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Ruby laughs from the doorway.
I smile over at her, taking in the sight of my wife holding our newborn, little Angelica.
Tessa sits at the edge of the practice room, her legs tucked to her chin with her Kindle balanced on them, utterly engrossed in her latest read like she always is. Our seven year old twins – Jack and Lily – are chasing each other around the heavy punching bags, playing the longest game of tag imaginable.
Of all our children, Zack’s the one who’s taken the biggest liking to the sport of boxing, always wanting to run a few more drills after our family practice sessions.
“You hear that?” I chuckle, my eyes moving over my wife in her form-hugging summer dress, showing me her curves which have only become more captivating as the years have gone on and she’s brought more children into the world.
Angelica is our last since we’ve arrived at our perfect number.
Five, like we discussed when we first started our soul-searing romance.
“What do you think, Mommy?” Zack laughs. “Daddy’s lazy, right?”
Ruby walks further into the room, rocking Angelica softly from side to side. She has a gorgeous smile on her face, enjoying our son’s banter as much as I am. He’s going to grow up to be a real jokester, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There are many things I could call your father,” she says, “but lazy isn’t one of them.”
“I know,” Zack says, grinning. “I’m only joking. Daddy, you’re not lazy. Daddy’s strong.”
“Strong enough for you,” I laugh, pouncing on him and lifting him over my head.
He laughs and holds his hands out to his sides like an airplane, as I run over to the heavy bags and stop in front of the twins.
“Who’s it?” I ask.
Jack and Lily point at each other, and then both break into laughter which warms my heart.
“How does that work?” I laugh. “You can’t both be it.”
“I tagged her,” Jack says.
“Nah uh,” Lily says. “I tagged him.”
“Hmm… What’s say we be it, eh, Jack?”
“Sounds good to me,” he cries.
I lower him and run toward the twins, causing them to break into heartwarming laughter and dart between the heavy bags. As I weave in and out of them, I catch snippets of Ruby and Tessa watching us – taking a rare break from her book – and I can’t help but feel insanely happy that this is how my life’s turned out.
Ruby is a bestselling writer, with three of her books becoming Hollywood movies.
I’ve retired from the force to open several gyms around the city, catering to underfunded neighborhoods that were previously the domain of the mob and the Cartel.
The mob has disbanded and the Cartel leaves this city alone, not daring to come back.
And best of all I have the family of my dreams, the woman of my dreams, the life of my dreams.
“Tag,” Zack yells happily, as I lower him down to his sister.
Lily spins on us, her brown braid fluttering, her arms at her sides, ready.
“I’m gonna get you, Daddy,” she giggles. “You better start running.”
But I don’t need to run.
I’m right where I belong.
With my princess.
Forever.
