“I called while you were in the shower, they said they can come around lunch time and bring food with them.” A smile breaks from my face as I lean forward and press my lips to his.
Twenty minutes later there’s a knock on the door before my mother-in-law pops her head in.
“I come bearing goodies!” She sings songs before swinging the door open wider.
In the next second, my other love comes barreling into the room.
“Momma!” Shiloh bellows as he jumps onto the bed, crawling up until his arms are wrapped around my neck. I wince as pain flashes across my lower abdomen.
“Careful Lo.” Monty reminds him. “Momma had the doctors work on her so she’s a little sore okay?”
“Oh sorry Momma.” Shiloh squeezes me tighter as he apologizes.
Tears instantly begin to slip down my cheek as I embrace my oldest. “Oh my little man,” I sniffle, “Momma has missed yousomuch.” Pulling him back I take in his features. His hair is dark like mine, but has the natural curls of Monty. His baby face is gone, those chubby cheeks now slimmed down resulting in him looking more like a child. Light freckles scatter across his nose and cheeks, emphasizing the chocolate brown of his eyes.
“Why are you crying?” Shiloh asks as he cups my cheeks with both of his hands.
A soft smile plays on my lips, at my sweet caring five year old. “I’m okay baby, I’m just so happy to see you.” Leaning forward, I place my lips on his forehead. “Did you have a great time with nana?”
“It wassomuch fun Momma, Nana let me stay up lateandhave chocolate before supper!”
A gasp comes from behind him, earning a chuckle from Monty. Sloane is innocent and has never gone against the way we chose to raise Shiloh, but I’d be silly to believe that she doesn’t spoil him once in a while.
“Well of course,” I tell my oldest, “I’m glad you had a good time with your Nana.”
“The best time, Momma. When are you coming home though?”
My eyes instantly fill with tears. “Momma has a few more days here then I'll be home. The doctors have to make sure I'm all healed up.” Quickly swiping the loose tear that fell, I smile.
“Are you ready to meet your little brother?”
“Yeah!” Shiloh says enthusiastically.
“Okay,” looking over I see Monty getting the baby from the bassinet. “Come sit here beside me, Shiloh, I’ll show you how to hold him.”
Monty arrives and arranges the baby in Shiloh’s arms. Showing him how to support his head. Shiloh looks down at his brother. “Hi baby brother.”
My heart expands as I watch the interaction of my two boys. Shiloh watches his newborn brother with such awe. He chatters away, talking about all the toys he’s going to show him when he gets home.
“Momma, what’s baby brother's name?”
I was in such awe that I forgot to tell Shiloh his brother’s name. “This is Hayes,” I tell him.
Shiloh leans forward and places a kiss on his forehead, “Hi, Hayes.”
ChapterOne
Monty
Two Weeks Postpartum
Thefirsttwoweekswere a whirlwind of sleepless nights, a crying baby, dirty diapers and an energetic five year old. I don’t even remember the last time I sat down and fully relaxed since we got home.
Josie has been healing up well, but with the c-section there are still so many restrictions she has. So, me being the doting husband that I am, I make sure she doesn’t do anything. All she needs to do is the absolute bare minimum. I’ve got everything else covered. I am unstoppable. The ultimate husband and dad. I am also so tired.
My wife is stubborn as fuck though. She’s the caretaker of this family, the glue that holds us all together. She’s been that way for as long as I remember. So getting her to take it easy and let me take the metaphorical reins has had its challenges.
When I met her at sixteen, I was a rowdy asshole. Titled the class clown, you could always tell when I came into the room. I made sure tomake a grand entrance, no matter what.
