This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

Selig blinked sleepy blue eyes as he snuggled into his pillows. McKenna sank onto the edge of his bed, brushing the black curls away from his forehead. "Did you have a good time today, sweetie?"

He nodded. "I did, Mommy. I can't believe Daddy went down the slide with Aislinn. I thought he'd get stuck for sure."

"So did I." She couldn't help but laugh with Selig. The slide in question was the kind that twisted from top to bottom, and Loki attracted quite a number of stares as he disappeared into the first tube. He looked like a giant and she held her breath as she waited for him to get stuck.

But he didn't and when he emerged, the little kids Selig had been playing with all cheered and Aislinn let out a shriek of laughter. After that, he joined McKenna on a nearby bench while Tyra pushed Aislinn in a bucket swing.

"It was a great day, Mommy."

"It sure was, baby." She bent to kiss his forehead. "And now it's time for you to go to sleep."

"Where's Daddy?"

"I'm right here, Sel," Loki came into the room and knelt down beside Selig's bed. "And if I'm lucky, I'll be able to walk upright come morning."

Selig giggled. "You were awesome, Daddy."

"I try."

McKenna slid her arm about his shoulders. "You were awesome, Mr. Odinson."

He turned his smile up to her. "Thank you, Mrs. Odinson. But I think you might be a bit biased."

"Maybe a little." She bent to kiss Selig again, then kissed the top of Loki's head. "I'm going to peek in on Aislinn."

"I'll be there in a minute, love," he replied.

She patted Selig through the covers. "Good night, little man."

"G'night, Mommy."

She left Selig's room to go into the nursery. "Is she ready for her last bottle?"

Tyra nodded. "I just took it out of the warmer, my lady."

"Great." McKenna turned to Aislinn, who stood in her crib, her hands wrapped around the rail. "Come on, little bit. Time for story."

Aislinn smiled. "Mama..."

McKenna lifted her to bring her over to the rocking chair, which was on the terrace overlooking a copse of oak and beech trees. She settled into the chair and Aislinn took the bottle while McKenna opened up Now We Are Six.

It was one of McKenna's favorite parts of the day, when Aislinn snuggled against her as she drank her bottle and seemed to listen intently as McKenna read to her. She was beginning to walk, so bedtime was really the only time she was content to be still.

"You're both getting so big on me," McKenna murmured, smoothing a hand over Aislinn's glossy black curls. "Selig's going to be four in a few days, you're going to be one. The time's gone by so quickly."

It seemed like just yesterday she was in the small bathroom in her apartment in Brunswick, staring in horror at a pregnancy test stick with the tiny word PREGNANT staring back at her. Odin had sent Loki back to the Asgardian dungeon and her back to earth, and she was terrified at the thought of being a single mother as well as heartbroken over losing Loki.

But then Loki, disguised as Thor, showed up at her apartment, having broken out of prison yet again, and her terror over single motherhood morphed into hesitation at having to tell Loki he was going to be a father. They were already engaged, but she still didn't know how he'd react to the surprise news.