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“This is how your Dad and I learned things. Dropped off for days at a time, left alone in the wild with nothing but our wits and a sturdy knife!” my dad tells our babies, their eyes wide with amazement whenever he tells them the same story.
He always shoots me a wink to let me know he might be stretching the truth just a little, but the kids always love a good tale from grandpa.
And it always leaves Brandon chuckling too.
He involves them in everything as much as they’ll let him, but I have to admit, they’re always tired in a good way after a day in the woods.
And sleeping under the stars with the whole tribe, even if it is on our porch overlooking the lake. Well. The kids sleep like lambs.
Mommy still has some issues with things that crawl and strange noises in the night, but Brandon’s always there protecting and watching over all of us.
By the time we reach the winding gravel road up to our mountain retreat, Jesse’s fast asleep, but little Maxwell and Sam are wide awake.
They’re eager to explore their favorite and very private little neck of the woods.
And as soon as we pull up, and maybe to even get out of helping us unpack the car, they’re off with grandpa, straight down to the lake’s shore, waving back at Brandon and me as we give each other a knowing look.
“I’ll get Jesse settled inside,” I tell him, twisting my mouth to stop from smiling.
“And I’ll unload the car,” Brandon replies, doing his best to keep a straight face too.
Once Jesse’s safely tucked in her crib in our bedroom, I let Brandon know.
“Your Dad will take forever with the boys. You know what he’s like,” he muses aloud. “And I can unpack the truck anytime,” he adds, his smile letting me know that it’s started.
Our anniversary.
Sounds lame, but our annual holiday with the whole family is also the way we celebrate our anniversary each year.
Without the kids, we’d never go off on holiday or even one night away.
And my dad, being part of the family, is able to look after things when Brandon and I need to go…celebrate.
The way moms and dads have to sometimes, making the most of times like now.
When the babies are fast asleep, and the boys are occupied with adult supervision. What’s not to celebrate?
And Brandon wastes no time striding up the wide stone steps to the patio, scooping me off my feet like it’s our first night together.
His little anniversary tradition is to cross the threshold with me again, making out like he’s carrying me to our wedding bed.
And like every time he touches, kisses, or just tells me he loves me, it feels just as magical and special now as it did back then.
“We good?” he asks me, pausing at the door and studying my thoughtful expression as I think I am the luckiest girl alive.
“We’re better than good,” I promise him before he kisses me long and hard.
“We’re perfect!”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
Brandon
“It’s stupid,” Maxwell huffs, his face reddening and his arms folded. “Why doessheget a graduation?”
I wait until he’s fully vented before answering. We’re late enough as it is without the eldest son throwing a last-minute tantrum because he won’t go to his sister’s grade school graduation.
