turns out, was good at selling. I’d gotten a job with a local Porsche dealer. I only worked three days a week, but I still brought home a nice paycheck. Plus, I got the added benefit of getting to drive a sweet ride. It was a loaner, of course, but still. And I got to dress up, something I came to find out, my husband liked as well.
With Cole working from home, and Natalie living with us, I didn’t have to worry about putting the kids in daycare. Natalie, by the way, was still seeing Mack. Something that shocked me at first, but after I saw the way they were together, I couldn’t help but be happy for them.
I loved our new house. The sunken living room was one of my favorite rooms. It was a great place for the whole family to hang out, and I absolutely loved the big stone fireplace. The deck off the back was great, too. And it had an awesome view. We were secluded, the house set back off the road, and I loved the big pine trees that surrounded the place. It was a great house for entertaining, something which we often did, like today.
We’d celebrated the twins 3rd birthday today. And it had been a full house. We’d grilled out in the backyard. The kids’ big present from us had been a fabulous wooden play-set that their father and Crash had built. It had a slide, swings and this awesome tower that was part fort, part castle.
They loved it.
Everyone had just left about an hour ago, and Cole had fallen asleep on the big sofa group. He was stretched out in the left corner of the sectional. His head propped against the soft back cushion. Lying along his right side, between him and the back of the couch, was Melissa. She was snuggled up into his armpit, with her head on his chest, her little arm wrapped around his abs. Her little mouth was open, and she was sound asleep. TJ was curled on the opposite side of the corner, his legs going out to the section to the left, his head tucked under Cole’s chin, lying on his shoulder.
I crept closer. I wanted to capture the moment, which was something I loved to do, and something Cole thought I overdid. I got them all in the frame, and clicked off several shots. I pulled the camera down, and scrolled through the shots, smiling. I knew exactly where I was going to put this picture, once I got it framed.
“Babe. Took a ton of pictures. Enough, already.”
I looked up. Cole was looking at me.
I smiled. “This one’s my favorite. The perfect ending to a perfect day.” I put the camera down on the table, and knelt next to Cole’s head. I reached up, and brushed the hair back from his brow, then I ran my fingers through his hair, again and again. It was something I loved doing, and something he loved me to do. I would often do it late at night, when the kids were in bed, and it was just the two of us. It often put him to sleep.
“Love the way you touch me, babe,” he murmured with his eyes closed.
I leaned down, and kissed his mouth. “This was a good day.”
He opened his eyes, and looked over at me. “It was a great day, mama.”
I always called Melissa my little ‘sugar-bear’ and TJ my little ‘honey-bear’. Cole had taken to calling me ‘mama-bear’, which then often got shortened to just mama.
I smiled at him.
“You throw a good party. Which, gotta say, has me torn. Love that people love to come over here, but not crazy about havin’ a house full every weekend.”
“It’s a great house, sweetie. People love to come out here.”
“People love to come here, babe, because you have a wonderful way of makin’ ‘em feel welcome. And I love that about you. Just gotta say, missin’ the quiet. Like our alone time, babe.”
“Understood. I’ll slack off on the invites.”
“Appreciate it, mama.”
“I love you, Cole.”
“Back atcha, babe.”
I rolled my eyes. “So romantic.” I started to get up off my knees, but he grabbed my arm, and pulled me back.
“In case I don’t say it enough, in case you got any doubt, let me clarify. Love I feel for you, babe? It’s rock solid. Ain’t nothing gonna shake it.”
I smiled, feeling like I was going to start tearing up. My baby. He could say exactly the right