Travis
Five years later …
“Daddy, I want to peel the carrots!” Beatrice, our four-year-old daughter, tugged at my pant leg, trying to get my attention.
“Of course, pumpkin. Do you remember to use the peeler?”
She nodded as I hoisted her onto her step stool. Carefully, I placed the carrots in front of my child before handing her a purple-colored peeler which she eagerly grasped into her hand, brandishing it like a sword.
As my darling daughter occupied herself with that task, I stood beside her, supervising while simultaneously cutting up a slab of beef into thin strips.
“When does Mommy come home?” Beatrice asked, looking up at me innocent brown eyes, her curls askew. It’s amazing how much Bea looks like her mom, a Mini-Me of Janie down to her chestnut curls and warm caramel gaze.
“Hopefully after we finish making dinner,” I chuckled.
“I’m so excited. It’s Mommy’s birthday!” she giggled.
“Me too, pumpkin.” I kissed the top of her head. “How are those carrots looking? They coming along well?”
“Good!” She had managed to peel one carrot to near perfection, which is quite the accomplishment for a four year-old. But unfortunately, there were still seven more to go, and at this rate, we would be here all night long.
“Do you mind if Daddy helps?” I asked gently, taking the peeler from her chubby fist.
She shook her head, pigtails whipping from side to side.
“No Daddy. You do it,” she said graciously, hopping off the step stool.
Quickly, I finished off the rest of the carrots before chopping them up and adding them to the stir-fry.
“Do you want to set the table, Bea?” I called out. “Daddy would appreciate the help.”
Because this is my life now. I still practice medicine, but I’ve gone into a different specialty. The emergency room wasn’t working for me, nor for us as a couple. And after Janie had her accident, I swore to never work those kinds of hours again.
So now I’m a radiologist. The hours can be long, sure, but it isn’t the kind of endless hustle and bustle that characterizes emergency work. Instead, I only work three days a week, staring at X-ray film with a magnifying glass in hand. And the remainder of the week, I’m with my wife and daughter, which means the world to me. Sure, I miss interacting with patients, but at the same time radiology is fulfilling too, and if anything, I’m saving even more lives now.
Besides, Bea and Janie are my life, and I like it that way. Never have I felt so fulfilled and content, trading in the sheer exhaustion of being a doctor a hundred percent of the time, to being doctor and family man. For what it’s worth, my sister was right. Why work your fingers to the bone if you never have an opportunity to enjoy life? It’s the loving that counts in the end, and I’d been missing out.
Suddenly, a snick sounded in the lock and my heart leapt.
It was Janie. My darling girl was home after a long day at work as an assistant editor at a major publishing firm. Never was I so proud when she got the job, and Janie was succeeding beyond our wildest dreams too. Even as a working mom, the publisher quickly saw her potential, and Janie’s been promoted twice in three years.
So now I’m Mr. Mom on my days off, while Janie goes out to work. Quickly, I straightened out the collar of my shirt, primping like a fifteen year-old boy on his first date.
The door swung open, and as always, my girl was as beautiful as ever. Somehow, the woman was getting better and better with age, that curvy form filling out even more so that there were overflowing handfuls in all the right places. Every time I looked at the brunette, she managed to take my breath away. Shit, how did I get so lucky?
“Welcome home,” I rumbled, striding forwards and easing the coat off her shoulders. “How was work?”
“Good,” she answered, giggling a little. “What’s gotten into you Travis? Why is your hair combed and why are you wearing a nice shirt?”
I grinned. I’d primped a little for her arrival, wanting to look my best.
“It’s your birthday, baby. Is it a crime for me to want to look nice for my best girl?”
“No, I guess not,” Janie murmured, slinging her arms around my neck and pulling me into a kiss. Throughout the years, she’d remained her shy self but occasionally, the girl came out with a flair of boldness that took me by surprise.
I liked it. And desperate for her touch, I pushed her against the wall, our lips colliding together in a passionate kiss. She pulled at my hair as our tongues fought for dominance. My hands wandered all over her body, fingers digging into her flesh, craving every inch of her. Her lips were divine, sweet and delicious, and I realized I was an addict who’d never be able to get enough.
But all too soon, we heard the pitter-patter of small feet as our daughter peered around the corner. Beatrice couldn’t be subtle if she tried, it’s one of the cutest things.
“Mommy!” she screamed, rushing forward, hugging Janie’s leg.
Leaning down, Janie lifted Beatrice into her arms, holding her tight. “Oof, you’re heavy sweetheart. What’s my big girl been doing today?”
Beatrice giggled, curls bouncing merrily.
“I made you a present for your birthday,” she boasted.
“Oh? Let me see.”
She wiggled out of her mother’s embrace and ran to the coffee table before picking up a black velvet box, small and discreet.
Janie’s eyes went wide, swinging to my big form. There’s only one thing that comes in boxes like these, and Janie had my heart. But Bea was here, and we had to indulge her.
“You made this sweetheart?”
Bea nodded furiously.
“See?” she said, pointing to a sticker she’d pasted on top of the velvet. It was pretty funny, a picture of a cartoon rabbit. “I made,” she announced proudly.
And Janie looked at me again, those caramel pools wide and filled with emotion. Because yes, I want to be with her forever. These last couple years have taught me what true happiness is, and I want to keep Janie by my side permanently, before the eyes of man, god, and the law.
Slowly, the brunette’s fingers opened the small case, trembling as she inhaled sharply.
“It’s beautiful, Travis,” were her breathless words, taking in the three-carat diamond solitaire set on a platinum band. “Absolutely gorgeous,” she smiled, eyes filling with tears.
“Aw sweetheart, don’t cry,” was my rumble. “You’re so beautiful when you cry. But honey, this is supposed to be a happy day. Because will you be my wife? Will you stay with me forever, and make me an honest man?”
My own throat was filled with a lump that seemed the size of Mount Rushmore, the air in my lungs disappearing suddenly. And when Janie nodded, eyes shining brightly, I swept both my girls into my arms.
“Good,” I murmured in my fiancée’s ear. “Because I love you, Janie Richards,” were my fierce words, “and I’m never letting you go.”
The brunette kissed me softly, even as Bea tugged on her hair. But surprisingly, Janie had a gift for me too even though it was her birthday.
“Travis, I have a surprise for you,” she murmured, pulling back slightly with a sweet smile on her lips.
“Nothing could be better than what I have now,” I swore vehemently, claiming her plush pout in another deep kiss. “Nothing.”
But Janie giggled slightly, her eyes full of mischief.
“Are you sure? Because I’m pregnant again, big guy … and this time it’s with twins.”
My jaw dropped so far you could have picked it up off the floor. Because was this true? Were we going to have numbers two and three in short order, two more children that were the manifestation of our love?
Janie nodded again, eyes sparkling.
“That’s right, we’re going for broke this time. And by the way, Dr. Travis, I love you too.”
And with that my fate was sealed. I belong to the curvy girl and she belongs to me. With the engagement, our daughter, and now two new babies on the way, what could possibly go wrong? A lot, frankly. After all, there were two careers thrown in the mix, plus the incessant demands of parenthood. But we’ve come so far since that first day when Janie knocked on my door … and now that I have the curvy girl in my arms, I’ll never let her go again.
THE END
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