Page 41 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
“Not at all. We cooked a lot and froze it all while Erin was still pregnant, and of course, her coven has brought over plenty of goodies as well. There’s more than enough for everyone, and you can stay as long as you’d like. Of course, if you stay too long I’ll just put you to work.” Jace winked before he went down the hall.
As they sat around the dining table, Ian regaledthem with everything he’d done to prepare for his future. “I got a job at one of the touring companies,” he explained. “I was making okay money with my delivery job, but I figured I needed something that’s a little more in the business. As a deckhand, I’m just doing cleaning and maintenance, but they said there’s a lot of room to move up as I gain experience.”
“The hours are also steady so he has time for his classes,” Bailey noted with a smile.
“Classes?” Jace asked, instantly perking up. He already supported the company that Ian wanted to create, but this caught his attention. “You’re going back to school?”
“Don’t get too excited, Dad,” Ian replied dismissively. “Bailey has encouraged me to take some business and accounting classes so I’ll be more prepared once we actually launch. I know a lot about the ocean and boats, but she’s reminded me that a lot has to happen behind the scenes, too. We still have a long way to go.”
“But you’re creating a foundation that you can build all of that on,” Jace said with approval clear in his voice. “Those classes sound like a great idea. I think the three of you will make a great team.”
“What about your job, Dad?” Ian asked,deflecting the attention off himself as he cut into his pork chop. “Do you like it?”
“Honestly? I love it.” Jace added a little extra butter to his mashed potatoes. “It doesn’t take much of a move to shake things up a bit. I’m getting to see things from a different perspective and work with new people. It’s great.”
“How about you?” Bailey turned to Erin. “I assume you’re going back to work after a while.”
Erin knew what she was really asking. “Yes. I worked right up until the day I went into labor, and I’m already itching to get back into the shop again. There’s a decent amount of room in the back, so we’ve been converting it into a more apartment-like atmosphere. I’ll hire someone who can help with both the shop and the baby.”
“Wow!” Bailey enthused. “That sounds like a great solution. My older sister has struggled so much with going back to work full-time after having her baby. She wants to be home with her, but she also wants to get out and work, and she just has to balance the best she can.”
“I worried about all of that myself,” Erin admitted. “I still don’t know if our plan will be perfect, of course, and I think it will still be a challenge, but I think it’s a good start. I have the advantage, in a way,of becoming a mother later in life. I’ve gotten to hear everyone else’s frustrations and tried to learn from their experiences. I’m also very lucky in having so many people who support me.”
Arden, who was asleep in his bassinet, began to fuss.
Bailey jumped out of her chair. “I can get him! What does he need?”
“Thank you.” Erin lifted her napkin to her mouth to hide her smile. She understood Bailey’s excitement because she felt it herself. Had she been that blatant about it when she was younger, or had she hidden it from the world? “He probably needs a change since he just woke up, and then he might be hungry.”
When dinner was done and it was time for the young couple to return home, Erin and Jace stood at the front door as they saw them off. “You two take care,” Erin said, hugging them both. “Come see us again soon, and we’ll also come see you sometime.”
“We’d love that,” Bailey gushed. She touched a fingertip to Arden’s cheek. “If you want someone to watch him for a weekend or something, you just let me know.”
“Ian, keep me in the loop on everything.” Jace clapped his older son on the shoulder. “I know youdon’t really need me anymore, but I’m still here for you if you need advice on your business or anything.”
“I will, Dad. And don’t worry. I still need you.” Ian gave him a manly half-hug and walked out the door.
When the young couple had pulled out of the driveway and their taillights could no longer be seen from the road, Erin and Jace turned off the lights and headed to the bedroom to get ready for the night. “Ian’s not exactly a kid anymore, but it’s still hard to see him leave after he comes to visit,” Jace admitted as he put his toothbrush away.
“Are you worried about him?” Erin asked his reflection as she put moisturizer on her face.
“I know he’s fine, but yeah. I can’t help it.” He stepped out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
“Of course,” Erin reasoned as she followed him and pulled back the covers. “I’m sure we’ll be saying the same stuff about Arden in twenty years or so.”
“We will.” Jace pulled his shirt over his head.
Erin took advantage of the moment to admire her mate’s body. She’d been with Jace for almost a year now, but she still savored his broadshoulders and wide chest. “We’ve got to get past the baby years first.”
“I had so many sleepless nights with Ian,” Jace reflected as he finished undressing. “You expect that as a parent. Everyone tells you how hard it is and that you need to sleep whenever you can. No one ever tells you how little sleep you get once they move out!”
“Technicallyyoumoved out,” Erin teased. She snuggled up next to him in bed, relishing the warmth of his skin. She rolled over and kissed his shoulder. “And now you get to start all over again with the sleepless nights.”
He turned on his side to put his arms around her. Jace pressed his lips to hers. “It’s all worth it. Every tired day. Every dirty diaper. Every time he cries and we don’t know why. Every second of that is worth it.”
“You’re the old pro, and I’m the newbie, but I still think you’re right.”
“Old?” he laughed. “I’m still young enough to have a newborn in the house.”
