Epilogue
NOAH
I sit here, my gaze alternating between Jessica and Rosie, taking it all in.
“You already want another one, don’t you?” Caleb says, his eyes finding mine.
Smiling, I nod. “Yeah, but only if and when she’s ready. She was fucking amazing, wasn’t she?”
Caleb’s fingers trail over her shoulder. “She really was.”
Seeing her give birth was something I will never forget. I’m in awe of her strength. She created a miracle, and I can’t even begin to understand the amount of pain she went through.
She told us it was painful, but once Rosie was in her arms, the pain took second place. Like she knows it hurt, but it’s hard to explain.
“If she ever claims to be weak again, we just need to remind her how fucking strong, resilient, and powerful she really is,” Caleb says.
I agree, because she’s a fucking warrior.
Jessica stirs and I lean over and gently take Rosie, who seems to have finished feeding, and bring her to my chest to rub her back as Caleb rights Jessica’s clothes.
“Come on sweet girl,” he says, tucking his arms under her body and lifting her up. “You need to sleep.”
I follow him into our room, where he lays her down, as I continue to rub Rosie’s back until she lets out a burp. And then I place her onto the changing table and get to work changing her nappy. She only fusses a little. And then I carefully lay her down in the basinet we have beside our bed.
We have a nursery already made up for her, but currently she’s in our room, at least for now.
“Do you want to join her?” Caleb asks, looking to Jessica.
“Yeah, but only if you do.”
It seems the best time for us to eat and sleep is usually around the same time as Rosie.
It’s hard work having a newborn and that’s with three of us. I have a newfound respect for new parents, that’s for sure.
“How can I say no to that?” He lifts up the cover. “In you get.” He motions to me.
I arch a brow but do as he says, laying on my side, facing Jessica. Instead of moving to her other side, he slides in behind me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me back against him.
I sigh in contentment as his palm splays over my chest, his thumb rubbing soothing circles.
“I love you,” he whispers in my ear, his semi-hard dick pressing against my arse, and I’m certain if it was before Rosie was born, he would have wasted no time teasing me and then fucking me from behind.
“I love you too.”
He kisses my shoulder.“Rest,” he whispers. “We don’t know how longbefore Rosie wakes again, so make the most of it.”
I know he’s right, but as I lay between him and Jessica, Rosie in her bassinet, I find myself reflecting over everything from my cancer diagnosis, getting married, and the arrival of Rosie.
I’m grateful that every day is another day spent with the ones I love. I couldn’t have gotten through it without them. I’m fortunate to have family and loved ones to support me. I can’t imagine going through cancer alone.
I know that time isn’t promised, and it’s what we do with that time that counts.
Rosie stirs not long after Caleb falls into slumber right alongside Jessica, and as carefully as I can, I manage to slip out from between them. I reach for Rosie and pull her into my chest before sitting in the rocking chair.
Aspen looks up, checking all is okay before laying her head back down on the rug at the end of the bed. She’s never far away.
Before I know it, I find myself singing softly to Rosie as she settles in my arms, my finger tracing the features of her face—so much like her mumma’s.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect her, same as Caleb.
She fixed something inside me that I thought was broken forever.
She’ll never truly know howblessed she is to be so loved by us, and that’s okay.
Becauseyou should never have to question if you’re enough or if you’re loved, you should just feel it every day.
I’ll teach her the act of kindness and setting boundaries.
I’ll spend my time on this earth making sure she knows the world is her oyster, to follow those dreams, and to swim against the tide.
Because she is worthy of all the wonderful things this life has to offer.