Epilogue #2
Norman dropped me off, laughing as I barely let the car stop before hopping out. I hadn’t seen my family in ten days. That was ten days too long. I sprinted up the walk, opening the door and immediately calling for Kassie. “Lovely! Where are you?”
She came from the back of the house, smiling and hurrying to greet me. “You’re early!”
I lifted her right off her feet, kissing her hard. “Fuck, I missed you. I caught the early flight.”
She laughed as I spun her. “Did you miss me?”
“So much,” she replied. “We both did. Someone has been fussy. Wanting her daddy.”
My heart melted. “Daddy missed his baby girl. Where is she?”
“Upstairs. She went down for a nap so she’d be awake when you got home.”
I took her hand. “Let’s go get her.”
“You go. I have pies coming out.”
I kissed her again and headed upstairs. Kassie still baked pies, but not as many.
And lots of them were for me. The house still felt new, yet like home.
We loved it, and I knew we would stay here for many years to come.
At the nursery, I paused then headed into the room, the sun bouncing off the soft yellow walls.
I peered over the crib at our daughter, smiling.
From the moment I knew about her, I was in love, but nothing prepared me for the overwhelming swell of emotion that hit me when she was born.
Red, wrinkly, and unhappy, she screamed her way into the world and into my heart. From the moment I held her, I knew I was a goner.
And I still was.
I ran my finger down Adley’s fat, soft cheek. “Hi, baby girl. Daddy’s home.”
Her lips pursed as she slumbered. She had dark tufts of hair all over her head, and her eyes were a mixture of blue and green, although I personally thought they were more green like Kassie’s.
But it might have been wishful thinking on my part.
She resembled Kassie, though—small and sweet.
But her temperament was mine—impatient—especially if her meals were delayed.
She loved to sleep, to eat, and to be held.
And I loved making sure she got all three.
The diaper thing still shocked me. How something so cute could create the nuclear explosions while smiling and acting innocent was mystifying. Still, I did my part.
Unless I figured out how to trick Kassie into it.
I bent and lifted Adley into my arms, cradling her head and rocking her gently. I didn’t want to wake her from her nap, but I needed to hold her. It seemed as if she grew every time I was gone, and I hated that I missed anything. She felt bigger in my arms.
“Stop growing,” I murmured. “It’s too fast.”
“That’s what she has to do, Olly,” Kassie said, coming up beside me. “Grow up.”
“Not yet. I’m not ready.”
She leaned her head on my arm. “You have lots of time.”
“Especially now that I told Annie no more movies for a while. Davis has one he is shooting in Toronto next fall. I’ll be able to come and go if I accept. I’ll be home more.”
“In front of or behind the camera?”
“Behind. I like it better.”
“Sounds good.” She cupped my face. “I’m so proud of you.”
I indicated the golden statue on the shelf in the corner of Adley’s room. She loved to look at it, so I left it there. “I doubt I’ll get another one of those.”
Kassie laughed. “I think you will. You’re brilliant. Even Davis says you’ll be better than him soon.”
I chuckled, thinking of the night at the Oscars.
Kassie, beautiful and nervous, clutching my arm. The screaming crowd that made me grateful for her standing beside me. The way she glowed at me when my name was announced for Best Supporting Actor. Her tears when I kept my speech simple.
“For all of you who believed when I didn’t, thank you. Annie, you are forever my hero. And to my lovely. My Kassie. You are the best support a man could ever ask for.”
Then I broke protocol and returned to my seat and my wife, who was waiting for me with open arms. Annie smacked my head for that one. But she grinned as she did it.
I bent and kissed Kassie. “I love you.”
She smiled against my mouth. “I love you.”
“Do I smell blueberries?”
“Maybe.”
“I should go check.”
“Leave the baby.”
I pouted until Kassie spoke.
“Maybe you can have pie and a nap.”
“But I’m not—” I stopped speaking, recognizing the mischievous grin on her face. “A nap. Yes. I need a nap. Probably more than the pie.”
She grinned. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
I laid our daughter back down and bent low. “Give Daddy twenty minutes, little one.” I glanced over my shoulder at my wife and winked before turning back to Adley’s sleeping form. “Maybe an hour. Daddy is exhausted. I’ll make it worth your while.”
Kassie chuckled. “Good luck with that.”
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.
“I’ll take what I can get. Anytime.”
I followed her down the hall. I would follow her anywhere.
This was my life. She was my life. Simple. Filled with laughter, family, and love.
A simple love—the very best kind.
And it was all mine.
Thank you so much for reading A SIMPLE LOVE.