“Oh yes, Baby Bear”, answered Mommy, “even more.”

When he heard this, Arik jumped into his parent’s arms and squeezed them as tight as he could. Julia jumped in too. Not wanting to be left out Casey leaped into the growing pile excitedly licking everyone’s faces. Soon they were all tickling one another and laughing as hard as they could.

Later that night after dinner and bedtime stories Arik and Julia were starting to get sleepy eyed.

“Mommy”, Arik asked, “let’s cuddle in your love nest.”

“Yes, Baby Bird, let’s. Get in here you two”. Feeling warm and safe in Mommy’s love nest Arik looked up and whispered softly…

“Mommy, do you love me”?

“Oh yes my precious little Baby Bird, I love you more than you can know”.

“But where do you love me Mommy”, he asked?

As Mommy placed Arik’s hand on her heart she whispered, “here Baby Bird, in the same place you’ve always been”.

Arik smiled, and as he held Mommy his sleepy eyes closed and he nodded off in peaceful sleep.

The End

© Mark R Schneider