Marcus couldn't help but lift his chin and make a pucker of a face when Olivia scratched at his beard with her tiny fingers, giving a short laugh when it tickled more than he had expected. She was his baby, but the familiarity with which she reached out and touched him, without a trace of the fear or hesitation others generally reserved for him whenever he came near tugged at Marcus's chest. He almost joined Katie when Olivia's tiny voice whispered in his ear, tears rising a few inches in his throat before he swallowed them down.
"Mummies do that sometimes," he replied with a nod, tugging the skirt of her dress down a little as he took his daughter in. Merlin, she looked ridiculous in her dress and boots, but she was the most perfect thing he'd ever seen. She looked like Katie. The tears did rise then, but he smiled through them. "Daddies too. But don't tell anyone."
A crease appeared between his eyebrows as he looked up at Katie to find her closed in on herself. He looked back down at his kid then and nodded. "Did you have dinner?"