They were both in a full-blown argument and couldn’t even hear me at this point.
I helped Ellie clean up. We popped some popcorn and put the Cars movie in. It didn’t take long before both kids were sound asleep. Alex was snuggled next to me, and Colt was lying across Ellie.
I motioned to her that I was going to carry them up to their beds.
Ellie smiled, nodded her head, and mouthed, Ka-chow, to me.
I began laughing and wiggled my eyebrows up and down. When she nodded her head, I knew we would be sneaking off to the barn tonight.
I stood and picked up Alex. I carried her upstairs and put her in her bed.
When I covered her up, she whispered, “Daddy?”
I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I want to marry a guy like you someday.”
I felt my heart begin to slam harder in my chest. “No one will ever be good enough for my baby. No one.”
She smiled. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you more, Alexandra. I love you so much more.”
I shut her door and leaned against it as I tried to contain my tears. I pushed off and made my way back downstairs to get my little man.
Colt was out for the night. He didn’t even budge when I placed him in bed and covered him.
I shut his door and ran back downstairs. Ellie was in the kitchen at the back door, holding the quilt Emma had made for us for our wedding present. We only used it when we were in the barn.
“Gunner, what if one of them wakes up?”
“They won’t.”
She tilted her head and said, “What if?”
I walked up, grabbed her, and picked her up, and she let out a small squeal.
“Gunner…” she whispered.
I pushed the door open and made my way to the barn.
“Thank you for the last few days.”
I walked into the barn and slowly set her down. I placed my hands on the sides of her face. “Thank you, Ells. Thank you for loving me, for being an amazing mother and wife, and for taking care of all of us like you do.”
“Now that you have me in your barn, what are your intentions, Mr. Mathews?”
“I intend on making love to you and showing you just how much I love you. I’m going to show you how much you’re wanted over and over again, Ellie.”
The End
I walked into the house and heard Ari on the phone with Heather.
“What if they get hurt? I’ll be so far away. I know. I know you’re right. I can’t help but worry.”
I smiled as I walked into the kitchen. I looked at the table and saw Luke and Grace. They were both making something with paper and crayons.
“What are y’all doing?” I asked as I pulled up a seat and sat down.