Caleb smiled. His life over the past ten years had been amazing. A time in his life he was never going to forget because it was so amazing.
Looking out over the crowd of his father’s retirement party, he spotted his eldest son, Mitchell. He was at the buffet table, eating everything in sight. The boy couldn’t stop eating. Then of course there was Gretel on the floor, crawling underneath the tables; she was seven and growing up way too fast. Susan, their four-year-old, was with his mom, and then there was their one-year-old, Jasper, on Lauren’s hip.
She looked at him and instantly made her way to his side.
He took Jasper from her, pulled her against him, and smiled at his father. “You’re right. I’ve got so much more now than ever before. I didn’t think it was possible to be this much in love.”
Lauren chuckled. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Nothing.”
Lauren kissed him before turning to his father. “Will you enjoy retirement?”
“I think I will. I know the company is in amazing hands. My son will take care of it, but then he also has an amazing woman by his side to keep him sane at night, and that was what he needed more than anything. I better go and keep an eye on the little ones with your mother.”
Timothy kissed both of their cheeks, leaving them alone.
Lauren reached out, cupping Jasper’s cheek. She used his bib to wipe away a little drool.
“How are you coping?” she asked.
He’d woken her up a couple of nights ago to admit his fears of taking over his father’s company. She’d sat, listened, and told him his father wouldn’t even be considering retirement if he didn’t believe with all of his heart that his son was ready.
“I’m doing … okay.”
“You can do this. You need to see that you’re an amazing person. A little cocky and arrogant, but amazing.”
He nodded his head. “You know, I couldn’t have done all of this without you.”
She laughed. “You’re wrong, Caleb. You could do all of this and more. You don’t need me.”
He pulled her close to his side and pressed his face against her neck. “No, you’re wrong, baby. I need you, want you, and I love you more than anything.” He took possession of her mouth and she melted against him, moaning as he kissed her even deeper.
“I think we should get away. Let my parents take care of the kids.”
“It’s your dad’s retirement party.”
“And my fiftieth birthday.”
She licked her lips. “Okay, but first, I’ve got to tell you something.”
“You’ve got me a present?”
“In a way I’ve got you a present. It’s more the kind of present we make together.”
He stared at her. “Again?”
She chuckled. “Are you angry?”
“That we’re pregnant again? Hell, no. I’m starting to believe we’re the most fertile couple in the world.”
She wrapped her arms around him and laughed.
He loved her laugh. No, it wasn’t just her laugh, he loved her. Every single part of her. He couldn’t get enough and as he made his way to his father, he knew he was the luckiest man in the world, and he was never going to give her up. When you found love like this, you held on to it, cherished it, and that was exactly what he was going to do.
The End