beth had brought just for her: a Noah’s Ark with baby animals, two of each. She’d saved Amanda’s gift for Eve to unwrap once Carrie went home with her dad.

“How’s AJ doing?”

“He’s tired,” Eve answered honestly. “But happy. And he’s sure as heck not as tired as I am. The good thing is, he knows that. There’s nothing he won’t do for me and these kids.”

“Amanda’s not a kid yet. She’s just a teeny-tiny precious little pumpkin,” Mary Beth cooed.

The unabashed baby talk made Eve laugh. “Listen to you.”

Mary Beth didn’t care what she sounded like. “What a plump little rumpkin this pumpkin has.” She patted the baby’s bottom. “Is this all diaper?”

“Pretty much,” Eve laughed. “She only weighs seven pounds.”

“Seven pounds and three ouches,” Carrie added without missing a beat.

“You mean ounces,” her mother said. “But you’re right again. Smart girl.” She ruffled her daughter’s hair and caught her fingers in a tangle. “Oops. I don’t think Daddy’s been combing your hair.”

“I won’t let him,” Carrie informed her. “You have to come home.”

“I will, honey. Very soon. The doctor is coming tomorrow to make sure I’m ready.”

Parr stood outside in the hallway, the lavish bouquet he’d brought for Eve held behind his back, as if he’d forgotten all about it. He couldn’t take his eyes off the serene vision of Mary Beth with a newborn infant cuddled in her arms. Eve was talking to little Carrie—he could hear them but he couldn’t see them from where he was.

Being invisible was a privilege. The moment was magical. He could have looked at Mary Beth for hours, until someone got around to noticing him. He had never seen her this way.

The peach-colored material that concealed her down to her ankles cast a glow on her pale complexion. But that alone wasn’t what made her so radiant.

She was purely happy.