I snuggled deeper into Garrett and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of two little boys running around, being chased by Garrett. I dreamed of our oak tree where Garrett had made me his. I dreamed of a wedding, a beautiful country wedding, and a young couple standing under our oak tree. I couldn’t see their faces, but I could feel their love in my dream. I dreamed of kids, lots of little ones running around on the ranch. I’d never had such happy dreams in my life.
When I woke up, I f
elt an empty space beside me. I sat up and looked around. I could hear Garrett whispering in the kitchen. I slowly got up and wrapped myself in my robe before making my way to the kitchen. I stopped just before I got there, and I listened to my husband softly singing “Love Me Tender” to our son. I placed my hand over my mouth and cried silently as I dropped my head against the wall. Garrett sang the entire song to our son as I tried to contain my sobbing. I dropped my hand from my mouth and quickly wiped away my tears. I pushed off the wall and made my way into the kitchen as Garrett started signing again.
Garrett kept singing as I walked in. He looked over at me and smiled. When he finished singing, he looked back down at the baby and said, “Charles James Mathews, you and your mother are the two most important people in my life, and I promise you, I’ll love you both forever.”
I walked over to Garrett, reached up, and kissed him with as much love and passion as I could. When we both pulled away, we looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.
“A forever love,” I whispered.
Garrett pushed a piece of my hair behind my ear and nodded. “A forever love.”
Three Years Later
I looked down and silently thanked God for the blessing in my arms. It had taken Garrett and I longer than we wanted to have our second child, and I had been about to give up when we went on vacation. Two months later, I had found out I was pregnant. Garrett had been beyond-the-moon happy.
He’d felt even happier five weeks ago when the doctor held up our baby and said, It’s a son.
I looked up when I heard the door to the bedroom open. Garrett walked in with a huge bouquet of white daisies. I was pretty sure my grin was from ear to ear.
Jim came running in behind Garrett, yelling, “Is da baby up? I want to hold da baby again, Mama.”
Garrett reached down and scooped up Jim, and he began laughing.
I held up my finger and said, “Shh…Jack is sleeping. He needs his big brother to play quietly, so he can sleep and grow, and then he’ll be able to play with you soon.”
Garrett chuckled as he set the flowers down on the nightstand. He carefully leaned Jim over so that he could kiss Jack. “Gentle, buddy. Remember what we talked about in the barn.”
Jim was focused on the baby and said, “Yes, sir. I will kiss da baby verwy softly.”
I watched as Jim kissed Jack on the forehead, and then oh-so carefully, Jim began petting Jack on the top of his head.
Garrett laughed. “Son, he’s not a dog.”
Garrett set Jim down and leaned over to kiss me. “How are you feeling, Em?”
I nodded my head. “The second time around is a lot easier, that’s for sure.”
“Daddy, pwease can we go for a walk now?” Jim asked as he looked up at Garrett with pleading eyes.
There was nothing that child loved to do more than go walking with Garrett. My mother had said it was because Garrett had walked with him so much when he was a baby.
Garrett rubbed the top of Jim’s head. “Yeah, buddy. Go pick out a toy to bring.”
When Garrett looked back at me, he raised his eyebrow. “Two of them. This is going to be fun.”
I let out a laugh and nodded my head. Garrett turned and took the old flowers out of the vase. He tossed them into the trash can and placed the fresh daisies in the vase. I glanced down at Jack, who was sound asleep in my arms with a nice full belly.
The next thing I knew, Garrett was taking Jack from my arms. He quickly kissed me on the lips. “I’m taking Jack for a walk with Jim. Try to get a few minutes of rest, okay, Em? I have a feeling you’ll need it.”
I chuckled. “Okay. Don’t be gone too long. It’s a bit breezy outside.”
Garrett smiled down at Jack and mumbled something about it not being cold out and that they would be fine. I watched as he walked out of our bedroom.
I decided I wanted to throw the quiche I had made up last night in the oven. When I threw my legs over the side of the bed, a white envelope caught my eye. I couldn’t help the butterflies that took off in the pit of my stomach.
I placed my hand on my stomach and said, “After all these years, Garrett Mathews, you still make me feel like a young girl in love.”