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"Mommy! Daddy!" Mandy cried, a big smile on the girl's pretty face. She ran from Linda and straight to her parents.
Adam, at a knelt position, opened his arms to his daughter, and she rushed into his embrace.
"Oh, Blondie... How are you, my love?"
"Good, Daddy!" Amanda smiled as she looked into his face, then exchanged a small kiss with him.
Amy laughed softly as she stood beside them, watching the exchange. As always, she found their interaction to be so precious. She lived for moments like this. She found herself anxious for Christmas to come in a few more weeks, knowing what a wonderful family time that would be. Because of their hectic schedules, they still hadn't had a chance to visit Adam's mother, and Judy Copeland had yet to meet her granddaughter. That would be yet another special moment, one to always be cherished.
"Mommy!"
"Hi, sweetheart. How was your day?" the redhead asked. She knelt down a bit, thankful that she didn't experience a dizzy spell in the process. Lately, she'd been feeling not only sick as her pregnancy progressed, but very tired a lot of the time, and dizzy as well. And she was also at that point where she had to pee a lot as well. At only four months now, she knew from experience in her pregnancy with Mandy that *that* particular aspect would only worsen as she got bigger.
Amy straightened up as Linda approached the small, happy family. She offered the woman a smile.
"How are you?" the nanny inquired. Briefly, her gaze traveled to Adam and Amanda. The tall blond man was now being led by the hand by the little girl, and she was trying to tug him over somewhere to look at something.
"I'm doing very well," Amy replied gratefully. "A little stressed out, but good otherwise."
Linda nodded. She'd always liked Amy Dumas so much and found her to be such a sweetheart.
"You know I'm always here for you, dear... For you, Adam, and especially darling Amanda."
"I know, Linda. Thank you." The redhead embraced the nanny, realizing she was beginning to get teary and choked up.
When they released one another, Amy sniffled with emotion. The older woman was almost like a second mother to her.
"Mandy, Adam," she called, glancing back over her shoulder at them. "Linda is leaving now!"
Adam scooped the little girl up and carried her as he made his way back to them. He offered the kind nanny a bright smile.
"I know I probably don't say it enough," he began, "but thank you. Thanks for being so great with Blondie here."
Linda smiled softly and nodded.
"It's my pleasure."
When she left moments later, Adam wrapped one arm around Amy, nuzzling her hair as she sank into his touch. She smelled so incredible to him. And she was so beautiful, it took his breath away. She'd always been gorgeous, but ever since she'd been pregnant, she was absolutely glowing.
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
The redhead smiled as she gazed up into his handsome face. Those ethereally beautiful forest-green eyes of his were sparkling.
"Not in the last ten minutes, no," she quipped.
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I love you."
Mandy smiled and clung onto her father, her right hand, as always, playing with his long golden hair that was so much like her own.
For the first time in over a week, Amy was feeling was feeling truly good... More so than that, she hadn't been plagued by anxiety. She'd pretty much all but put the situation out of her mind - for the time being. Even so, she knew that it couldn't be possible that Adam would be the one in trouble. He wasn't even in hot water after the fight...
... But then again, neither was Matt. Or *was* he?
She didn't want to think about that. Her mood had been so good these last few days. They'd just finished up the court papers to have Mandy's last name changed legally. So now, she was officially a Copeland. This had taken place a few days earlier, and Adam had been so happy, he'd shed some tears of joy right alongside the redhead. And they were getting married at the City Hall when they were back home this coming Wednesday. Adam had assumed Amy wanted a big, fancy wedding with the works, but she'd told him she didn't care... All she wanted was *him*.
She thought she couldn't be any happier... And she had a doctor's appointment in a few days as well, to check on the baby - she was getting a sonogram.
Finally, the three of them headed into the arena. But they all failed to notice the pair of eyes
watching them with hatred and malice.