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He made a gurgling noise, showing toothless gums.
I chuckled and picked him up from his crib. He burrowed his head against my chest, watching me with curious eyes.
“Were you expecting your mommy? She’s going back to sleep.”
I headed downstairs.
“Guess what? She said yes!”
Wesley smiled.
“Yes, Wes. Mommy's going to be my wife. Isn't that great?”
I flipped on a switch in the kitchen, threw open the fridge, and found a bottle of breast milk. Next to the leftovers from dinner that the Mullens had dropped off.
It’d been such a show of love since Wesley was born. Everyone Ava had helped to support. So much so that we had to turn away meals at one point.
She had worried she wouldn't be able to keep up with helping others after she gave birth. But the community rallied and kept up her program, even more joining in to show their support for the cause.
It’d been a few months since the first rush, but the help kept coming in. More diapers and baby clothes than we’d ever use sat piled up in our storage room. But for now, we were grateful for all of it.
While I heated Wesley’s breakfast, I sang him a tune he didn't care for very much—if his crying was any indication.
“Milk’s almost ready, okay, buddy?”
Once the bottle was warm enough, I made sure the temperature was safe and held it to his mouth. He grabbed onto it and drank heartily.
I chuckled and exited through the back door. The deck I’d been working on was complete. Wesley and I loved our mornings out here.
And the light drizzle wouldn't bother us under the awning.
I sank into a lounge chair and held Wesley against me while I watched the rain.
“What do you think, Wes? A lovely morning? There’s a whole world waiting for you, son. And you'll take it by storm.”
All his attention was fixed on his bottle, not my musings.
I left him to his meal and stared out at the yard. Ava had called it the most beautiful garden she’d ever been in.
What if we had our wedding right here?
In the evenings, we loved to sit outside and enjoy a drink by the fire. It was our happy place. She moved in shortly before she had Wes and ever since, the house felt more like a home.
Nothing would bring it full circle more than saying our vows right here. I smiled at the thought. She’d just said yes and I was already planning the ceremony.
I can’t believe this is my life.I was never this way before. But I loved this version of myself. And with Ava, I knew it was always going to be this way.
The back door creaked open. Then a warm hand ran over my shoulders. I tilted my head up to see Ava looking down at me.
She’d thrown a nightgown on, covering her beautiful body. Too bad. But I couldn't begrudge that.
I had her every night and always would, from here on out.
“Hey.” She kissed my hair, then ran her fingers through it.
“You didn’t go back to sleep?”
“Couldn’t. Too excited.” She flashed her ring at me.
