Epilogue Lexi
“ M om, catch Callie!” I catch hold of the little seven year old as she streaks past me with no clothes on.
“No you don’t, sweetie! Time to take that bath.” I laugh as she grumbles under her breath.
Max comes over and picks her up, swinging her high. She giggles as he wraps her in a blanket. “Little troublemaker,” he grumbles under his breath and carries her back to her mother.
The kids are all visiting for Christmas. All three of our kids. My two daughters and handsome son are all here with their spouses and their grandkids. All in Wildwood for a little reunion. It’s the first time we’ve seen all of them together in a long time. Usually Cashe has to work but this year he’s newly-married and his lovely wife made him take some time off.
Stubborn boy’s just like his father. The trucking company that he runs is doing so well that he’s expanding into more states and I know he works his ass off. He’s the spitting image of his gorgeous daddy.
Now our daughters look just like me. Right down to the curves and eyes.
Their husbands dote on them but last year Alexa was too sick to travel and the year before that Sydney was traveling for her job.
They’re all busy and I know that they don’t want to blow us off. I still remember my own struggles.
So I’ll treasure this Christmas and the memories and I won’t get annoyed that their lives don’t always allow them to come home. We FaceTime and call. Every time I need to talk my girls are always ready to listen and offer advice. My boy works too much but I have hopes that his new love will help him find a new balance in his life.
Max comes to hug me as we watch our two granddaughters wrestling with their cousins. Alexa has two girls and Sydney has two boys. The house is noisy and bustling and I’ve honestly never been happier.
Only a slight twinge hits my heart when I wish that my own parents had lived to see how happy I am. How great our kids are.
Max kisses my cheek. “They would have thought our kids were amazing and so are you.”
I can’t help but smile even with tears in my eyes. I look up at his beautiful face. His silver beard frames his smiling lips. Wrinkles run along the skin along his eyes but none of that matters. He’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
“They would have loved you. Almost as much as I do.”
He grins and his finger touches my nose. “Never as much as I love you.”
He holds me tight and my body throbs with want. No matter how long we’re together or where we’re at, one touch from his hands and I want him. Need him.
I don’t regret staying. Never for one second. Not even when I lost our other son when he was five. Cancer’s a bitch.
But I had my husband. Our little family here in Wildwood. With some time, I felt the ache lessen. It’s still there. The loss always will be.
But with time and love, everything heals. Even the worst loss.
“I love you, angel. My Christmas wish come true.”
My lips seek his out and he kisses me ruthlessly even as chaos reigns around us.
“I love you too, Max. So damn much that it hurts.”
My breath hitches and tears sting my eyes. The world is a cold place sometimes but it’s always warm in his arms, cocooned and safe.
Loss is a part of life, a horrible, painful part of it. But love can bring you out of the darkest places and back into the light of hope.