AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I was thinking…”
“Go on,” he urged.
“The kids don’t return to school until the 8th. How about we spend New Year’s in Colorado?”
“That sounds like an amazing idea. I’ll have the jet gassed up.”
Epilogue
Jonathan
I cracked an eye open when the baby monitor beside me chirped, alerting us of our newborn’s 5:00 a.m. feeding time.
“Bring him to me,” Kierra murmured. The grogginess in her voice couldn’t be mistaken, and I’d volunteer to bottle feed Kieran, but I knew she also needed to pump.
“Okay. Catch ten more minutes, and then I’ll bring him to you.”
“Thank you, Jesus,” she mumbled before she started snoring again.
Our final child, Kieran Wesley Baker, was born via C-Section two weeks ago at 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20 inches long. For now, he favored me, and Kierra joked that for his name to mean ‘little dark one’ he was the complete opposite. Bringing him home was hectic. Buzzard zipped around, barking and wanting to meet the baby. He’d calmed down considerably since then but appointed himself as Kieran’s personal bodyguard and followed the baby wherever he went. I didn’t have to be a betting man to know I’d find Buzzard sleeping outside Kieran’s nursery, dutifully guarding it from those who sought to disturb the newborn from his slumber. Daisy and Nori were still at it, but now Daisy picked a fight with Nori anytime she dared glance at her little brother. Kiyah, despite her initial reservations,was thrilled about her baby brother and would help Kierra as much as she could by delivering clean diapers and rinsing out baby bottles. Casey was still lost in his own world—seemingly unaffected by the new arrival, and Grant was still quiet, aloof, and analytical. I snorted when we brought Kieran home, and I asked him what he thought of his little brother. ‘He looks healthy,’ he said, and that was the end of that.
We still didn’t have a nanny, but only because Kierra’s parents moved from Colorado to Texas and currently resided in the guest house on the property, and gladly helped when needed. Which seemed to be every day since the late stages of Kierra’s pregnancy.
Simone and Anthony’s son Ronan was finally sleeping through the night, and they loved to drop that little tidbit whenever they could, which was daily since Simone would pop up with the kids in tow. Anthony’s part-time investing business was starting to lean towards full-time, and Simone voiced feeling bored at home during his working hours. Not to mention Nori’s relentless begging to see Daisy. Anthony and Simone had tied the knot. The newlyweds returned from their honeymoon in Greece and were sun kissed, in love, and practically glowing. They loved Greece so much that they planned on taking the yacht to Greece on an extended cruise for their one-year anniversary.
I guess that leaves us on Nori duty….
Kierra and I married shortly after them in an intimate ceremony at my parents’ property. We had three flower girls because choosing one would start World War III. Kiyah was in the lead, tossing her flowers as practiced. We smiled at each other until a commotion erupted behind her. Daisy and Nori were aggressively throwing flower petals at each other until Daisy nearly took Nori’s head off with her white wicker basket. Daisy screamed when Nori grabbed onto one of her ponytailsand dragged her to the floor. Our mothers managed to separate the girls right as Kierra appeared in her cream chiffon and lace spaghetti strap dress. The modest trumpet train added a hint of elegance to the mermaid silhouette. Initially, Kierra wanted to wear a black dress with a leather bodice and billowing chiffon skirt, but our mothers were firmly against it—citing bad luck as the reason. The women compromised; Kierra would wear the cream wedding dress for the ceremony and the leather one for the reception. Either way, she was gorgeous in my eyes.
We returned to Las Vegas, per my wife’s request, and as I thought, most of our time was spent in bed with occasional touristy pregnant-appropriate outings, gambling at Park MGM because it was the only smoke-free casino in Las Vegas, shopping, and a couple of trips to the buffets. We were officially Mr. and Mrs. Baker, and I couldn’t be happier.
After relieving myself and brushing my teeth, I made the short trek to the nursery across the hall.
“Morning, Buzz,” I said, yawning into the back of my hand. He jumped to his feet and spun in a circle before sitting with his paw up—expecting a treat for a job well done. “I’ll get you one when I make it downstairs.”
I entered the baby dragon-themed nursery and was pleased to find Kieran was still wrapped like a little burrito.
“Daddy, I’m hungry.”
I picked up Kieran and placed him on the changing table. “Good morning to you, too, Kiyah.”
She blushed and tugged her satin bonnet off, revealing her long braids. “Good morning.”
“What are you doing up so early? I think you have another hour before you have to wake up for school.
“I’m nervous. I couldn’t sleep.”
“That’s understandable. The first day of school can be a little scary. Is there something I can do to make you feel more comfortable?”
“Can I do school from home?”
I shook my head as I unfurled my son, who’d finally opened his eyes.
“Sorry, but you’re going to school with Grant and Casey. Can you be a big girl and hand me a diaper?” I asked once Kieran started fussing.
“Can you take me to school instead of MiMi?”
I changed the diaper with ease as I considered my work schedule. I had a meeting at 8:00 that I couldn’t be late for, and traffic, per usual, would be a bitch.
