Page 112 of Two Wrongs

I look around at all the people gathered in our backyard. Once we were all just existing. Wren struggling with Liam’s coldness, Dolores mourning the husband she lost too soon, Charlie trying to find happiness in the bed of every woman he met, Bess looking for a best friend to accept her brightness without trying to dim her shine, and me damned to want the one woman I shouldn’t. Piece by piece we came together all because of the woman who owns my heart. She still doesn’t fully grasp how important she is to all of us, but I try to show her every day. Not once has the darkness come back into her eyes, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure it never does again.

It’s an exhausting and wonderful day, but damn am I glad when everyone goes home and all the kids are in bed. I love being with our family, but my favorite moments are still the ones I get to spend alone with my baby bird.

Wren joins me on the back porch after the chaos of putting three kids to bed is over. She sighs and looks wistfully at the fireflies lighting up the sky.

I brush her hair, once again a sandy blonde, behind her ear. “What’s on your mind, baby bird?”

She smiles, there’s some nostalgia and a little sadness in it. “How fast it all goes. They were all babies a minute ago, and now they’re these little people with their own hopes and dreams.”

“To be fair, Logan wants to be a superhero, so we’ve still got time with them as little ones,” I comfort her.

“I know, I just miss having babies,” she sighs.

She swore we were done after finding out about the twins. I respected her decision, but I hoped maybe she’d change her mind. She’s only thirty-four, plenty young to have another baby if she wanted. I certainly love giving them to her.

“If you want another one, I’m game,” I tell her.

“You’ve already got four. How many do you need?”

I smirk at her. “How many are you willing to give me?”

“You’re kidding, right?” But she’s breathless, definitely considering it.

“You know how much I like being called daddy,” I whisper to her.

Her hand goes to her throat, and I can’t wait to replace it with mine.

“Run, baby bird. I’m in the mood to catch you.”

She doesn’t wait to be told twice. At least now when she runs from me it’s only for fun, and I don’t hesitate to chase after her. Never again will she go without me being right behind her.

Life, parenthood, and all the responsibilities of life haven’t slowed us down. I love my children to the moon, but my baby bird is still my sun, the center of my existence.

I catch her like I always do, and though she loves hearing me tell her how much I love her, she understands I’m a man of action more than words. When I catch her I show her with my entire being that I’ll love and worship her forever.

For once, two wrongs made everything right.

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