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Nora grinned at him, her green eyes red from a lack of sleep but alight with newfound love. Somehow, she was more beautiful to him then than ever before. Watching her go through labor and delivery was incredible. He knew his woman was resilient and strong—but now when he looked at her, he understood he was outmatched in every way.
His wife was a powerful woman, and he would forever be in awe of her.
“I can’t stop starin’ at him. He’s perfect.”
Lawson walked around the bed, setting Nora’s requested snack on the nightstand before he, too, stared down at his little man.
“I won’t argue with you, there. We did good. When you’re ready to make another, you just let me know.”
Nora coughed out a laugh. “Funny—you’re a funny guy.”
Lawson smirked at her, waggling his eyebrows as she shook her head at him.
“You need anything else while I’m up?”
“No. Just you.” She patted the space next to her, and he switched on her bedside lamp before turning off the overhead light. He climbed into bed as she reached for her toast, and she relaxed against him as she consumed her late-night snack.
With his arms wrapped around her, and her head resting on his shoulder, he thought about the night before—and the night before that. It was such a short time ago when Court was trapped in his mother’s womb. A week earlier, they’d been in their bed, in the same position they were in now, only his hands were resting on her belly, waiting to feel Court’s little foot kick.
Time was such a funny thing.
He went back even further, back to their wedding night. He thought then that he had it all, his Nora-Jean the most gorgeous bride in the whole wide world. She was everything he ever wanted, and he felt on top of the world—but he’d been wrong. That was just the beginning. Only, it wasn’t. In a way, they’d had so many beginnings. It wasn’t even a year ago when they got their second chance. If he knew then what he knew now, he wouldn’t have waited so long to make things right.
Then again, he knew what it was like to take her for granted. So much of who they werenowwas a product of the mistakes they’d madethen. He’d always loved her, but now he was man enough love her the way a woman like her deserved to be loved. Now he was mature enough for the family she’d blessed him with; the family she trusted him to protect; the family he would die for.
“Did you fall asleep?” she murmured.
“No. I’m awake.”
She shifted until she could see his face. “What are you thinkin’ about?”
“How much I love you.”
Nora scoffed and sat up to set aside her empty plate. “Hate to break it to you, babe, but I just gave birth to your son, and it’ll be a while before you get laid again.”
“Hey,” he muttered, burying his fingers in her hair at her nape. He gave her neck a tender squeeze, and she turned back to look at him. “I’m not jokin’.”
“Oh.” She snuggled into his side, wrapping an arm around his middle. “I love you too, you know?”
“I knew I wanted a family with you when we were still kids. Pretty girl like you was bound to make pretty babies, and I was right—but I didn’t know it would be like this.”
“Like what?” she asked on a whisper.
He gazed down at her for a long moment before he replied, “Perfect.”
“Lawson?”
“Hmm?”
She smiled. “You’re gonna have to kiss me now.”
Leaning toward her, he spoke through his own smile when he assured her, “I can do that.”
Thirteen Years Later…
“Mommy! Court keeps eatin’ the pepperoni!”
“Lili, you’re such a tattle tale.”
