I pull the rag from my back pocket and wipe the sweat from my forehead, then take a minute to look around and admire my surroundings. It’s done. It’s finally fucking done. The excitement and anticipation of seeing the pleasure on Gwen’s and the kids’ faces once I show them brings a smile to my face.

As soon as I step out onto the porch, I hear girly giggles and boyish laughter. I chuckle when I see Daniel chasing after Kelsey with a water gun. Gigi, Pepper, and Charlie run after them. Every few steps he gives it a few pumps, then pulls the trigger, hitting her in the back.

It took a while for Kelsey to fully get past her mutism and start talking regularly. She still went through phases where she wouldn’t speak for a few days, but the time between those episodes grew until they no longer existed.

Two days after Gwen was released from the hospital after the accident, she made an appointment for Kelsey with a psychiatrist Jeremy recommended. Kelsey went once a week, and even Gwen and Daniel went to a few sessions with her. When Gwen told the doctor about what happened to Clara and Rayne, she asked if I would consider coming in for private sessions. I didn’t really care to open myself up to a complete stranger, but I did it for Gwen and the kids. Surprisingly, it did help. Pain still grips me at times, but I’m able to manage it better.

Gwen and I both have caught Kelsey and Daniel sitting alone several times while Kelsey quietly talks about Will, their father. Daniel’s recollection of him is slim, so it’s good that Kelsey wants to share her memories with Daniel. It helps keep his memory alive for them both. It’s also good therapy for Kelsey.

I walk down the steps and across the yard toward the house. A delicious smell hits my nose when I walk in the door. I head straight for the kitchen where I know Gwen is. She’s at the counter, chopping something, and I walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her heavily pregnant belly, and kiss the back of her neck.

“Hey, you,” she says, turning her head so I can get to her lips.

I moan when she opens up to me and meets my tongue with hers. She tastes like strawberries, her pregnancy craving. She says she never liked strawberries until then.

Just like every time I kiss her, my cock turns hard and body yearns for hers. Only knowing that the kids could come inside at any minute keeps me from making love to her right here in the kitchen.

I pull back and she turns in my arms, leaning back against the counter.

My stomach meets hers, preventing me from getting close.

I smile down at her. “It’s done,” I say simply.

Her eyes open wide and exhilaration washes over her face. Her fingers dig into my arms.

“Really?” she asks.

I nod, then kiss the tip of her nose. “Really.”

She squeals in excitement and it makes me laugh. I love seeing the pure bliss on her face.

I feel a nudge against my stomach and look down, running my hands over the sides of her swollen belly.

“I think someone else is excited too,” I remark with a chuckle.

She giggles.

“I wanna see it.”

I kiss her one more time before scooping her up into my arms and heading out the door. She’s used to me carrying her, so she doesn’t complain, just wraps her arms around me and snuggles her face against my neck. I walk across the yard and into the new house I’ve built for my family. I opt to wait to show the kids until after Gwen sees it. All the rooms are empty. We just need to move everything in and buy what still needs to be bought. I’ve had a lot of help from a few of the local people, friends that I’ve reacquainted with in Cat’s Valley, and James and Jeremy. My parents have even made several trips so my dad could help.

James wanted to come over today to help me finish up the house, but I declined his offer. I knew today I would be done, and I wanted to be the person to put the finishing touches on it.

I lead Gwen through every room, letting her take in the white walls I’ll let her pick the paint for, the hardwood floors and the shag carpet in the bedrooms, the kitchen with the granite countertops, the master bathroom with the huge garden tub and separate shower, the big family room we plan to fill during holidays. I watch Gwen’s face as we go through each room, and every time her smile grows, my heart feels fuller.

Gwen and I married two years ago and we’ve all been living in my cramped cabin. I ended up converting the utility room into two small separate rooms for the kids. I wanted them with me, and I couldn’t leave the cabin because of the horses. It was to tide us over until I could build a house for us.

When we stop at the room that’s connected with ours, tears form in her eyes. It’s the nursery our baby will sleep and grow up in. When we first talked about building a house, Gwen asked if she could see the designs for the one I was going to build for Clara and Rayne. She fell in love with the design, and with a few tweaks here and there, we decided to go with it. At first it was painful to think about building something that was meant for Clara and know she’d never get to see it, but over time I realized she would want me to still build it. Besides, I have a feeling she can see it from where she is.

“This is perfect,” Gwen says, her voice full of emotion. She looks around the room. “The whole house is perfect.” She walks over to me, gets to her tiptoes, and gives me a sweet kiss. “Thank you,” she murmurs against my lips.

I wrap my arms around her and bring her in as close as I can. I love feeling her belly against mine. When she first told me she was pregnant, my first reaction was to be scared out of my mind. Memories of the many times Clara fell pregnant only to miscarry gripped me tight and started suffocating me. It took Gwen several times calling my name to snap me out of it. Immediately afterwards, I had her doctor on the phone, demanding an appointment for the next day. He was a local doctor and the same one that treated Clara, so he knew my history with Clara and saw the fear on my face. After going over Gwen’s past medical records and assessing her himself, he reassured me that she was perfectly healthy and should have no reason for concern. He said she should have a completely normal and healthy pregnancy. His reassurance helped, but didn’t take away the worry completely. She’s got a month and a half left, and I don’t think the worry will go away until she delivers. It’s just ingrained in me.

“When can we move in?” she asks.

I lace my fingers together loosely and rest them against the small of her back. Her hair is so long now that I feel the ends tickle my fingers.

“All that’s left now is for you to pick a color for the walls, have the furniture and appliances delivered, then pack up the cabin and move everything over here.” I give her a stern look. “And when I say pack up the cabin, I mean anyone other than you.”

She laughs and pinches my sides. “Shush. I can do a little.”

I narrow my eyes at her, but she doesn’t back down. I give in only because when it comes time for it, I’ll get my way anyway and not let her lift a finger. I’ve already got packers and movers lined up to help.

I scoop her back into my arms and carry her back down to the living room. As soon as I set her on her feet, we hear the pitter-patter of small feet on the porch seconds before the front door is thrown open and Daniel and Kelsey rush through the door.

“Can we see?” Kelsey asks excitedly.

I catch sight of my wife’s expression. It’s been two and a half years and she still gets a soft look when Kelsey speaks and shows her happiness.

I watch as Gwen takes both of the kids’ hands and waddles as she leads them around the house. I follow them with a smile on my face. I look at Daniel as he eagerly points out how he wants his new room to be set up. My eyes next move to Kelsey and admire the many changes in her over the last couple of years. The once quiet girl that held so much pain in her eyes is now vibrant and outgoing. I then look at Gwen and feel my chest swell.

These three people have become my life, and with them, I’ve moved past the pain of losing Clara and Rayne. Through their love I’ve become stronger, and through me, I like to think they’ve become stronger. I no longer fear the loneliness of the future but embrace it with both hands, because I know it’s one that I’ll cherish living for the rest of my life.