Blessed - Joe Devereaux

Joe laid awake for a moment before he realized what had woken him up.

Jasper, he thought, listening to the soft crying coming from down the hall. Joe blinked himself awake, and pushed the covers away. Audrey stirred next to him, but he patted her as he sat up. "My turn. I'll get 'im." 

"Mmmkay," she moaned, her eyes still closed, and snuggled back into the pillow.

Joe padded across the cold wood floor, out into the hall and towards the twins' room. "Hey there, little man, hey," he whispered as he picked his boy up. "Shhh, now, shhh! You'll wake Abe up. Shhh..."

The little boy quieted as soon as he was up in his father's arms, and Joe rocked him gently. Joe peered into Abel's crib, and gave a sigh of relief when he saw that Jasper's twin was still fast asleep.

"Com'on, son, let's get you somethin' to eat." He whispered and soothed the baby all the way down to the kitchen. Jasper took the bottle eagerly, and Joe smiled as he watched his son's eyes close as he ate.

My eyes, he thought, just like Abel has Audie's. It seemed like just yesterday he was rushing Audrey to the hospital, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. The hours they'd spent there, with Audie screaming and him pacing and praying. Then the baby doctor, Audie's friend Sunday, had said those words that changed his life forever : "Congratulations! You've got two beautiful sons!"

With Jasper lulled back to sleep, Joe crept back upstairs and settled him back into his crib. He stopped to give Abel a kiss on his soft, sweet-smelling head, and padded back to the bedroom.

"They okay?" Audie asked as he climbed in.

"Mmm-hmm, just fine. Go on back to sleep."

"Mmmkay."

A cool breeze blew in through the window, and Joe curled into Audie's warmth. Blessed, he thought, listening to her soft, rhthymic breathing. That's what we are. Blessed.