JACK - FOUR YEARS LATER
“Colin, leave your baby sister be.” I do my best to pull my three-year-old mini-me out of the baby’s room but fail. Ever since we brought her home a week ago, he’s stood by her side. Yesterday we found him sleeping on the floor next to her crib when he was supposed to be napping. I lifted him up and laid him down in his bed sound asleep only to discover him back in her room, fast asleep an hour later.
“I think it’s safe to say we have a good protector on our hands,” Sierra says, placing a hand on my lower back, one wrapped around and placed on my stomach. I cover her hand with mine.
“Think it’s probably a good idea just to bring his bed in here so we’re not having to deal with this constantly.”
“You mean have them share a room? What if she’s up a lot in the night? I don’t want him waking constantly.”
“He does anyway.”
“What if he tries to get her out of the bed in the middle of the night?”
I wince, realizing that’s a very real possibility. He has no fear and no boundaries when it comes to his little sister. Grace was definitely a surprise for us. As was Colin. We got married exactly one year after we met. Luckily, the weather was polar opposite of the year we met. The sun was shining and spring was knocking winter out of its way.
We spent a month in Italy, touring museums and restaurants for our honeymoon and when we got home, the celebration of our wedding night didn’t end.
Ten months later Colin made his appearance. He was the best kind of surprise but because we weren’t planning it, we decided to wait a little longer between babies. Grace had other plans, though.
Again, we’re not the least bit upset about the change in plans.
“They’re beautiful,” I murmur, looking down at Grace sleeping soundly in her crib as Colin stares at her through the railing.
“We make good looking babies, Mr. Cole.”
“That we do, Mrs. Cole.”
“Kyle called. He and Rebecca got there safely and are already having a drink on the beach.”
Kyle and Rebecca married shortly after Colin James, or CJ as we call him, was born and have been working their way to retirement, deciding to take vacations when they feel like it. They were here for Grace’s birth but with my parents close and hers trying to be more active, Kyle and Rebecca decided to spend a few days in the Bahamas.
“Good. Glad they could get away.”
She nods against my shoulder. “Go take a nap while she’s sleeping.”
“She’s going to be hungry soon.”
“You pump?”
“Yeah. Got a few ounces.”
My wife is fortunate in that she wanted to breast feed and she produces milk like it’s her job. She loves being able to nurse, but it also takes a lot out of her.
“Then go. I’ve got the kids. I’ll make some pasta real quick so you have something to eat when you get up. And Aunt Christine brought over that bread.”
She sighs. “That sounds like heaven.”
“What? The food or sleep?”
“Both,” she mutters, already half asleep.
“Go. CJ and I have this, don’t we, little man?”
“We got this, mama.”
She giggles and kisses us both before shuffling toward the door. She turns and looks back at us. “Never in my life did I imagine I’d have it all. But you gave it to me.”
I almost fall to my knees in gratitude. Instead, I pick up my son and do my best not to lose it in front of him. “Your mama’s trying to make Daddy cry.”
“Daddy cwy?” he says, putting a hand on my cheek and turning my face so he can look at me.
“About to, if she keeps that up.”
“Not nice, Mama.”
“Good tears, CJ, good tears.”
He looks at me in confusion before scrambling to get down. I make my way over to my wife and kiss her on the lips. “You gave me everything, too. Love you.”
“Love you.”
