Epilogue III
Jane & Garrett
That December
Garrett
Reports. I’m drowning in reports. My fingers run down the length of my face as I sit back in my home office chair before running back through my hair with vigor as I shake off the screen fatigue and sit back up.
Jim needs the help. I’ve got this. He helped out when I took paternity leave earlier this year, so it’s the least I can do.
A soft snarl rumbles from me as I straighten a stack of files, then take a sip of my now cold coffee.
“Garrett! Gare, come quick! Oh my gosh, hurry!”
I fly out of my seat, spilling my coffee down the front of my new green sweater, but who gives a shit, Jane needs me. Adrenaline high, I beat down those stairs and stop dead in my tracks in the entry of the living room at what I see.
A little, round face with springy blonde locks grins up at me, but she’s on her feet, and she is not holding the table.
“Dada!” She squeals, wobbles, and grabs the table.
“She let go and took a step,” Jane informs me, eyes wide with anticipation. Charlotte’s been cruising and attempting steps here and there for a couple weeks now, getting bolder by the day.
I come a little closer with a big ol’ grin and drop down on a knee and stick my arms out.
“Hey, Charlie girl! Can Dada get a hug?”
Charlie lets go of the table, reaching both arms toward me, little fingers grasping and opening, indicating she definitely wants those hugs.
“You can do it. Come to Daddy, baby. I’m right here.”
Charlotte looks at the table, the floor, Mommy, then me, letting out a little puff of breath in excitement.
I think she’s going to try. We watch, air caught in our lungs and eyes wide as she mulls it over for a second and takes a tentative first step.
Her little breaths increase with her confidence, a toothy grin pulling her cheeks higher.
I bridge the gap, scooting a little closer, ready to catch her if she tries to face-plant the rug.
“Good job, Charlie. Come get hugs.”
Her little foot lifts, then drops with hesitation, and her brows scowl with concentration again before she takes another step.
And another. Another! A loud giggle leaves her as I reach out my hands, Jane and I both gasping in delight.
When Charlie grasps my finger, I gently pull her into the hug to not startle her, then lift and toss her up in the air.
“You did it, Charlie girl! You walked to Dada! I am so proud of you!” I clasp her back to me and pour my joy into her, kissing that chunky cheek I love so much.
This little girl completes me in ways I never realized were missing until her little blue eyes stared up into mine that very first day.
I was a goner. Now these two women fulfill me and make me want to hand them the world.
I’ll do my very best to do so. Jane joins us in a hug, tilting up to kiss me.
I could never say no to that. Charlie squirms and squeals, a pudgy little hand lightly pushing at our locked lips. I pull away with feigned shock.
“Oh, you need moochies too?!” I ask mischievously, and she giggles lightheartedly. I look over at Jane. “You know what that means.”
“Moochie attack!” Jane squeals as we all drop to the carpet while Jane and I give cheek kisses, squeezing her little face between us before tickling the daylights out of her. The sound of all our combined laughter fills this home with all the love it could ever need.
???
Jane
Charlotte jumps in her exersaucer excitedly while watching me decorate the Christmas tree. She’s completely mesmerized with the twinkling colored lights and sparkly ornaments.
“That’s looking beautiful, hun. Almost just as lovely as you.” Garrett brings in a hot cup of my favorite herbal tea and hands it to me before pulling my back to his chest and pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
“Are you trying to get lucky?” I taunt.
“I’m already lucky, but…” He presses another kiss just below my ear, and I shiver when his breath whispers along the shell of it. “Most definitely…”
“Hmmm… I may be able to be persuaded,” I whisper back.
“How so?” Garrett presses his hips against my ass, an unmistakable bulge teasing me. Teeth dragging across my bottom lip, I raise my mug and sip, mulling my options over. Quickie while Charlotte’s occupied, or…
“If you get Charlotte down for bedtime, I’ll go get myself all spruced up for you and be waiting.”
A low rumble vibrates against my back, unspoken acceptance given.
“Hey, Charlie girl. Let’s give Mommy loves and go get ready for night night time.” Garrett sets down his half-consumed tea and bends to grab her. He lifts her up high, then brings her between us, so I can give her goodnights. I nuzzle my mini-me, telling her how much I love her and ‘night night’.
“Nigh Nigh,” Charlie babbles back, and we gasp and say it back to her while she giggles and repeats her newest words.
Every day, it’s something new, and I couldn’t love this stage more.
Garrett walks off with her, enjoying the new words back and forth with his prized, little princess.
My heart warms watching them climb the steps together. I couldn’t have asked for more.
???
When I exit the bathroom in my little blue satin cami set, Garrett’s waiting for me. I’d taken a little extra time to shave, thinking he would appreciate the extra effort.
“Well, she went down fast.”
“I think she was tired from all the excitement today. First steps, putting up the tree, new words. That little brain is going a mile a minute.”
I hum in agreement, sliding off my shorts at the bedside and watching his dad-mode switch flip. His pupils blow as he swipes a thumb along the corner of his mouth, and he slides over, reaching for my wrist.
“Come here, wife,” he grits out low, pulling me astride him. I tease his rigid length through his boxer briefs with a roll of my hips as his fingers rake up my outer thighs and dig into my ass cheeks, groaning low in the back of his throat when I grind against him, leaving a wet spot on his cotton.
“Lift,” I command, an inch above his lips, and he reaches behind his head, grasping the headboard and lifting his hips while I make quick work of his boxer briefs before restraddling him.
“Good boy,” I praise, impaling myself on him and watching his face flush while he reaches to take one of my breasts in his hand. I tsk him.
“Did I say you could let go of the headboard?”
His hand finds its place again, and I hum with contentment as I slowly begin to ride him.
He bites his lip, eyes flicking between where we’re joined and my satin covered nipples taunting him.
I love the way it makes his biceps flex, and I love watching him surrender to me.
He groans, and his thighs flex hard beneath my body as he fights not to screw up into me.
“That’s right, watch how well I take what’s mine.”