"Well, when the babies are born, they’ll be sleeping a lot and we'll have them in a little bassinet or they’ll be in a sling against my chest, and then sometimes they’ll be in the cribs in the nursery, and sometimes they’ll be in the playroom with us on the floor on a blankie."
Violet smiles. "I can't wait to be a big sister to a little sister."
"You're going to be the best big sister to the girls. You've already had so much practice with the boys. Harley and Jack are so lucky to have you, baby."
She smiles. "I'm not a baby. I'm a big girl."
"Yeah, you are a big girl," I say. "Mama's big girl."
Sugar joins us in the dining room as we finish setting out the silverware.
"Milk or water?" I ask Harley.
"Milk, Mama, please."
I get the kids the drinks that they want just as Major is coming in the door. He's holding a bouquet of fresh gerbera daisies, pink ones, my favorite. He walks over to me, rubbing my belly and giving me a perfect kiss.
"You had a hard day, babe?" I know he has. He opened a new auto shop recently, one county over, expanding his business. He says he needs to bring home the bacon to take care of us, but I already think he's the best breadwinner in the world. And we don't need a fancier house or fancier cars because we have each other.
"You're working too hard," I say.
He shrugs. "Nah. In fact, I have a surprise. I just finished the schedule and I'm taking eight weeks off when the baby's born."
"Really?" I say, my eyes widening. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," he says. "I'm the father around here."
I see a glint of pleasure in his eyes, wondering if he's planning on knocking me up before he goes back to work. I bite my lip. It already sounds like a terrific idea. Being pregnant with Major's babies is the most thrilling and erotic thing in the whole world. There's nothing I like more than him filling me up with his seed and claiming me as his own all over again. I lick my lips and tell him dinner's ready. "Are you hungry?"
He winks, squeezing my ass. "You know I'm always starved for you."
I laugh, looking over my shoulder, wagging a finger at him. "No, I mean are you hungry for dinner?"
He laughs, stealing another kiss in the kitchen. The kids are occupied with their toys in the playroom, and I relish the moment alone with my husband, leaning against the kitchen counter, kissing me just like when we had our first kiss all those years ago. This time, I'm not pretending to bake a cake or asking him for his baby batter. Heck, he's already given me plenty of that.
"I love you so damn much, Molly."
"I love you more, Major," I say.
He kisses me again as the kids realize Daddy is home and they want his undivided attention. They're showing him the Legos they built and the puzzles they made and the coloring pages they finished. I smile while getting the food on the table, as the kids tell Dad all about their day.
My heart is full. My belly is full too, and all of it feels perfect.
I look around my home, this place I dreamed about having, and feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I am the real bred winner of the family.