Page 49 of Healing Bonds

“Mommy, can I wear my new dress?” Maddi, my six-year-old terror, stared up at me with her father’s big blue eyes and my red, untamable hair flowing down her back in big knots.

“Yes, honey. Do you need help changing?” I was busy curling my hair and watching her through the mirror of my vanity as she struggled out of her princess pajamas.

Suddenly, just a few days ago, she started to want to dress herself, and I wasn’t allowed to help because it was, “Embarrassing, Mommy”.

She shook her head, and eventually, five minutes later, she figured out how to get her shirt off and pull the pink, frilly dress over her head.

“Can you make my hair look pretty?” She bounced over to me, forgetting to zip up the back of her dress.

Ryan walked into the room at that moment and grinned at me, making my heart pound in my chest. This man of mine would forever have the same effect on me. Of that, I was sure.

“Oh, my! How I do love hot pink panties,” Ryan teased. “Maybe I should get some.” Maddi’s cheeks reddened, and she quickly turned around to hide her back as she stared at Ryan.

“Daddy! Don’t look!” she squealed, coming to stand next to me. He threw his head back and laughed.

“Come here, squirt. Let Momma get ready, and I’ll help you.” She glanced at me and waited for my nod of approval before running into his extended arms.

“Be careful with my new dress, Daddy. Mommy just bought it for me. I want to look extra pretty today.” She let him zip up the back of her dress and then handed him her brush from the bed. He sat there and carefully brushed through her knots while I finished my makeup.

“I think you should let Mommy tie it up. You know I’m not good with the fancy updos.” She giggled and hugged him tightly, warming my heart.

“I love you, Daddy, but you’re right. You aren’t good with hair.” I laughed. She was so blunt. Her personality was a perfect mirror of mine. She brought her brush over to me, and I fashioned her hair into a braid to keep it out of her face for the day and to keep the tangles and knots out of it.

She ran out of the room a few minutes later, screaming for Mason, her twin. “Did you bring the kooky pens? I wanna show Summer our collection!” she hollered down the hall.

“Don’t wake your brother!” I called after her, not wanting to wake Nicolas up until the last minute. Otherwise, he would be cranky the entire day. Out of all my children, Nicolas was the one who loved his sleep the most.

I stood up from my vanity, looking myself over in my white, spring dress. Ryan came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my slightly but barely noticeable swollen stomach, resting his chin on my shoulder, his lips brushing my cheek.

“You look so fucking sexy when you’re pregnant. I just want to spend the whole day with you in bed.” He kissed my check before moving my hair aside and kissing my neck. “You smell so good, baby,” he groaned.

I blushed, leaning into his touch. Oh, how I loved this man. “I’m wearing the perfume you bought me for Valentine’s Day,” I told him.

He inhaled again, a low hum sounding from his throat before he reluctantly released me. “I’ll go wake the beast and get him ready.” He pecked my cheek. “I made some waffles for the kids. Do you want to just add the syrup and cream?”

“You know how much I hate giving them waffles before a family event. The last time, they ran circles around everyone!” He laughed, his arms circling back around me, his hands fanning out over my stomach.

“It’s a special day. I figured it would be okay. Plus, this time, I’m sticking them in the pool to get all that energy out, so I have you all to myself tonight.”

“Oh, so you have it all planned out, Mr. Wilson?” I teased, turning around in his arms. I ran a finger across his freshly shaved jaw.

“Yes, Mrs. Wilson. I know exactly what I want to do to you once we get home tonight, and it requires three sleeping children to accomplish it, my little spitfire.”

I swayed at the illusion behind his sinful words. This man knew exactly how to make me long for him. He had known how for years now, and he still used it to his advantage.

“Go wake Nicky up, you dirty man.”

“Yourdirty man, Ames,” he huskily reminded me. He released me again and smacked my ass. I squeaked in shock, and he winked before walking out of our bedroom.

An hour later, we had the kids loaded into the backseat of Ryan’s truck and were starting the short drive to Celine’s house. The kids were arguing in the back, like always, loud shrieks leaving their lips as they elbowed each other. I glanced at Ryan, who was glaring at them through the rearview mirror. I reached for his hand and wrapped my fingers around his.

“Quiet now, or Daddy and I will leave you at home and go to the party without you.” I craned my neck around to glare at the three scowling children.

I turned up the volume on the radio and sang along to the new pop song playing, and then, the whole cab filled up with the kids belting out the lyrics at the top of their lungs. They were off-key and sounded horrible, but it was better than them screaming and arguing with each other. Plus, the sound of innocent children having fun warmed my heart.

A few minutes later, Ryan pulled into the driveway, and we both turned to look at our grinning kids. “On your best behavior now, do you understand me?” Ryan said, looking pointedly at the twins, who somehow always got into trouble. They all nodded their little heads—even little Nicky, who laughed at his dad.

I opened the door of the truck and stepped out into the hot spring day, a light breeze tousling my hair and blowing the ends of my dress up. Ryan came around the front of the truck, holding Nicky in one burly arm and our cooler in the other. I swung the kids’ beach bag onto my shoulder and followed him up the drive to the front door, where Summer was already waiting, bouncing on her heels in a light blue dress, screaming for Maddi.

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