Page 55 of Better Than Baby
“Hello! I’m home!” he singsonged, sashaying into the kitchen with a huge grin on his handsome face.
I positioned myself to block his view of the treats and struck a casual pose that would never fool my man. Then I opened my mouth, and…froze.
This happened sometimes. All Aaron had to do was walk into a room, and every once in a while, I was overcome with emotion.This gorgeous man was mine. That smile, those twinkling eyes, and cunning wit…mine.
Aaron’s dark hair was threaded with the smallest bit of silver at his temples now. He thought it made him a candidate for crypt keeper. I thought it made him even more incandescent.
We weren’t so young anymore. I was forty, he was forty-four. We both used readers and joked about how sleeping the wrong way resulted in back pain that lasted for a week. But we were healthy and happy. We had thriving careers, good friends, loving families, and two incredible children who brightened our every day.
We’d built a life together. A beautiful life. And I couldn’t help but thank whatever cosmic force had brought us together…and kept us together. I was more in love with him than ever.
“Hey there, handsome. Happy birthday…again.” I swept him into my arms and kissed him. “How’d the shoot go?”
“Fabulous and—” Giggles and a moan of “ew” sounded from the living room. Aaron smiled against my lips. “Do we have goblins?”
“We do. Kid goblins and a Murphy goblin.”
Aaron stooped to pet Murph before gasping at the homemade cupcakes on the island. “Oh, my gosh! Are those rainbow sprinkles? My favorite!”
“I didn’t put mine on yet,” Mia whisper-shouted from her hiding place.
“Shh. Papa can hear you.”
“Youshh,” she countered.
Aaron marched to the balloons in the living area I’d had delivered earlier today. I was no dummy. My husband loved birthdays and since the adult party had been held last night at Jay and Peter’s, I figured a kid celebration with the four of us was a good idea. Family, friends, and neighbors would be by tomorrow, but today was all ours.
“Am I forty-four or forty-four thousand four-hundred and forty-four?” he asked, tapping a finger to his chin. More giggles. “Matty, our goblin situation is out of control. Where do you think they could be?”
“Surprise! Surprise!” Xander and Mia slid out from under the coffee table, jumping around their papa like little gremlins…or goblins.
Aaron sank to his knees and pulled them both in for hugs and kisses. “I love you, I love you, I love you. Thank you, my monkeys.”
“We’re not monkeys, Papa,” Mia scolded. “Did you see the cupcakes? They’re gonna be so good. Daddy let us do the stirring but I forgot my apron and I think I got some on my dress. Don’t worry. It’ll come out. Want to see me twirl?”
Aaron marveled at Mia’s grace, complimented the cupcakes, and widened his eyes at Xander’s report that he could throw the football to the trees. He was a great dad. The type of parent who took the time to learn his children, be present for them, celebrate their wins, and commiserate losses. He was full of wonder and light, and everything fun and whimsical. Honestly, I think he made me a better dad. A better person.
“You know what I think we should do?” I asked, breaking through the cacophony.
“Have a dance party?” Aaron suggested.
“Well, okay…how about a cupcake birthday dance party…outside?”
“Yes!” Xander punched his fist in the air and boogied toward the sliding door, flattening his palm on the glass as he pushed it open.
“With spinkles!” Mia skipped behind her brother, gesturing for Murphy to follow.
I draped an arm over Aaron’s shoulders and laughed. “My ears are ringing.”
He chuckled, leaning into my side as he watched them fly by the pumpkins and Halloween decorations, down the short set of stairs to the lawn. “Cupcakes, huh?”
“They insisted. It’s a box mix, but I ate one and they’re not bad.”
Aaron bit into his bottom lip. “They’re perfect. And balloons, too. Thank you.”
I kissed his nose in acknowledgment. “Our parents and…everyone…will be here tomorrow. For now…it’s just us.”
“I love us. The four of us…and Murph.”