“‘ere a’e my girls.” Johnny grinned, stepping through the front door, clad in his tactical gear — back from a draining, long-ish deployment.

The sight of you, his darling wife, holding your giggly toddler, made his heart swell, a warm, fuzzy feeling spreading through his chest.

Taking the baby into his arms, he focused on her, holding her up while giving her a big smooch on the forehead as she babbled, reaching for his face. “You’re so adorable.”