“You look comfy there, Mama,” Austin says, grinning down at me.
“Mama. Lookie!” Hart says excitedly from beside him.
Holding out my hand to Austin who helps me up into a safe sitting position in the hammock, I peer over at our son and his adorable wonky grin as he shoves a small flapping fish into my lap. “A fishy!”
“Ohwow,” I say, trying not to squirm. Austin chuckles, earning himself a knowing glare. “Did you catch him all by yourself?”
“Yup,” he says, puffing out his little boy chest with pride. “Papa helped. Said the wiggly worm would catch the fishy.”
“Do you know whatIthink?" I say, handing the fish in question back to my far-too-amused husband before cradling my belly with one hand and carefully standing up. "I think thatyou…” I bend down and tickle our son. “...are the wiggly worm who caught the fishy”
"Stop, Mama," he says in between peels of the best laughter I've ever heard. "Mama. You tickle me."
“Yep. Can’t stop. Gotta catch the wiggly worm called Hart.”
"Mama," he squeals before proving my words to be true and wiggling away, giggling as he does it.
Thankfully, my husband has dropped the fish into the bucket at his feet and wiped his hands by the time he wraps his arms around me. “Have a good rest?”
“I did,” I say, melting against his big strong body. “This girl of ours has a strong kick though.” And as if on cue, she kicks from my stomach against his.
“Oh yeah. Must’ve got it from her Mama,” he muses, dipping his head to press a kiss to my neck.
“Mmm?”
He chuckles against the sensitive spot just below my ear. “I see you can be easily distracted.”
“You can distract me any time, husband,” I breathe.
He places another kiss there before straightening. “Five years and still love hearin’ you say it.”
I cup his bearded jaw in my hands and pull his face close to mine as smirk curves my lips. “Then I guess I better keep sayin’ it.Husband.”
His eyes darken. "How about we take our boy inside and get him cleaned up for his nap? I thinkwemight need one too.”
My brows furrow. "But I've just had one."
A wicked grin appears on Austin's face. "This is anewkind of nap. The one you have with ahusbandafter he loves on his wife.”
“Oh,” I reply, a little bit breathless.
“Yes.Oh, indeed.”
EPILOGUE 2 - AUSTIN
10 years later
One thing about my life since Charlie came back into it, it’sneverboring.
We’ve just arrived at the hardware store to embark on yet another painting journey–this time it's for the play/treehouse Tobes and I built in my backyard. That's not the exciting part though, obviously.
That would be theverypregnant woman who is sitting on the ground, clutching at her very pregnant belly while her panic-stricken partner bends down beside her, one hand on her leg, the other holding a phone to his ear.
It’s at that same moment that Char’s phone rings with her tone for the hospital.Coincidence? I think not.
My wife, still on the phone with the hospital, does what she does best and quickly moves to the woman's side. After assessing the situation, she ends the call and hands her phone to me. "Can yougo get my bag out of the trunk and whatever blankets you can find?" she asks before immediately shifting into doctor mode.
"Hey there," she says to the distressed mom-to-be. “I’m guessin’ you’re the Scarlett I’ve just been called about?” Scarlett nods. “Well, I’m Dr Graham–Charlie–the OB/GYN who’s goin’ to help bring your baby into the world.”
