Four and a half years later
Brock
“Babe, hurry up,” I holler down the hall to my wife, who is moving slowly these days. Things between us have been nothing short of a dream. I keep waiting for things to fall apart, but Ripley’s convinced this is my reward for surviving my childhood. My wife is crazy, but I wouldn’t have her any other way. While I wait for her to come down the hall I pick up Nerf guns and darts that liter the floor after our latest battle.
A minute later, she waddles down the hall. Our daughter is due in a couple of weeks. Once she reaches me, I place my hand on her belly and my lips on hers. My daughter already loves her daddy and gives my hand a firm kick. I smile at Ripley and say, “I love when she does that.”
“I’d love it more if she’d stop kicking my bladder. None of the boys did that. She’s going to be a stinker, I can tell already.” I promised her that after this baby we’d be done, since we’ll have three kids under the age of three. Tyler is three, and Cameron is one and a half. Our little girl will be Mara.
“Who’s ready to go to Uncle Jonah and Aunt Jessica’s?” Alex and Tyler both scream yes and Cameron just screams. I gaze at my wife and smile. We’re heading to Jonah and Jessica’s for their three-year-old twins’ birthday party. They didn’t have any more kids after the twins; Jessica had a difficult pregnancy and birth, so Jonah said two was enough.
Tiny passed away two years ago from cancer, and it was hard on all of us, especially Alex. We’ve talked and talked about getting another one, but with the kids, we don’t really have time for a puppy. Maybe once the kids are older we can discuss it again.
“All right my beautiful babies, let’s go.” We get the kids loaded up and head across town to Jonah and Jessica’s place.
It’s hard to believe Jonah and I have become so close, and that I’d even call him my best friend. We’ve been through a lot and it brought us all closer together. A bond like ours is unshakeable.
“Before I forget, Mom can watch the kids for our date night, unless of course our princess decides to come sooner.” My mom is great. Apparently Cheryl wasn’t into my mom like that; they’re just best friends and super close. She’d come out of a marriage kind of like my mom’s so she was able to guide her through the healing process.
When my dad died, we did have a small service for him; we owed him that after he helped save Alex. Of course, my mom still doesn’t know the truth. No point opening those wounds. I’m Alex’s father, and that’s all anyone needs to know. She treats him the same way she treats her other grandsons. Ripley’s mom is doing well too; she’s begun dating but hasn’t met anyone ‘special’, to use her word. She spends a lot of time with her grandbabies.
My grandparents are getting around a little slower these days, but they’re never too busy for a visit with their great-grandchildren. I swear they love Ripley more than me, but really, who could blame them? Ripley only works part-time now so she takes the kids to see them as often as she can.
Pulling up in front of the house I shake my head; there is a huge bounce house on the front lawn, balloons, and streamers everywhere. I park on the street and we all pile out. With Cameron in my arms, we make our way up to the front door, which swings open as we approach. Out comes the twins, Samantha and Seth, and they hug each of us before they run back into the house. As always when we get together, chaos ensues.
I ease my softening cock out of Ripley, loving the sound of her whimper as I snuggle against her back. On our sides seems to be the only comfortable way for us to make love these days, and I’ll take her any way I can get her. I kiss the back of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent as it wraps around me and soaks into my soul. She rolls over until she’s facing me. “It was a fun day.”
“Yeah baby it was. The kids wore themselves out,” I say, smiling and chuckling. Ripley’s eyes glisten in the moonlight, and I stroke her cheek. “What is it?”
“I love you, and even though our path to this point was rocky, I wouldn’t change anything.” Tears leak from her eyes; pregnancy seems to make her emotional and sentimental, so I just do what I always do—pull her as close as I can and stroke a hand over her hair.
First I touch the necklace around her neck. After we got married I found the promise ring I had bought for Ripley in high school, and I never had the chance to give it to her. She’d cried for two day after, especially since it didn’t fit over her finger. I ended up buying her a chain for it and she’s never taken it off.
“I wouldn’t change anything either. You, the boys, and this little girl—” I smooth my hand over her swollen belly—“Are my everything. Now no more tears, you know I hate when you cry.” I dry the wetness and kiss her lips.
It doesn’t take long before my girl drifts to sleep. How is it that one horrible night and one horrible moment set us on a path that led here? After that night so long ago, I swore my life was over. Instead, a higher power had a different path for me, and in the end, it brought me to them. Easing out of bed, I check on my boys, finding them all sleeping peacefully.
First, I look in on Alex. Right after Ripley and I got married I adopted him and he officially became my son. He’s eight now and is our little athlete already. Alex strives to be the best at everything he does. He’s a good student and loves helping with his brothers. I know he’ll be a great and protective big brother to his baby sister when she comes.
Next I peek in on Tyler and Cameron. Tyler looks identical to me when I was that age with dark hair and dark eyes. He’s always intense, but he sure loves his mom. Cameron is asleep in his crib, but he’s starting to get too big for it. He’ll be moving up to a big boy bed in no time. He’s a combination of both of us. He’s blond like Ripley, but has my dark eyes. Cam just loves being wherever his brothers are.
I can’t wait to see what our daughter looks like. I hope she looks like her momma. Of course I hope she doesn’t get her momma’s sassiness or we’ll all be in trouble.
Crawling back into bed with my sleeping wife, I send up silent thanks for the many blessings in my life, and I do it with a smile.
The End