What If

I used to think what I did was frivolous. I mean, I write these silly, fantasy sort of happily ever after, love at first sight romance stories. I’m not doing anything to change the world.

When I said that to Torin one day, he told me the story of Stan Lee. The comic book guy. A quote of his about how important entertainment is in life. Without it, the days would be harder. Life would be duller. Entertaining people is valuable and bringing joy to even one person, is a gift. It changed how I thought of my work and again Torin’s calm wisdom set me straight.

Torin still loves his job. It takes up more hours than he would like but I can’t see taking him from something that is a part of him. He’s talked about starting his own private agency so who knows what the future holds.

He built a greenhouse last month and moved all his orchids here to the farm. I’ve taken quite a liking to the whole process of growing the temperamental flowers and they feel like members of the family instead of just some plants.

As I lay naked, I run my hands over my belly, feeling the movement of both the babies inside. The miracle of my life and how all the difficulties led me here leaves me in awe.

Derek and Les were both sentenced to four to eight years but truth is I have no ill will and I rarely think about any of that anymore.

What I do think about is that day I went to Lucky Charlies for number twenty-eight. I think of all the ‘what if’s’ that ran through my head as I went into the bar. Never in a million years, could I have imagined that day would lead me here.

That day would lead me to think ‘what if’ I never met Torin?

And when I do, I know there are greater forces at work in this world than I knew. Because now that we are together, all the other ‘what if’s’ have disappeared.

Torin had a locket with a picture of us inside engraved with my catch phrase and I lay here pulling it back and forth on the chain repeating the words to myself.

When you least expect him, expect him.

Epilogue 2

Torin

Ten Years Later

I will never tire of the sounds she makes.

The way she arches her back.

The way her hands grab my hair and pull.

Sometimes it’s when I’m fucking her.

Sometimes when I’m eating her.

Sometimes, like now, it’s when I’ve unbuttoned her blouse.

Unsnapped the front of her nursing bra and she’s feeding me.

God, who knew that sucking on her tits while they are full of her sweet milk would have become my obsession. And a bit of hers as well.

She’s been pregnant for most of the last ten years and I’ve kept her amazing tits full of milk even when one of our brood wasn’t in need.

Some may find that off putting, but it is one of many things that keeps us bonded and close. We love our family. Five kids and counting but I have to say, we still put each other first. She’s more beautiful than ever and my never-ending desire for her seems to just keep growing and evolving with each passing year.

When I’m done sucking on her and we can’t ignore the pounding on our bedroom door anymore I release her nipple and rebutton her shirt.

“You good Daddy?” She looks down from her position facing me on my lap. Her eyes as blue as ever, her hair falling around her face framing her smile and rosy cheeks.

“Right as rain Blossom.” I gather her up and onto her feet and she turns and walks to the door opening it. Jessie took to calling me Daddy on her own a few months after we eloped and I have to say, it still warms my heart whenever I hear it.

Ryan, Stephanie and Reynolds are standing at the door looking forlorn.

“What’s the deal with the angry mob?” I ask and Reynold’s, at six, the oldest of the group sets his hands on his hips and answers.

“You said you would take us on a ride.”

Jessie looks at me with mock exasperation. “Yeah, Dad. You said…” She giggles and I give her a look then turn toward the angry brood glaring at me.

“I did. I also said for you to wait on the back porch and I would be done in a few minutes.”

“It’s been like a jazillion hours.” Stephanie adds crossing her arms over her chest.

“You kids live on a different clock apparently.” I step toward the door. They know they have to knock and they are not allowed in the bedroom until invited so they all obediently stand in the opening waiting. “Because it’s only been fifteen minutes you overlords.”

They grouse and stomp as I turn each of them by the top of the head toward the stairway turning to Jessie.