Page 99 of Single Mom's Firemen

Epilogue II

Halle

John Anthony is growing up so fast. It feels like yesterday that he came into this world, a couple of weeks earlier than expected. He’s got an awesome pair of siblings by his side, though. Luna is a doting, loving older sister, while Sammy keeps counting the days until Johnny is old enough to play with him. Until then, the little man watches over the littler man while he naps, making sure he’s around if the baby needs anything.

“Already a year-and-a-half old,” Wyatt says, standing tall and proud behind the backyard grill. Smoke rises from the burger patties in front of him, and he makes sure to turn them several times over the bright orange flames before he sets them on a plate for Chase to prepare. “Before you know it, we’re gonna have to chase the girls away from them with a stick, ‘cause they’re already handsome as hell.”

“I’m more worried about Luna,” Eric chimes in as he comes out into the garden with a giant bowl of fresh fruit for our summer dessert salad. “She already has suitors in kindergarten, if y’all remember Cody and Joey’s Valentine’s Day cards.”

I laugh, watching my kids play in the kiddie pool, while baby Johnny sleeps soundly in the shade of an ancestral sycamore tree. The garden has grown tremendously over the past year, courtesy of Wyatt’s love of landscaping. It was already beautiful, but it is now aiming to become a glorious reproduction of Eden itself. Wyatt has proven himself as an excellent landscape architect. No wonder he’s fully booked for the next six months.

I’m so proud of him.

“Luna will be fine,” Chase says. He’s busy prepping the cooked burger patties, carefully adding sauces, pickles, and a variety of sliced cheeses on top before he places them on the bun and sets them on a larger, separate plate. “She’s been getting better and better in jiu jitsu.”

“My God, she’s supposed to firmly turn her suitors down if she doesn’t want to spend time with them, not beat them into a pulp,” Wyatt laughs.

I shrug as I set the lemonade pitcher at the center of our outdoor table, then add paperweights on top of the paper napkin stacks before the breeze blows them away. It’s a gorgeous, early summer day. The sun is out, but we’re not in the scorching half of the season just yet. We can still enjoy a full Sunday out in the garden, SPF on and plenty of charcoal for the grill. It has become a tradition of ours, in fact.

“I’m happy that Luna knows how to defend herself,” I chime in with a satisfied grin. “The boys will know to keep their distance if they’re not up for the task.”

“It’ll take longer for a guy to sweep her off her feet later down the road,” Chase chuckles with cool satisfaction. “It’s how you weed out the weaklings.”

“The weaklings! Listen to him!” Eric laughs.

“It’s like an episode of Survivor or something,” Wyatt adds, equally amused.

“He does have a point,” I giggle. “Isn’t that right, Luna?”

She gives me a curious look as she gets out of the kiddie pool. “Huh?”

“You do like your jiu jitsu classes with Uncle Chase, don’t you?” I ask, smiling softly as I take my seat at the table. The food smells fantastic, and I am ready to scarf down a couple of those burgers that Chase prepared.

“I love jiu jitsu!” Luna says.

“I don’t love jiu jitsu,” Sammy grumbles with a slight, yet adorable pout. “I don’t love that Luna loves jiu jitsu.”

“Why not, honey?” I ask him.

“Because she—”

“Because I said I’d kick his ass if he hides my dolls again,” Luna cuts in.

“Language, young lady,” I try not to laugh too hard as I look at her, then at Chase. “You need to fix your profanity filter, babe. She and Sammy are like sponges at this age.”

Chase bows apologetically, then gives Luna a sour look. “What did I tell you about curse words, missy?”

“That I’m too young to use them,” Luna replies with a bashful shrug. “I’m sorry.”

As the day progresses, I take Luna and Sammy upstairs for some quiet time, then nurse Johnny before he falls asleep in his crib for a late afternoon nap. It’s nice and quiet. Peaceful and sunny. Every day is like a gift from the heavens themselves.

“You look fantastic,” Eric says as we lounge on the pool’s edge, basking in the golden sunlight. “This tan suits you. Makes you all the more scrumptious, in my opinion, Mrs. Danson.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Danson. You’re not too bad yourself.”

Wyatt and Chase join us on the chaise lounges, eager to just relax for a while. I like the four of us doing nothing like this. But I’ve been feeling a tad more self-conscious lately. They’re just as handsome and ridiculously ripped as always. The twins have been poking fun at Wyatt, saying he’d get all husky if he quit the firehouse, but he has kept himself at the highest fitness standard, the landscaping work only contributing to his rippling pecs and ab muscles, glistening in a deep shade of caramel under the sun’s kiss.

Meanwhile, I’ve been battling an uptick on the scale and an increased appetite. This cherry-red bathing suit of mine feels a tad tighter than the last time I wore it. I guess it’s time to address the issue. Staring at the engagement ring and wedding band on my finger, I can’t help but smile. We’re growing.

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