Ethan Whitmore #3
For some reason, I was nervous as fuck. I shook that feeling off real quick and went outside to get my lady. Smiling, I embrace both her mother and father before opening the backseat passenger door.
“There goes my baby. Welcome home, beautiful.” I leaned down to kiss her cheek.
Blushing like a schoolgirl, she giggled before playfully pushing me away.
Carefully, I wrapped one arm around her waist and the other under her knees.
Bridal style, I carried her to the porch.
I couldn’t keep my lips off of her. It was obvious that her mom helped get her clean and smelling good before leaving the hospital.
Her skin was soft, and I could see her natural glow starting to resurface.
“You look so beautiful, Amore.” I whispered in her ear.
“Thank you.”
“Ma!” Savannah came running through the door.
Ava’s eyes lit up when she saw her daughter, and it warmed my heart.
Tears flooded her eyes as Savannah tried to reach for her to get down from my arms. I took her straight to the living room and sat her in her personal recliner.
With her face covered, she bawled her eyes out.
Aja had to explain to Savannah that she had to be gentle when hugging Ava.
Although her pain level had drastically decreased, she was still sensitive to touch.
For hours, everyone enjoyed each other’s company. We laughed, the women cried, and Aja made a photo book that captured some good memories to refresh Ava’s mind. She even played her a video from the night we all ran into each other at the strip club. The video was before Ace showed his ass, though.
It was late when everyone began to slowly part ways.
I had asked Big Momma to stay the night because once I got everyone tucked in, I had some unfinished business to take care of.
On the recliner, Savannah had snuggled up with Ava and fell asleep.
Her little snores were loud as hell, so I knew she was in a deep sleep.
“You ready for bed?” I asked Ava.
I could look at her and tell that she was exhausted, although she didn’t do anything.
“Yeah.” She nodded with a slight smile.
Carefully, I picked Savannah up, and she instantly clung to my neck.
“Come on, little mama, time for bed,” Big Momma said to Zoie.
She turned off her Nintendo Switch and then walked over to Ava.
“Goodnight, Ms. Ava.” She placed a kiss on her cheek.
“Goodnight, baby doll.” Ava returned the love.
I loved the bond they’d created. My baby girl was so comfortable around Ava and Savannah.
When we used to go out in public, people automatically assumed the girls were biologically ours together.
I loved the fact that Ava loved my daughter as her own.
Even now, with her memory out of whack, she hadn’t switched up. That’s why I had to make her my wife.
The girls could’ve had separate rooms, but Aja suggested they share due to Savannah’s panic attacks she sometimes had in the middle of the night.
A lot of times, she didn’t like to be alone.
The rooms in the house had more than enough space.
I walked into the princess-themed room to lay Savannah in her bed.
After making sure she was covered, I placed a kiss on the top of her head.
Walking over to Zoie’s bed, I did the same exact thing.
“I love you, daddy.” She hugged my neck.
“I love you too, princess.”
“Daddy, when is Ms. Ava gonna get better?” Zoie asked with a small yawn.
“She’s already getting better, mama. Hopefully, now that she’s home with us, she’ll start to get better even faster.”
“I hope so.”
“Go to sleep.” I kissed her cheek again.
I closed the door behind me and went back into the living room. I could tell Ava was trying to fight sleep because her eyes looked heavy.
“Let’s get you changed and in bed.” I smiled at her.
“Okay.”
Carefully, I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom that we’d be using downstairs.
Our actual bedroom was on the second floor, but with her condition, I figured it was better for her to sleep downstairs.
I sat her down on the edge of the bed where Big Momma neatly placed her nightgown.
It took a total of six minutes to get her undressed and dressed.
I slid her further onto the bed and made sure she was comfortable.
Then, I made sure her pillows were fluffed the way she liked.
Her medicine and a bottle of water were on the nightstand. I made sure she took that as well.
After stripping out of my clothes, I slid into bed with her.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice low.
“For what?” I asked.
“For taking good care of me. I wish I could—”
“Aye, shhh. It’ll come back, but until then, we’re going to continue to live in the moment. And you don’t have to thank me, Amore. You’re supposed to take care of the people you love.”
Although I tell her every day that I love her, she had yet to say it back. I understood why, so I wasn’t tripping. However, I wouldn’t allow that to put a hold on what I wanted. I stroked the side of her face, moving the hair that covered her eye.
“You’re amazing.” She smiled, her eyes drifting.
She was getting ready to fall asleep. “So are you.” I kissed her lips.