Page 9 of Filthy Wishes
“No running in the house,” I shout, but I don’t mean it, and they know it. There is nothing in the house that can hurt them, and we limit the amount of time they spend outside, and they never go without one of us. There is still too much up in the air with Rosie’s vision changing all the time. The boys continue through the kitchen, and it’s just us again.
“How was your day?” she asks, pulling garlic bread out of the oven.
“Pretty good. Gareth is pretty sure we can start building next month,” I reply as I grab plates from the cabinet and set the table.
“That’s great. I am so ready to be out of this cramped space.” She’s right. It is cramped. With two growing boys, the two-bedroom, one-bathroom situation has to go. Especially since our other home is literally as big as we want it to be, the oceans provide hearth and home like nothing else can.
“We will be soon,” I remind her.
“Good, because this time next year, we’ll have a three-month-old baby.”
“That’s good,” I say absently, putting forks down at each place setting. “Wait. What?” I ask after what she said sinks in.
“I’m pregnant again. I thought, after Porter, we wouldn’t have anymore, but I am. Confirmed it this morning,” she says, her megawatt smile beaming.
“Holy shit, baby. I’m so excited,” I say, dropping the forks and pulling her into my arms. Kissing her, I whisper into her ear how much I love her.
“I love you too. Let’s get these boys fed and in bed. They already wet their tails today. I think Jayden is going through a bit of a growth spurt. He was in some pain today.”
“Growing pains. I remember them well. They suck,” I say, chuckling.
“He has a few choice words for them as well,” she says, laughing. “You would have been proud. Swore like a sailor while Porter and I tried not to laugh.”
“I assume that wasn’t very successful?”
“Hell no. Porter was down on the floor, and I couldn’t breathe.”
“And how did Jayden take that?”
“Not well. More swear words, but in the end, he was laughing too.”
“Poor guy. I’ll have a talk with him when I tuck him in.”
“Thank you. I never know what to say to him when he hurts like that, then the cussing. I’m the worst mom for thinking that part is funny, but I can’t stand that he’s in pain, and I can’t help him.”
“You’re the best, mom. Don’t worry about it.”
“Boys! Dinner!” she shouts, and they come running. Chairs scrape against the floor as they take their seats after bounding into the room.
“Thanks, Mama. It looks yummy,” Porter says, alreadydigging into the pasta in the bowl in front of him.
“You’re welcome, baby. Eat some salad too, please.”
“I will,” he assures her.
“Yeah, thanks, Mom,” Jayden says, his mouth full of food.
I look around the room at the family Sally and I have made together. She smiles at me before beginning to eat. I have no idea what I did to deserve a mate like her, but I thank the Gods every damn day that they gave her to me.
Later that night, I climb into bed with her. She’s reading a book on her Kindle but puts it down.
“I love you,” I tell her.
“I love you too.” I nuzzle her neck, and she arches for me. “I love it when you do that too,” she says.
“Thank you,” I whisper in her ear.
“For what?”