Chapter 34 #2
Wily smiles at me, then leans down and murmurs against my lips, “You knew I had to do something, right?” I giggle and kiss him.
“Happy Birthday, beautiful.” And then my heart melts into a gooey, loved-up puddle in my chest, just before the men take-over the clean-up and the women are sent into the living room to get ready for the big performance.
I’m now snuggled up by my husband’s side while the hyper Football Frat Family off-spring start a “show” they’ve literally spent hours perfecting.
As we watch, we jump from “awwwws” to squashed laughter to strained looks of enjoyment.
Their dances are adorable, their songs off-key.
Well, most of them. Portia and Harley have a set of pipes, that’s for sure.
They punch out a great rendition of “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars, and Jane is pitch-perfect for her song.
Her voice carries through the air, making us all misty-eyed as she sings “True Colors”—a Cyndi Lauper classic.
It’s just stunning. I’m so proud of her, I could burst.
Charlotte, Nichelle, and Kendall hold hands, standing in a line and getting all the words wrong for “You Are My Sunshine.” Kendall gets bored halfway through and starts dancing, much to Nichelle’s consternation, and that has us fighting laughter as the girls fail to figure it out.
In the end, Kendall starts to swing her little arms around, batting Nichelle away when she tries to bring her into line.
Grady gets up with a weary sigh and tries to coax Kendall off the “stage.” She crosses her arms and refuses to go until Blake quips, “Kendall Newman, do as Daddy says. You either get your butt off that stage and let them finish, or you join in properly.” Her voice is so stern that Kendall blinks in surprise before her lips part in confusion.
Did Mommy just tell me off? You can see her thinking it, and much to our surprise, Blake doesn’t give an inch. She raises her eyebrows at her daughter while Grady fights a little grin, then scoops Kendall into his arms when she starts to cry.
Nichelle and Charlotte start their song all over again, and we applaud extra loud when they’re done. Even Kendall has stopped crying and crawled into her mother’s lap for a reassuring hug.
The boys do an acrobatic performance that I wince through, just waiting for one of them to topple over and break something, but we survive it. After a few more “showstoppers,” it’s finally time for the little ones to go to bed.
It’s a war of wills as teeth are brushed, but a few jokes and songs cajole them into compliance, and soon they’re all tucked in, leaving just the oldest kids up and about.
Although it took a lot of effort, it was worth organizing everyone this way. The kids were great, and we were all thoroughly entertained.
Creeping away from Charlotte’s bed, I close the door behind me and tiptoe down to my room to check on Paris.
She’s tucked up in Wily’s arms, and he’s rocking her back and forth. It’s been a disruptive, out-of-routine day, and she’s so over it.
Her little cries and complaints are quickly dying down as sleep gets the better of her. I pad across the room, staring down at her cute face while Wily strokes his finger along the bridge of her nose.
“That’s it, petal. Sleep now.” He keeps whispering to her until she finally surrenders, going floppy in his arms.
“Good job,” I murmur, moving aside so he can set her down in her crib.
His arms come around me the second his hands are free, and I snuggle my back against him, tipping my head so he can kiss my cheek.
“I should be saying that to you.” He nibbles my skin, then brushes his nose across my cheekbone. “You did the most amazing job tonight.”
“It wasn’t all me.”
“You were the force behind it all. It had your stamp all over it, baby.” He spins me in his arms so I can look up at him. “I was really proud of you.”
“Thank you.” My heart flutters, then starts to melt the way it always does when he looks at me like this.
“You’re amazing.”
My cheeks heat, and I can’t believe this man can still make me blush so fiercely.
“You know, I was thinking…” Taking my hand, he leads me out into the hallway so we can talk at a normal volume.
“Oh yeah?” I let him tug me to the top of the stairs.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what to do, now that my football career is all wrapped up.”
I give him a sympathetic wince.
“No, it’s okay.” He pulls me close, his solid arm coming around me. “I’ve had an idea that I’m really pumped about. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I want to do it.”
“The coaching job?” I guess. “It would be a real change of pace for you, but those high school kids are going to adore you. You’ll be the most popular coach at that school within a week. Guaranteed.” I try to make my smile as bright as possible.
But he doesn’t smile back.
Instead, he sucks in a breath, holds it while he studies my face, then lets it out in a rush of words. “I want to stay home with the kids. I want you to become the most popular teacher at school, not me.”
My lips part. Okay, I was so not expecting him to say that.
“I want to be the guy who does the school runs and the laundry and the housework and all of the parenting stuff you’ve been nailing for years.”
He what?
All I can do is blink as I absorb this. “You want to stay home with the kids?”
“Yeah.” He grins. “I love hanging out with them.”
My noise wrinkles. “There’s a big difference between hanging out with them and raising them day-to-day. Are you sure you can handle it?” I curl my fingers into his sweater. “Sorry. I’m not trying to doubt you. I’m just…”
“Baby, I can,” he assures me, obviously not offended by my concerns.
“I really want to. I’ve been away for so much, and I’m sick of missing everything.
I want to be here for the kids. I want to be here for you.
I want you to get your shot at teaching.
You’ve never really been able to pursue it the way you wanted, and it’s not fair.
You’re so amazing, and I want you to get into a classroom the way you’ve been dreaming about.
I want you to inspire more than just our kids. ”
That is the sweetest thing.
He really wants to support me, and I’m so touched.
But… if I’m going to get this chance I’ve always wanted… I may as well try for the ultimate dream. At least ask about it, anyway.
“If we’re going to do this, I…” I bite my bottom lip until he brushes his thumb over my mouth.
“What is it? You can say anything to me.”
“I don’t want to stay in the city anymore,” I blurt. “If we’ve got this opportunity for a big change, then let’s go all the way. I’m sick of the city, the traffic, the constant noise and energy. I want small-town again. I want to be close to my parents.”
This is obviously a surprise for Wily, but he takes it like a pro, squeezing me around the waist and asking, “You want to move to Fledgling?”
“That’s a bit too small.” I laugh, then nibble my bottom lip and hesitantly ask, “What about Nolan?”
His eyes light with a grin.
“The kids could handle the move, right? I mean, we’ll obviously talk to them about it before finalizing anything.
I just… I want them to experience how awesome small-town living can be.
And then once I get my teaching license finalized—which I could do at Nolan U—I could teach at the same school as some of them, and it’d just be so cozy, you know? ”
Wily’s head is bobbing before I even finish. “I love it.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Nolan was the best years of my life. And then we could be close to Carson and Nylah. And Blake and Grady are only a few hours from there. How cool would that be?”
“So cool.” I grin but continue to worry my lip.
“Hey.” Wily kisses my nose. “The kids are gonna be fine. They can handle the move. We’ll talk to them about it, ease them in slowly. It’s all gonna be okay.”
I suck in a breath and nod, excitement buzzing through me. “Okay.”
“I love you.” Wily lifts me off my feet, and I gasp in surprise before wrapping my arms around his neck and murmuring, “I love you too.”
We continue to make out, lost in our little love bubble and the excitement of all that’s awaiting us.
Oh my gosh, this is huge. And thrilling. And maybe a little scary too, but as long as I’ve got my man and my kids with me, I know I’m going to be okay.
And teaching. Ah! I’ve been wanting it for so long. My own classroom. A chance to really impact the next generation. I can’t believe Wily’s willing to do this for me.
Actually, I can.
He is the sweetest, kindest man, and he sees me. He really sees me.
Deepening the kiss, I pour as much gratitude as I can into it. I need him to know just how much he means to me.
His appreciative moan is delicious, and I could stay at the top of this stairwell making out with my man all night… except that there’s a knock at the door.
We pull apart, Wily’s dazed expression sharpening when voices carry up the stairs.
“Tyrell and Dani.” He grins. “They’re finally here.”