And just like that, the frustration melts off his face. “Good morning, darlings.” He leans down, wraps me and Parker in his arms, and kisses my cheek. Then he goes and takes Ben from his pop. “Good morning, Master Benjamin.” Alex called Ben that once as a joke, and Ben thinks it’s the absolute funniest thing. The joke continues.
Ben laughs and smashes his dad’s cheeks in his hands.
“That’s a good look for you.” I laugh, then turn to Teddy. “Do you think you and Nana would be able to take a little break and join us for breakfast?”
He took a look around my restaurant and shrugged. “Maybe. Let me run and check in with Beck.”
The Parkers moved to town right after they learned we were expecting Ben, our honeymoon baby. They’d fallen in lovewith the area on their first visit, and more so when they came back for our wedding. We had tossed around the idea of a destination wedding, but instead we opted for a small, intimate ceremony at our church, followed by a large and absolutely gorgeous party at a venue in town.
There wasn’t anything keeping them in California, so they headed east and adopted us all—including Val and her family. My life was turning into more than I could have ever dreamed of. The sad little girl, whose only love in her life was her sister, now has enough love in her life to fill her heart many times over.
The Parkers also brought with them their restaurant experience and desire to keep working part-time. I’m on maternity leave now, but even when I’m not, they are in the restaurant at least twice a week.
“Am I your jailer, that you had to break out of the house?” Alex asks, pulling out a chair for me.
“I love you and I appreciate you, but your hovering and constant attention were about to make me lose my mind.”
“I’ve been hovering, have I?”
“Yes.”
“Was I hovering when I rubbed your neck last night?” He takes the seat beside me and puts his arm around my shoulder, settling Ben in his lap.
“Not at that moment.”
“Was I hovering when I made dinner yesterday?”
“Alex.” I laugh. “None of it’s bad. It’s just too much.”
“I only want to take good care of you.” He brings his hand from my shoulder to hold my head while he leans in to kiss my cheek.
“You do take care of me. You are the most loving and attentive husband. But sometimes I need a little space.”
“I’m loving you too hard?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yes. Exactly, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise given your personality and how hard you loved mebeforewe had babies.”
He sighs and smiles. “I’ll try to tone it down. The three of you are just so lovable, it’s hard to control.”
I shake my head and smile at the man I call mine.
Val and her family show up and drag a table beside ours, just as Nana and Pop come out from the kitchen with four bowls. Tears fill my eyes as I stare around at my family.
“Are these good tears, darling?” Alex asks, pulling me toward him.
“The best tears.”
