Page 118 of Liberating Bells
“They’ve been good. Your daughter is bullying Ashton into playing Princes and Princesses with her.”
Ryan gives a deep laugh and then shakes his head. “She’s too headstrong for her own good.”
“Poor Ashton doesn’t stand a chance,” I tease. “She’ll be excited to see you, though. You should go say hi.”
“I think I might say hello to the boy first; where is that little rascal?”
I smile softly when I think of our littlest member of our family. At Ryan’s suggestion, we started trying for another baby shortly after Amelia turned six months old. It didn’t happenright away, but I found out I was pregnant right around when Amelia was a year old. Nine months later, Daniel joined our family, and we’ve been a happy family of four ever since.
“Danny’s up playing Legos in his room.” At almost five years old, Danny was always busy and always chatty.
Ryan leans down and presses a kiss against my cheek. “I’ll be back.”
I watch my husband saunter off toward our son’s room and then turn my attention back to the apples I’m slicing. I give each plate a few cheese cubes, five apple slices, and then a dollop of peanut butter. Then, when that looks good, I slide open the window above my kitchen sink and holler outside.
“Kids, come on in for a snack!”
Amy and Ashton both pause before dropping their props and running inside. They settle in the barstools at the breakfast peninsula and then get to work on their plates I set in front of them.
Ryan clambers down the stairs, with Danny settled into the crook of his arm. The little boy has my blue eyes and the blonde hair Ryan had when he was younger. Danny is unmistakably Ryan’s son, with that mischievous smirk and trouble-maker attitude.
I grin at the sight of the two of them, then tap the counter in front of Amy to get her attention. She looks up at me, hitting me with those green eyes she got from her father. I point behind her, and she turns before letting out a high pitch squeal.
“DADDY!”
Amelia bolts off the stool and runs at Ryan full speed before attaching herself to his leg. He crouches down, still keeping Daniel in one arm, but wraps Amelia up in the other, drawing her in close.
I watch the three of them with a smile. The kids are chattering at him, asking if he had a good trip and if he broughtback presents. He’s only been gone for a day, but they’re acting like they haven’t seen him in years.
I chuckle and then look over at Ashton, who’s watching them as well. “That Amelia is a handful, huh?”
He scowls, his dark eyebrows pulling over his bright silver-blue eyes. “She’s a pipsqueak.”
“She sure does love playing with you, though. You’re very nice to let her play what she wants,” I observe. Ashton shrugs noncommittally, and then stuffs an apple slice into his mouth.
I chuckle under my breath again and head over to the other counter to put away some of the groceries Ryan brought home. In the living room, I hear Ryan let out a theatrical roar, and I turn to see what they’re doing to him.
Ryan’s lying flat on his back, his hands and legs splayed out. Amy and Danny are climbing on top of him and giggling like hyenas.
I turn back to the groceries and smile to myself. The sound of my family playing in the background has my heart feeling full. I used to dream about what my life would be like all those years ago, and honestly, it turned out better than I could have ever imagined.
Ryan
Later that evening,once the kids are in bed and Ashton is back at his own home, Bells and I sit on the couch in our living room, watching the flames in our fireplace dance around. The night is quiet, perfect.
Her feet are resting in my lap as I rub the arch of her foot with my thumb, glancing up at her here and there, appreciatingthe view. Bells is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. The way the shadows from our fire paint her face makes her look enchanting.
“How was your trip?” she asks, after a bit of silence. We haven’t had much time to beussince I got home. Danny and Amy keep us on our toes at all hours of the day. But once they’re asleep in their beds, Bells and I get a chance to be us again. These quiet moments in the evening are spent just appreciating each other’s company.
“It was good,” I say, thinking back over the last twenty-four hours. “Everything seems to be on track with the projects, so I have no complaints. Either that or they just made it look like it because they knew I was coming to visit.”
Izabel chuckles, and then stretches her arms lazily over her head. “That was probably it. You are pretty scary, you know.”
I laugh with her. My business skyrocketed over the last few years. Josie and I are continually working and checking on projects these days. “Oh, for sure. How was your day yesterday?”
She shrugs. “It was fine. My class took a history exam and grumbled about it the whole time. Amelia is really excited about her field trip to the apple orchard next week. And Danny brought home some artwork he wants to show you. I’ll remind him about it tomorrow.”
Bells went back to teaching at Bennett the year we got married and has been at it ever since. She still loves teaching history almost as much as she likes learning about it herself.
