Epilogue.
Clayton
“Clay!” my little wife’s voice calls over the heavy rumble of the excavator.
I stop the digger and kill the engine. Popping open the door, I attempt to give Julie a hard look.
She knows better than to get this close to the equipment when it’s running.
But my attempts prove useless as she beams that stunning smile I fell prey to nearly a year ago, a hand propped under her small, yet ever-growing, baby bump.
I hop down and stride toward her. “Everything all right?”
She’s roughly eighteen weeks pregnant now with our first child.
It’s hard to believe we’ll be married for nine months come Sunday.
The jury is still out on how her parents feel about Julie’s new job at the hospital working on the maternity floor—or our spur-of-the-moment nuptials.
Thankfully, my family couldn’t be more thrilled for us, accepting Julie with open arms and healing any worry she had about losing a set of grandparents for our growing family.
I spare a glance at the work trailer I hauled out here last spring that we’ve been staying in while we break ground on our forever home—and my little wife’s dream.
Our dream.
It’s not much, but I’m determined to get the groundwork laid for next spring on this build to be complete before the end of next summer. And so far, we’re ahead of schedule.
“Come here,” she waves me over, giddy as she bounces on her toes.
I can’t help but grin at her antics. “What is it?”
The moment I’m within arm’s reach, she snatches my hand, placing it on her belly. “Shhh,” she whispers. “Wait for it…”
Something small bumps against the palm of my hand.
And all the joy in the world can’t describe the emotion that slams into me—feeling our baby move for the first time. Tears cloud my vision as she smiles up at me. “He’s moving.”
“He?” I chuckle, rubbing both hands gently over her belly now, eager to feel another kick or punch of movement. “What makes you say that?”
She shrugs. “Call it a hunch.”
“Hmm,” I say, my hands idly trailing to wrap around her waist as I step closer. “I suppose I’ll have to trust your intuition on this one.”
She laughs, tapping my chest. “You do that, cowboy.”
I lean down, giving her a lingering kiss. “I love you.”
Jules’ smile is radiant, the late sun casting a warm glow over her beautiful features. “I love you more.”
I don’t bother telling her that’s not possible for the hundredth time. Instead, I hold my wife and son close, savoring every moment and all the ones to come.
The End.
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