Page 82 of Cherish

8 MONTHS LATER

“There’re my girls,” Jason says as he finds us in the backyard. He kisses me on the lips before he reaches for our squirming eight-month-old daughter. She squeals and kicks her legs when he takes her, and immediately starts sucking on his cheek, leaving globs of drool along the way.

Jason doesn’t seem to mind as he laughs. He lifts her and blows raspberries on her belly causing her to belly laugh. “Were you a good girl for Mommy?” he asks as if she’s old enough to answer.

She shrieks again and starts to babble. When he lays her across his chest, she sticks her little head in the crook of his neck, causing me to melt.

“And you look gorgeous, Mrs. Dupree. Like a pinup girl from the fifties.” I stand up and spin to show off my yellow dress with white polka dots. It has spaghetti straps, and it flares, landing right at my knees. To tease him, I grab my sunglasses and do a faux pout as I pretend to pose for the camera. He pulls out his phone to take pictures, and to drive him wild, I squeeze my breasts together, shaking them in front of his phone. “If you put that dress on to drive me crazy, it’s working. You’re much too gorgeous for a Saturday night at home.”

“That’s because we’re not staying home.” I smile at him, and he arches his eyebrows at me.

“I saw your dad’s truck outside. I figured he was here to grill us dinner.” I shake my head at him and tell him to guess again. My dad’s been a mainstay around here since Addison came home. While I had my shower and passed the baby around, Dad was in the nursery putting together the furniture. It became a source of teasing when we both found out that Jason is useless when it comes to carpentry.

“Dad’s here, but not to make dinner,” my father says as he walks out of the house and into the yard. When Addison sees him, she kicks her legs and throws her arms to him. He takes her from Jason and spins her around. I laugh along with my daughter as her grandfather plants kisses on her neck. “Grandpa and Tina are on duty tonight. You two are going out, and maybe you can work on giving me another one of these,” he says as he kisses Addison again.

My father has been amazing. He came over every day of my maternity leave to help me with the baby. He watched her so I could rest. He taught me recipes his mother used to make while making us dinner practically every night.

“Dad, we’re having too much fun with this one.” I kiss my daughter, who holds on tighter to her grandfather. “And you,” I say, turning my attention back to my husband. “You have thirty minutes to get ready. Our reservations are in an hour.”

He looks me over before grabbing my hands and pulling me to him. “How can one man be so damn lucky? I have the most beautiful wife. A perfect daughter. I have everything a man can want.”

“You also have a hungry wife, so go!” I slap him on the butt to shove him away, but he leans down and gives me a kiss that causes me to blush.

“What about your father-in-law?” my dad asks. “Any praise for him? He fixed the leak in your bathroom, and I’m building a bookshelf for the nursery.”

“My father-in-law is a saint,” Jason jokes. He fist bumps my dad as he runs inside to change.

Less than twenty minutes later, Jason comes walking outside, looking as handsome as ever in blue jeans and a white button-down shirt. He greets Tina, who’s arrived with Owen to spend the night with Dad and Addison. I laugh as Owen runs around the yard on wobbly legs, chasing the bubbles coming from the play lawnmower Dad is pushing. Tina is holding Addison so they can chase the bubbles together.

Our house and our lives are never empty. Between family, friends, and the nanny, there is always someone home. I spend more time at home too. For a while, I considered quitting my job to be home with Addison full time. Desperate to form a deep connection with her, for her to accept me as her mother, I wanted to be by her side as much as possible.

I never said the reason out loud, but Jason somehow understood my fear. He reassured me Addison loves me and only knows me as her mother. Luckily, I’m able to work from home up to three days per week. The nanny still comes, but I’m there for my baby too.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Jason asks, leaning down and nipping my ear.

“I got us a hotel room downtown. I lied about the reservations. We’re getting room service, but only after we’ve worked up an appetite because I am going to service you, husband.” I wink as I blow him a kiss.

“Like I said, luckiest man on earth right here.”

“And don’t you forget it.” We kiss both babies, eager to make our way to the car, but Mellie’s screeching stops us.

“Mr. Reilly!” she yells. “Where is your gun? I’m gonna need to borrow it for a quick second.”

We both roll our eyes, knowing exactly what’s about to happen. She bursts through the yard from the side gate with Adam right behind her.

“You don’t pull out a gun unless you’re ready to use it, Mellie,” my dad says.

“Oh, I’m ready. Believe me!”

“What did Adam do now?” I ask.

“Oh, you look gorgeous, Mellie,” Tina says from across the yard. Mellie’s stunning in distressed jeans and a long teal top over a tank top. She’s finished her outfit with a pair of wedges. Her hair is in loose curls and her makeup looks professionally done.

“I told you if you still want to go out, I’d take you,” Adam says.

“But I don’t want to go out with you!” She turns on her heels and takes a few menacing steps toward him. Anyone else would be scared, but Adam stands there without a care. “One more word from you and I’ll rip your balls out and shove them down your throat.” To prove her point, she reaches for his crotch, but he grabs both her wrists.

“If you want to touch me, brown eyes, all you have to do is ask.”

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