As I’m brushing her hair and french braiding it on the couch, I ask Sophie, “Do you want to go home? Or do you want to hang out after I get her into bed?”
She shrugs. “I’ll stay. I’d rather not be alone.”
I figured. “Sounds good. Delilah, say goodnight to Auntie Soph, let’s go to bed.” Delilah has lost most of her energy by now and is definitely tired.
She trudges over to Sophie and says goodnight, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. I scoop her up, letting her wrap her legs around my waist like a little koala, and carry her to her room.
I flick off the light and turn the galaxy night light on, before setting her down in her bed and covering her up. She asks me to lay with her, so I do my best to squeeze into the tiny bed, resting my head on top of hers, inhaling her sweet strawberry shampoo.
I strengthen my resolve, and promise myself I will not fall asleep. Laying in a dark room, with a noise machine and a cool night light without falling asleep is hard by itself. But throwing a snuggly, cuddly toddler into the mix, and it’s nearly impossible to accomplish.
In the middle of the third book, I look over and see her little eyes starting to droop. Her dark lashes brush the tops of cheeks, and I know she’ll be out in seconds. I stop reading, and wait for the tell-tale signs of sleep—snoring. Just when I think I’m in the clear, my little twin proves me wrong.
“Iby?” she whispers.
“Yes?” I answer, equally as quiet.
“I lub you.”
My eyes flutter closed, and I press them tightly together as if to stop any oncoming moisture from escaping. A lump forms in my throat, and the bridge of my nose tingles.
I gently clear my throat. “I love you more, sweet girl,” I respond, and kiss the top of her head.
She snuggles further into me, like she wants me to absorb her. So I do my best, and wrap my arm around her, holding tightly. A few moments later her soft breath evensout, and when I glance down, I can see she’s completely passed out.
I slink out of her bed, and tip toe around the magnet blocks and dolls loitering around. We need to clean up in here tomorrow. When I quietly shut the door behind me, I can’t help but lean against the door for just a minute.
I lub you.
I replay her soft sweet little voice in my head. I hope she can never say herv’s. It’s one of my favorite things ever. I want to eternally be “Iby” to her. I’ve always been on the fence about having kids, but this little girl makes it really hard not to want more and more of her.
Does Wesley even want more kids? If he doesn’t, I think I would be just fine with Delilah being the one and only. I know I didn’t grow her in my belly like Sarah did, but it doesn’t make me love her any less. I wish I could’ve known the woman that makes up half of that little girl.
I will always be endlessly thankful for her.
I smile to myself, feeling incredibly grateful for my life at the moment. I get to spend my days with two of my favorite people in the world, all while following my dreams, and pursuing my passion.
Life honestly kicks ass.
With that thought, and a little pep in my step I practically skip to rejoin Sophie in the living room, side-eyeing those unhappy looking plants in the corner. Wesley has been gone for only five days, and somehow I’ve managed to piss them off already. I’m terrified of killing them. I water them everyday, but it’s just something about me, about my aura probably.
They know I’m scared.
Like a dog, they can sense it.
I find Sophie in the kitchen, picking at a container of cookies Rose sent us home with that I didn’t get a chance to try earlier. I plop down on a barstool, and grab one for myself.
“So,” I start, and take a large bite. “What are we going to do about Beau?” I ask around a mouthful.
“Nothing is what we’re going to do. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of that man way too many times in my life. Not anymore,” she says with total confidence.
“Hell yeah!” I fist pump the air, like my mothers and fathers before me, the ones who graced the righteous shore of Jersey, earning me a laugh from her.
“You need to get laid. How long has it been?” For as long as I’ve known her, Sophie has been fairly lowkey about her sex life. She gives me bits and pieces, but isn’t one to talk about it openly all the time.
She looks down at her cookie, avoiding my eyes.
“Sophie…”
