Page 92

YEARS LATER

Irested my hands on the old worn dock and leaned back to bask in the warm rays of the sun. My quiet reverie was interrupted by my three small children running across the dock with their father in tow. I smiled up at them fondly.

They all have my sunkissed hair and their father’s mischievous green eyes. All three of them had breakfast in their hair and on their shirts. So did Forrest for that matter. It looked like they had eggs, bacon, and grits from the tell-tale splatters.

He looked at me chagrined. "Breakfast took an unexpected turn."

I laughed. "As long as everyone is smiling."

My children hovered around me, and the youngest climbed into my lap. Then I was covered in breakfast too. "Momma! Momma!" he asked, his hopeful eyes gazing up at me. "Can we go in?"

The others chattered in anticipation of my answer.

I pretended to consider for a moment. "Did everyone bring clothes to swim in?" I teased.

"Momma," the oldest said with a groan and roll of his eyes.

The littlest in my lap transformed into a frog and hopped up and down. I kissed him on the top of his green head. All of the boys and Forrest could transform at will now. Apparently, my mother’s magic had a good sense of humor.

"Of course you may swim, my loves. Just don’t stray too far from your father."

The other two boys transformed, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the three of them bouncing up and down on the dock.

"Any more instructions, Momma?" Forrest asked.

"No stolen brides, boys," I said with a big grin and a shake of my finger.

Forrest snorted in laughter and kissed me on the top of my head. "I’d do it all again, you know."

"Me too, love," I said.

Then he transformed and joined our boys for a day of sunshine, swimming, and play.

And we all lived "hoppily" ever after.