Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
I kiss her forehead and the tip of her nose before taking her lower lip between mine.
“I love you, little girl.”
“I love you too, but there is one problem with the painting. I think I’m going to have to do another one.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t beat perfection and that painting is perfect.”
“I was going to wait until after the party to tell you but you know I can’t keep secrets from you.”
“Tell me what? You know you can tell me anything.”
“I’m going to have to repaint it because we’re expecting another baby.”
A baby? Shawn is just barely a year old, and we’re having another baby.
“Are you sure?”
Samantha nods her head.
I pull her to the sofa and set her on my lap. “I can’t believe it. Do you have any idea how happy you make me?”
“Four kids. Are you sure it’s not too much?”
“Too much? Baby, I’ll take four more if you’re up to it. There’s no doubt how much I love making them with you.”
“I don’t know about four more, but I’m happy about this one. Maybe it’s a girl. Sara could use a sister.”
“Boy, girl, it doesn’t matter to me. You make the most beautiful babies, and you’re an excellent mother.”
Her tears have all dried, and she throws her arms around me.
“I’m so glad you’re happy. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you, baby girl. Thank you for everything.”
I carry her up the stairs and into our bedroom. As she dries her hair, I lie in bed and think about our life together. It’s crazy to think that if my brother wasn’t so underhanded, this amazing girl never would have landed on my doorstep.
With Samantha in my life, it became even more critical that I put an end to the shadier side of the family business. Today, we operate completely above board, with the respect of the entire business community. My family’s ties to organized crime are almost a distant memory in the community, and the company is more profitable than ever. If not for that, there’ll be no one to invite to the party tomorrow.
That’s not to say that all of my baser instincts have faded. I still get a little crazy when another man makes eyes at my girl. With the birth of each child, my protectiveness has grown stronger. They’re mine and nobody takes what’s mine.
Samantha comes to bed and takes her usual place under my arm.
When I arrive home from work the next day, the kids are on pins and needles. Shawn and Sara meet me at the door, screaming, “Happy birthday, Daddy!”
Samantha greets me wearing a figure-hugging, low-cut gown. The blue brings out the color in her eyes. Around her neck is the horse pendant I gave her from my mother’s jewelry collection. She owns the whole collection now but insists on wearing this piece because it’s the first one I gave her.
“You look hot as hell, baby girl.”
“Thank you. Soon I won’t be able to wear anything this tight so I thought I better do it while I can.”
“All the women at the party are going to be jealous and the men will be eating their hearts out.”
After all these years together, she still blushes when I tell her things like this.
“You better get dressed. The caterers are already downstairs, and we’re expecting guests in thirty minutes.”
“I don’t know. Maybe we should cancel,” I tease her.
“Daddy, please go change. Do it for me.”
“Now there’s the magic words. I’d do anything for you.”
I shower and change into my gray suit but make sure I wear the blue tie that matches Samantha’s dress. By the time I make it downstairs, the wait staff is ushering our guests to the elevator.
“Everyone is so excited to see the manor,” Samantha whispers.
“It’s been a long time since anyone has.”
The guest list is composed of my business associates, a handful of neighbors that Samantha has befriended through the years, and my contacts from the Chamber of Commerce. About twenty-five couples and a few children. Samantha was sure to include the fact that children were welcome on the invitations so that Sara and Stephen had someone to play with.
I watch as my beautiful wife engages with our guests and plays with the children. My sweet wife is a remarkable woman. The band begins to play, and I take her by the hand.
“It’s time to have a real dance on this floor,” I whisper to her.
“I enjoyed all of our dances on this floor.”
“So have I, but this time, we have a band.”
As I twirl her across the floor, Stephen Junior takes his sister by the hand and brings her out to dance beside us. I see Sherry standing in the corner holding baby Shawn, and I wave her over. She hands him to me so he can join.
What a perfect family. What a perfect birthday.