Page 98 of A Lifetime of Afters
“Happy?” He tilted his head to the side, a faraway look stealing into his eyes. His hands drifted around my hips, and he tugged me to the edge of the chair, bringing my chest flush with his. Touching his forehead gently to mine, he answered softly, “I am blessed.”
He rolled his forehead gently against mine, touched my nose with his, and sighed. Standing up, he guided me to my feet before scooping me up like a bride.
“Eyes on me,” he whispered.
Our eyes locked, and he gave me everything. All his joy, all his awe, all his gratitude.
“I am yours.”
All of himself.
In our bedroom, he lay me down on our bed, stripped off my clothes, and lay his head over our baby.
“Hey, little guy. I’m your daddy.” He stroked my stomach with his big hands. “You don’t know this yet, but you have the best mommy in the world. She’s beautiful. Kind. Smart. And so strong. She can do anything.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. Happy ones.
Lifting his head, he pressed a kiss to my stomach, then slid up the bed to take my face in his hands. “I love you.”
Dipping down, he pressed a kiss to my breast. “And I love you,” he chuckled before moving to the other one. “And I love you, too.”
“Oh my gosh. You talk to your little guy, now you’re talking to my boobs?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Little? What did we talk about… oh, fuck… you’re going to be a massive brat, aren’t you?”
“I might,” I teased.
Straddling my hips, he smiled into my eyes. “I’m a patient man, Noelle. I’ll keep a running tally and dole out your punishments when you’re not carrying our baby.”
I smiled back. “I’m counting on it.”
Laughing, he fused his mouth to mine and rolled to his back, taking me with him.
“Do you love me, Noelle?”
“Always have. Always will.”
He gave me a gentle squeeze, content for the moment to hold us in his arms.
His sweet words repeated on a loop in my head.
I am blessed.
I am yours.
I love you.
Three little words.
A lifetime of afters.
Epilogue –
April
The room measured barely larger than a walk-in closet. And with three of us in there, it felt a lot smaller.
“My sweet girl. You do me proud. You do your mother proud.” With a final watery smile, Lou eased the door open and slipped through the narrow opening into the narthex.
