Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s been tough since my mom….”
But from pain can come a life so happy, so perfect, the old version of us never would’ve believed it.
As I approach the car, I see Logan pull up…his is more of a Dad-mobile, with tinted windows, raised off the ground with big chunky rims.
He parks and steps out, waving over at me.
He’s wearing a long-sleeve baggy shirt, the sort the wind pushes against his body… his firm, muscled body.
His hair has only gotten a deeper shade of silver as the years have gone on. His body more protective and readier to keep our family safe.
Adam steps from the car, putting Rusty down and walking over with him on the leash.
Next little Jane hops out. As we’ve come to call her, Big Jane cried with joy when I told her we were naming our next child after her… little did she know Little Jane was going to have a twin.
I wanted to call her Anna, but Logan said he wanted her to have her own name. So we named her Hazel Anna Locke in honor of her big sister.
Jane and Hazel walk over together, our seven-year-olds holding hands. Logan brings little Bryan – named after Bryce, sort of – from the backseat and carries him over, grinning.
“I thought I was meeting you at home?”
“We wanted to surprise you, Mom.” Adam grins, reaching down and stroking Rusty on the head. “Didn’t we, boy?”
“We sure did,” Jane says, doing her best Rusty voice. “Yes, Mommy, for sure!”
I laugh, leaning down and hugging them all, then standing and kissing Logan on the cheek.
Two-year-old Bryan squirms and I take him into my arms.
“Mommy,” he says.
I kiss him on the cheek. “So, shall we get some dinner?”
“We can go to that dog-friendly place, Mommy,” Adam beams. “Daddy, can we?”
“What do you think, gang?” Logan asks.
“Yeah!” Hazel sings. “Then Rusty can eat too.”
“Can we walk?” Adam says. “It’s just down the street. Rusty’s tail will go crazy if we walk, just you watch.”
“What do you think?” Logan asks me.
All the kids look at me, Adam with wide pleading eyes, Hazel and Jane smiling at me.
“Mommy, go,” Bryan says.
I smile so widely that my cheeks ache. So much happiness it almost bursts out of me.
“How could I say no, huh? Yes, we can go.”
“Yay!” Adam sings. “Hear that, boy?”
“Come on then,” Logan smiles, wrapping his arm around me. “Let’s go.”