Epilogue You Bring Me Joy - Zane
Two and a Half Years Later
“Do you need any help in here, gorgeous?” I asked Tara who was delicately placing a candle shaped like the number one in the center of our son, Aiden’s, Cookie Monster themed birthday cake.
It was crazy to think a year had flown by since Tara had given me the greatest gift a man could receive. So much had changed in my life, and I owed it all to my beautiful wife. Between coaching, having two teenagers, and a toddler, my plate was full, but so was my heart.
Looking through the back patio at all our family and friends in attendance, I could admit we went overboard for Aiden’s first birthday, but there wasn’t a single thing I would change because he had been all giggles since the Sesame Street themed event had begun.
“I think I got it, babe,” Tara assured, turning to face me.
“I handed Aiden to Zeke and Eva so I could do this part of the festivities. Eva keeps saying that between the two of them, they don’t need any more kids, but I know Zeke has been saying otherwise.
As soon as I asked if he could hold Aiden, he told Eva how good she would look pregnant with his baby. ”
I shook my head, automatically thinking back to the day of Zeke and Eva’s wedding when he vowed to get her pregnant in front of all the guests at the reception.
They were coming up on their six-month anniversary, and from what I knew, he hadn’t succeeded in getting her pregnant just yet.
I was sure the moment he did, he would be calling me to boast about it.
“I know he wants to work at it,” I acknowledged. “Plus, with Trevor and Zuri expecting their baby, it seems to be something in the air.”
“I would love that for them,” Tara gleefully added. One thing about the woman I loved was she genuinely loved seeing the people she loved happy. “You know, some days I wake up, and I still can’t believe this is our life,” she said, looking at me with so much love in her eyes it made my heart swell.
“What do you mean by that, sweetheart?”
“I mean, I love how blessed I am. I’m married to an amazing man. We have three amazing kids, and then there’s the one on the way,” she stated, staring at me through bright eyes while a cryptic smile rested on her face.
“Are you telling me that you’re… we’re pregnant again?” I asked, prematurely picking her up and spinning her around the kitchen as she spoke confirmation in my ear.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you, babe.”
Placing her feet back on the ground, I stared at her with nothing but passion and devotion. “Thank you so much for giving me what I always wanted.”
“What is that, Mr. Simmons?”
“Well, Mrs. Simmons, you gave me your heart, and you’ve given me the family I’ve always wanted. It’s because of you that I wake up with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.”
“Zane, you fill me with so much joy that it’s nothing short of a privilege to be your wife, and it’s an honor to carry evidence of our love.”
The way she effortlessly loved me was why it was nothing for me to give her my all. Her selfless love was why she would always be my forever. It had always been Tara for me, and it always would be.
-The End