Page 162 of When We Were Us
“Whatever my girl wants.”
Just then, the screen door swings open.
“You’re here!” Mom flaps her hands as she steps out onto the porch and pulls Wren into a hug, excitement dancing in her eyes like she didn’t just see us at Sunday dinner.
But that’s just how our family is. No matter how often we see one another, it’s always good to be back in each other’s company.
She steps back and bends to press her lips to Wren’s stomach. “And how did your appointment go? How are my granddaughters?” She beams at my girl, taking her hand and then pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Wren blows out a breath with a smile. “Sitting on my bladder, currently.”
I laugh and Mom jumps into action, reaching for the door. “Oh, go, go!” She ushers Wren inside and I watch her head toward the bathroom.
Wrenley would say shewaddlestoward the bathroom. At five months pregnant, she says she already feels huge. I think she looks pretty damn perfect, and I tell her every chance I get. But it probably doesn’t help that our girls’ daddy is a giant. The thought makes me grin.Daddy. I’ll never get tired of that.
I get busy making Wren a sandwich, and when she comes into the kitchen a few minutes later, Pop stands from his seat at the counter to pull out a chair for her. I set a can of Sprite and the grilled cheese in front of her.
“Thanks, baby.” She smiles up at me sweetly and digs in.
I kiss the top of her head and lean my forearms on the counter next to her as she takes a big bite. “I really don’t like the idea of leaving you.”
Wren slides me a sidelong glance while she chews, but before she can get a word out, I go on. “Hutch said the excavators are coming tomorrow. I really should be here for that.”
“I’ll be fine,” she says, squeezing my hand and kissing me lightly. I can taste the butter on her lips. “It’s just overnight. And Hutch will be fine without you here. It’s literally his job as our contractor, Hank.”
We’d spent half the winter working with Hutch to come up with the perfect house plan and a building schedule. Because of the elevation of the cabin, we've had to wait until the snow was completely melted and the ground wasn’t a frozen tundra to get started.
After the excavation process is complete, the footings and foundation will follow shortly afterward. It is going to be a long process, and even starting when we were, it was likely the house wouldn’t be fully ready for move in until after the New Year. But I loved the idea of bringing our daughters home to the tiny cabin in the woods, where it all started for Wren and me.
When we first found out she was pregnant, we were both shocked but elated. Wren had been back a little over three months at the time, and we’d settled into a quiet routine at the cabin. She was ready to kick into wedding planning mode, but that had quickly taken a backseat, because now that we had the twins on the way, our cozy, little oasis in the woods wouldn’t work long-term.
I didn’t want to wait. I told her we could get married now and have a big wedding later, but she’s insisting the house come first. The seven hundred square foot cabin would work until the house was finished.
“She’ll be fine, sweetheart. They all will,” Mom says, patting my arm.
I eye Wren. I haven't spent more than eight hours away from this woman in nine months, and I really don’t relish the thought of leaving her. “Maybe I should skip it. Pop can go in my place.”
Pop nods, just like I knew he would. It’s no secret that I get my protective side from him.
“It’s just one co-op meeting. I don’t really need to be there,” I tell her, as if it’s settled.
Wren reaches over and pulls my hand toward her again, lacing our fingers together. “I mean this with all the love in the world, Hank, but you are driving me crazy.”
I smile at that, and chuckle.
“Go. Do what you need to do. I promise, we will be fine. Finn’s coming over, and the three of us are going to paint our nails and watch a chick flick. I’ll call if there are any problems.” She lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
I’m still reluctant, but I finally nod and look over at Pop. “You ready?”
Pop nods and stands to grab his bag at his feet, then he and Mom leave the kitchen, heading for the truck.
Glancing back over my shoulder, I lean in and my hands circle Wren’s waist as I haul her up from the barstool. My lips finding her neck as I do.
“I’m gonna miss this. Miss you,” I murmur against her skin when I breath her in. Those goosebumps I love erupt across her shoulders.
“Mm, me too.” She sighs before I capture her lips and my hands find her ass, giving it an appreciative squeeze. I rock my hips into hers and mentally calculate how long it would take to fuck her in my parents’ bathroom.
“Hurry back, ok?” she says, breathless from our kiss.
