Page 52 of Love on the Mountain

“Riley! Ezra! Megan! Time to come inside!” Huxley shouts from the back porch.

I watch our three little monsters running across the yard from the window in the kitchen, laughing to myself when Megan, our oldest, touches the porch and shouts in victory.

“I won! I’m the fastest!”

“Not fair!” Ezra complains, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting at his older sister.

Riley, our youngest at four years old, is just waddling her way up to her sibblings now, taking her sweet time picking a few wildflowers along the way.

“Come on, gang,” Huxley says, waving the kids inside.

They follow him up the porch and into the back mud room, where everyone takes their shoes and coats off. A second later, Megan bursts into the kitchen, eager to help me finish up with dinner.

“Anything I can do?” she asks as she dutifully washes her hands at the sink. Megan has her father’s teal eyes and light brown hair, as well as his generous heart and helpful spirit.

“Go ahead and stir the sauce a few times and then you can help me put the salad together,” I tell my sweet girl with a smile.

She nods excitedly, reaching for the spoon sitting next to the stove.

I feel my husband’s presence before I see him, my body relaxing as if knowing everything is okay now that Huxley is close. He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my middle, resting his hands on my ever-growing baby bump.

“How are you two feeling today?” he murmurs, kissing the side of my neck.

I relax against him, letting my husband hold me and rock me back and forth. “We’re doing well. A little heartburn, but nothing compared to when I was pregnant with Ezra,” I reply. I know both of us are thinking back to the nights I spent up with painful heartburn. It was totally worth it, but I’m glad it isn’t that bad this time around.

“I think you’re incredible and beautiful and strong, and I’m amazed at how you bring life into this world. Just look at our family.”

“You had a little something to do with bringing life into the world, mister. Don’t pin this all on me,” I tease.

Huxley chuckles then nips the side of my neck, making me giggle.

“We washed up like you said, Dad!” Ezra shouts. He only has one volume these days, despite us trying to teach him what an “inside voice” is. “I helped Riley, too. She’s not very good at it yet.”

“Am too!” our fiesty four year old protests.

“Of course you are,” Huxley says smoothly, turning to scoop our little girl up in his arms. Riley has the most self-satisfied look I’ve ever seen on a child, which only makes me love her more.

My family is everything to me. I watch Megan flit around the kitchen to collect the salad ingredients, then turn to see Rileybouncing in Huxley’s arms while Ezra clings to his leg and sits on his foot, wanting a ride as well.

I never thought I would have this, and yet every day, Huxley shows me that life is more beautiful, more exciting, and more unpredictable than I could have ever imagined. I can’t wait to spend forever with my one true love and the family we’ve created.

THE END