Always His Cowgirl (Always 2)

“Since we all agreed to let my mom cook tonight’s meal, we need to stick to it. You will all pretend that every single morsel of her dinner is delicious. I don’t want to hear one complaint or gagging noise from any of you.” She stares over at our son Mason for a few extra seconds to make sure she’s getting her point across.

“I should have left with Uncle Mason this morning,” he mumbles under his breath. I level him with a stare, letting him know not to give the love of my life any lip. She may be his mother, but she’s my everything and I won’t allow anyone to give her shit. My uncles had hightailed it out of here this morning before anyone could wake up.

I can’t say that I blame them. It was the last event for the weekend with the vow renewal having been last night. Sunday dinner, which is normally at my parents’ house, had been moved. This was a way for Bunny to rope everyone into having it at her place.

“Mason Eric. I will make you eat over at your Grandma Bunny’s every night for the next month if you don’t zip it and cooperate.”

He rolls his eyes that match his mother’s. His sister smacks him in the back of the head. He glares at her, but she gives him an innocent smile. Even though they are twins, their personalities couldn’t be any more different.

“Babe,” I call to her, drawing her eyes toward me. They go soft when they meet mine, the same way they always have. “Show time,” I let her know, having heard Bunny and Jameson’s truck pull up outside.

“All right, kids, outside you go. Everyone needs to act as though this meeting never happened.” Everyone disperses at my wife’s command.

This weekend has been perfect down to every detail that Daisy planned for her parents. She wants to make sure this goes the same. Her love for her family is one of the things that makes Daisy who she is. She spent weeks planning this for her mom to make sure it is everything she could ever want.

My wife is fierce. There is no doubt about that. She’s the first one ready for a fight, but that’s because she loves deeply too. You can’t have one without the other.

Bunny enters the kitchen ready to go. Jameson drops a few bags on the counter.

“Don’t even think about it.” Bunny points to my mom.

“She was just coming to give you a hug.” Daisy jumps in, trying to walk past me. I snag her around the waist, pulling her into my lap. My hand rests on the small baby bump that is already forming.

“Yep.” My mom nods her head in agreement. She’s a terrible liar, but Bunny lets it slide. Dad swoops in and saves her, pulling her down into his lap. I lean back and watch the chaos that is our family unfold. There is never a dull moment around here. The kids run around the table playing while everyone else talks and laughs. This never gets old. I couldn't have dreamt of anything better than what my reality is.

I put my wife in my chair, going to set the table with Josh as Bunny and Jameson start to bring the dishes to the table. Dad pulls out the kids’ table, setting it up. I don’t know what the hell Bunny is making, but it smells good. Maybe she nailed it this time. It’s likely she’ll be on that show Nailed It with her dinner, but I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt.

“Kids! Dinner!” my mom calls out the back door. They come flooding in. Noelle holds her little girl close to her chest, rocking her back and forth. Noelle gave Daisy baby fever. She’d said after the twins she was done. Two babies was enough. She had her hands full with them and all the animals around her. I was damn happy when she cracked. I would never push her for more kids, but I wanted one more.

“Dig in, everyone. Why are you all just sitting there?” Bunny puts her hands on her hips. Everyone hops to.

“I’ll make your plate,” I tell my wife, going for the salad and a few rolls with butter. I figure those two things have to be safe. Next I give her a small serving of whatever this yellow casserole thing is before setting it down in front of her. She’s worked hard this entire weekend so I want her to relax. I take it upon myself to make our kids a plate.

I walk back over to my wife, putting her into my lap again. She gives me a small shake of her head, hiding a smirk. I can eat and hold my wife at the same time. The dining area is bursting with people as it is. It’s better to share a seat.