even though this was the first time he’d spent the night since he’d moved out.
“Uh, fine … How was dinner?” Jake asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Excellent,” Sean replied cheerfully.
I sunk lower into the bed and covered my head with the blanket, even though I was alone in the room.
I could feel my cheeks flaming at the realization that Jake knew Sean and I had sex last night. Sure, it was normal and healthy for parents to have sex, but it wasn’t something Jake, or I, had ever dealt with, so I was feeling a bit mortified.
“I’m gonna make breakfast, wanna join me?”
“Sure,” Jake answered. “I don’t have to be to work for a couple hours…”
Their voices trailed off as they went to the kitchen and I eased the blankets off of my head.
No longer feeling the urge to lounge around in bed, I got up and headed into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. Once I was done, I made the bed, tidied up, and with nothing else to help me stall, I left the sanctuary of my room and started down to join Sean and Jake in the kitchen.
I could feel my cheeks heating as I rounded the corner but stopped in my tracks at the site of my two favorite men working side by side at the counter.
“Morning, Mom,” Jake said when he looked up and saw me standing there.
He smiled easily and looked completely unphased by the fact his dad had slept over.
Feeling the nerves leave me, I smiled lovingly at my son and said, “Good morning, do you guys need help with anything?”
Sean looked up, eyes twinkling, and said, “Food’s about done, but you can set the table if you’d like.”
I nodded and moved to do just that.
I put out the place settings, asked them what they wanted to drink and put those on the table as well, then helped carry dishes full of eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, and fruit.
“Wow, you really went all out,” I stated as I took in the bounty.
“It feels like a special occasion,” Sean said with a grin as he put an arm around my waist and tucked me into his side.
I tilted my head back to look up at him and was rewarded with a sweet kiss.
Jake cleared his throat, and I felt my cheeks redden, but when I turned my face toward him, he was grinning broadly at me and his dad.
“Definitely a special occasion,” Jake agreed.
I smiled at him and said, “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
We sat down in the chairs that had been dedicated to us since we’d purchased the dining room table and enjoyed our first family breakfast since before the accident.
When we were done, Jake and Sean insisted I go relax in the living room while they cleared the table and did the dishes. So, I indulged and caught up on one of the shows I had recorded while they cleaned up.
“I’m going to go get ready for work,” Jake said as he passed the living room on the way to the stairs.
“Okay. Thanks for breakfast.”
He paused, then switched direction and crossed to the couch. “It was fun,” Jake said. “It’s nice to have Dad here, and, uh … you seem happy.”
“I am,” I replied lifting my hand up.
He took it with his briefly and said, “Good. I’m glad. You deserve to be happy.”
“We all do,” I told him gently.
Jake dipped his head in agreement and said, “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, buddy.”
Epilogue - Kelly
My eyes were closed, and my lips were curved as I relaxed in my lounge chair and listened to the faint sound of Sean and Jake’s voices mingling with the waves crashing on the sand.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so relaxed or had such a wonderful time with my family simply being together.
We’d been at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas for five days so far and it was absolutely a dream come true. The island was breathtaking, the resort fancy without feeling stuffy, and there was plenty to keep all of us occupied.
Before we’d left, I’d convinced Sean to have Connor and Blake over for brunch. And, although I didn’t think they’d ever been best friends, I’d been grateful he’d been open to forgiveness.
He’d grown a lot since I woke up. We both had.
I cracked one eye open slowly, letting it adjust to the bright sun dancing over the crystal-blue water,