Staring past the doorway, where I can still hear Cassie and my little sister Daisy laughing as they walk away, I must agreewith him. “Yeah, she’s pretty remarkable. I really lucked out with her.”
We got married the day after Valentine’s Day, two days sooner than we’d planned because I couldn’t wait to make her my wife. Three weeks later, we found out she was pregnant, and a couple of days ago, we learned she was having a boy.
We intended to have a small gender reveal with my family, Clide—who has been the best neighbor and become family—and a few friends we’ve made since really settling into our community. But Cassie couldn’t wait. Five minutes after we left the appointment, she’d been on FaceTime with my parents to tell them, then posted on social media, including a picture of us holding the sonogram. So everyone knows.
Now, my mom, Clide, and Daisy are planning a surprise baby shower for us, though it’s more for Cassie, and I can’t wait to see how happy it makes her. My beautiful, caring wife always takes care of everyone else. She deserves the love being bestowed upon her now.
“You still planning the babymoon?” Dad asks. It was something I’d briefly brought up to him a few months ago.
Rolling the paint onto the wall, I nod. “Yeah, you guys still coming?” The point of the babymoon is for Cassie to have a relaxing vacation with the baby, but when there are only two of us, it’s a bit more stressful because she’ll constantly be worried.
“You bet we are. Your mom and sister can’t wait. I think the baby shower is a good distraction, so they don’t let your next surprise slip.” He chuckles. Daisy sucks at keeping secrets, and Mom’s not that great either.
“Good, because I made the reservations yesterday.” It cost a small fortune, but I’m lucky enough that money hasn’t been much of a worry since taking that PI position with the DA’s office.
Two months ago, my family made the move as well. Since Gage retired from active duty and now works in a recruitment office in Jacksonville, they’ve been extremely present in our lives. Every time I ask Cassie if they’re too much, she tears up and says, “Not a chance.”
Life has been harmonious, and Cassie is the most amazing woman, always growing, expanding, and learning more to enhance her classroom. She makes sure her students all feel as loved as she is. And for some, that’s a new concept, which has caused her to cry on more than one occasion.
“I think we’re done here, son. How about we go feed that grandbaby of mine?”
Gage will be a great grandpa; he always talks about the baby and makes plans for the future, especially fishing, something we’ve enjoyed a lot since he came into my life.
“Yeah, I heard something about wanting steak and baked potatoes with extra cheese earlier.”
As Gage cleans up and promises to return with the best steaks money can buy, I head to the backyard where the girls lounge on the deck with fresh sweet tea that Cassie and Mom made this morning.
Leaning over Cassie’s chair, I drop a kiss on her cheek. “Paint is finished; furniture will be tomorrow.”
She turns, and I’m alarmed by her tears until she smiles. “Thank you, Tommy. I knew you’d make it exactly how I envisioned.”
“You tear up like that, and I think I’m about to go to war for you, woman. Don’t scare a man.” Daisy scoffs at me, then snickers as she fakes interest in what she’s doing on her iPad. “You know I’d do anything for you and little man.” Rubbing Cassie’s belly, she leans back and lets out a soft moan.
“God, that feels amazing. He’s been so active today, and my bladder is taking a beating.”
As her eyes close, Mom and Daisy quietly get up and go inside to leave us alone for a bit. Lifting up my wife, I slide in behind her on the lounge chair and start massaging her shoulders, down her arms, before rubbing her belly again.
“You know I love you, right?” I kiss along her throat. She moans again and tilts her head as she nods. “Thank you for giving me this life.”
Cassie spins around and straddles my lap. Leaning her head against mine, our eyes meet, and the way hers swim with myriad emotions always amazes me. “We did this together, Tommy. You and me.” The baby kicks, making us laugh. “And him. We’re always going to have each other.”
“Yeah.” I brush my lips against hers, and god, she tastes good. “We will, forever.”
Epilogue
CASSIE
“Ssshhh, Dada, Mama sweeping.”
Holding back my smile is impossible as our one-and-a-half-year-old son, Benji, wiggles off the couch next to me when Tommy arrives home.
“Is that so?”
Tommy’s hand on my pregnant belly makes me groan. It’s been a hard day for me. At almost nine months along now, I’m basically part of the couch at this point. Carrying our little girl has been one hardship after another, and I’m relieved to be finally near the end.
“I’m awake.”
“Dada!” Benji scolds. He’s the sweetest little boy and loves helping his dad take care of me.
