Epilogue Two
Homicide
M Y LIFE IS complete . Melissa is my wife and we spend every day together. It doesn’t matter what we do or who we’re with, as long as my wife is at my side I’m content and happy. Zeke and Delilah are getting bigger every day and learning so many new things. It seems when I get home from work they’ve started doing something new and are excited to show me as soon as I walk through the door of our home. The best part of the last year is that I got to experience every single stage of Melissa’s pregnancy with her and now I sit in the nursery with our son in my arms while my wife sleeps in our bed. Plus, I was in the delivery room with her as our son entered the world. I’ve never been prouder of my ol’ lady than I was that day.
Sam Michael Jones is the newest member of our family. He was born almost six weeks ago and weighed in at over nine pounds. He’s the perfect mix of Melissa and me. Looking down at him as he sleeps in my arms, I realize our family is now complete. Melissa doesn’t want to have any more kids and I have to agree with her. When we were younger, we both wanted a really large family with at least five kids. Now, we don’t need five kids. We’ve got three of the best kids around and I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life. My world is full and there’s nothing more I could ever want to make it better.
As I slowly rock back and forth in the rocking chair Rooster made us, Sam squirms in my arms. He whines a little bit as I pick up the bottle I just made him. Melissa is breastfeeding but she always pumps so there’s milk for me to feed our boy as well. That’s what I’m doing tonight. Sam has had a rough day and isn’t feeling the best. I’ve already changed his diaper and tried to feed him a bottle earlier. He wasn’t having it. So, now he’s ready to eat. If there’s one thing I can say for sure about our youngest son, it’s that he’s stubborn as hell. If he doesn’t want to do something already, you’re not gonna get him to do it.
Grabbing the bottle, Sam takes it like normal and starts sucking it down. I can’t help but laugh at him because he eats so fast as if he’s been starved all day long instead of eating every few hours. It won’t be long before we’re putting him on cereal or something because the milk doesn’t seem to be enough for our little man.
“Sittin’ here with you has made me realize how perfect and complete my life is, Sam. While I know nothin’ is ever perfect, your mama sure is. She’s imperfectly perfect for me and our family. She’s gonna love you with every piece of her heart and soul that’s not already taken by your brother, sister, and me. Melissa has more than enough love to go around though. She’ll love you so much that you don’t ever have to wonder if it’s pure and real.
“Your mama will teach you how to treat a woman, cook, bake, and take care of the house. She’ll be at any and all games you’re in, school events, and mend your broken heart when it inevitably happens. If someone even thinks of hurtin’ you, she’ll be the first one to step up and protect or defend you and your biggest supporter. You’ll know when your mama’s there because you’ll hear her over everyone else in the crowd. She’ll love you unconditionally and without holdin’ back.
“I’ll teach you what it means to be a man. Someone strong and secure in himself to know when to push forward and when to pull back. There are gonna be times when you want to fight for somethin’ but it won’t be the right time. I’ll help you get in trouble and talk your mom out of a worse punishment than what she plans on givin’ you since I’m the one who got you in trouble to begin with. At the end of the day, I’ll be right at your side no matter what’s goin’ on. If you ever need me, I’m no more than a phone call away. Always. I’ll help you buy your first bike and teach you how to ride it, work on it, and make sure you’re ready for the road before you ever leave the compound.
“You’ve got more uncles and extended family than most other kids could ever dream of havin’. They’ll support you, love you, and beat your ass when it’s required. Omen and Grudge will more than likely get you in more trouble than I could ever dream of doin’. They’re the best men in the world though. Rooster and Marie will love you as if you were their blood because that’s how they see everyone in the club. The Dirty Slayers will always have your back. Even when I’m gone, you’ll still have an entire army to help you get through anythin’ you need. Sam, your brother, sister, and you are some of the luckiest kids in the world. And we can’t forget your auntie Oaklynn. She’s gonna chase all the girls away and drive you up a wall. Even while she’s doin’ that, you’ll love her anyway. Oaklynn is one of the best women in our lives and keeps your mama sane. Don’t let her give you too hard of a time or chase the girls away too bad though,” I tell my boy even if he can’t understand a word I’m saying to him.
Pulling the bottle from Sam, I place him against my shoulder and burp him. After I get a few good ones out of him, I lay him back in my arms so I can finish feeding him his bottle. This time I tell him about how Melissa and I met.
“I swear, Sam, your mama was the prettiest girl in school. When the sun would shine in the windows, she’d look like an angel. One who would save me from the life I was livin’. We started out as friends, workin’ on class projects together. From there, it turned into studyin’ together, and finally makin’ her mine. There was a period of time when we weren’t’ together. She thought I was dead and I didn’t know about the twins. Everythin’ got so messed up because of others in our life. However, we found one another with the help of your Uncle Grudge and haven’t spent a day apart since we got everythin’ talked about,” I tell him a very short version of my life with his mom.
When I’m done feeding Sam, I burp him again and check his diaper before rocking him back to sleep. It doesn’t ever take long for our youngest to fall asleep. He honestly loves to sleep and doesn’t get up other than when he needs to eat or have his diaper changed. He’s already staying up for a little longer during the day and sleeping slightly longer at night. It won’t be long before he’s sleeping through the night if you ask me.
The second Sam’s asleep, I put him in the crib Rooster made for him. After making sure he’s not gonna get tangled up in the blanket I cover him with, I slowly walk out of his room. Before heading back to bed, I check on Zeke and Delilah. My sweet, baby girl is sleeping peacefully with her blanket still covering her as normal. Zeke is a hard sleeper and tosses and turns all over his bed. The blanket he sleeps with at night is almost completely on the floor instead of covering his small body. I really don’t know how he manages to do this on a nightly basis. Covering him back up, I leave his room and finally make my way back to bed.
Sliding in next to Melissa, I pull her into my arms and she comes willingly. “Are they all back to sleep?”
“They are. Just covered Zeke up again,” I tell her as my wife laughs a little while turning to face me.
Melissa gets comfortable with her head resting on my chest, a leg thrown over mine, and her arm wrapped around my stomach. I keep my arms wrapped around her as I pull the blankets up higher and kiss the top of her head. Closing my eyes, I continue thinking about my life and how long it’s taken me to get everything I want and need. I’ve got my family, the club, a great job, and kids I’ll help mold into the best version of themselves as they can be. What else is needed?
The End of our Story!