Two hours later, the little one was finally asleep.

Jeremy moved carefully, settling the girl onto the wide sofa and tucking a small blanket over her round belly. Giny shifted in her sleep, rolling toward the cushion with a trail of drool at the corner of her mouth, murmuring something no one could quite make out.

He pressed his palm gently against the crown of her head and held it there until her breathing went deep and slow. Only then did he pull ...