Epilogue
CALEB
I watch Jessica as she tries to get the hang of breastfeeding, something she’s been struggling with for the past few days, and I hate seeing the defeat in her eyes.
“Hey,” I say as I join her on the bed.
She looks up, her eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t seem to get her to latch on,” she says.
I grab her jaw and pull her gaze to me. “Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you,” I reply firmly. “So stop being so hard on yourself. It breaks my heart to see you beating yourself up, little one.”
She swallows hard, trying in vain to keep her tears at bay. I swipe my thumbs under her eyes, catching them as they fall.
“I’m just hormonal,” she replies.
But I shake my head. “Don’t do that, try and play it off. Yes, your hormones are heightened but your feelings are valid.”
She sighs and I can see her about to rebuke my comment.
“Jessica,” I say, arching a brow. “We’ll figure this out okay, but I won’t have you questioning yourself or putting yourself down. You’re amazing, and so is your body, so please don’t ever belittle yourself like that again.”
A small smile graces her lips. “You always know the right thing to say,” she replies softly.
“Keep saying things to him like that and it’ll go to his head,” Noah says as he walks in with a mug in his hand.
“Herbal tea, sweet girl.” He places it on the coaster beside me and then kisses the top of Jessica’s head.
“What’s wrong?” he asks as he studies her face, his gaze moving to mine.
I nod towards Rosie at her breast. “Jessica is giving herself a hard time over breastfeeding,” I reply.
His gaze moves to Rosie, suckling on Jessica’s nipple. “She looks to be doing just fine to me,” Noah replies.
Jessica looks down and sure enough, Rosie has latched on.
“Oh my gosh,” she says in surprise. “Look, she’s feeding.”
“Of course she is. I think she can probably tell when you’re stressed, is all. And this is new for both of you, for all of us, but we’ll get through it together, okay? You’re doing amazing,” I say, reaching out to cup her cheek.
“Do you think?” she asks, studying my face.
Noah moves to sit on her other side. “Yes, we do, but lean on us okay, when you’re struggling. Don’t suffer in silence or think you’re not doing your best, because you absolutely are.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, as Noah’s lips graze her temples.
“You don’t ever have to thank us. We’re a family. We do this as a team.”
She sniffs again. “See you always know the right things to say to me,” she says, this time to Noah, though her eyes stay fixed on Rosie, her little palm holding onto the flamingo comforter that Avery gifted her.
“Now someone is just trying to get their wicked way with us,” he replies, winking.
She laughs, the sound a soothing balm to my soul.
“I think my body needs some time before it’s ready to go there again, but I mean, I’m more than happy to watch you both play. Well, when she’s asleep, obviously.”
I lean over and whisper, “Now that is something I can get behind.”
“I heard that,” Noah replies.
I look over Jessica’s shoulder. “You were meant to.”
He cocks a brow. “Promises, promises,” he replies.
“Oh it is, believe me, and if our girl wants a show, you’ll be damn straight that’s exactly what we’ll give her.”
Truth is, between Jessica giving birth and coming home and getting settled, it’s been a whirlwind.
But between the three of us, I’m confident we’ll get into some sort of routine eventually.
“I’d settle for sleep first,” Jessica says, and Noah chuckles.
If one of us is up, we’re all up, it’s why Noah and I took paternity leave.
Jessica rests her head back and closes her eyes. At first I think she’s joking, but within seconds she’s sleeping. I sit back as does Noah, our gazes flitting between one another before going back to Rosie.
Aspen comes and lays down at our feet.
I soak up the moment, knowing that I’m the luckiest bastard in the world.