Page 101 of Cabin Fever Baby

Epilogue II

2 Years Later

“Here you go.I have a quick video call.”

I let out anoofas a twenty-pound sack of potatoes landed on my lower back. Otherwise known as our son, Henry.

I’d fallen asleep on the floor with sketchbooks and schematics spread out around me.

Henry’s balance was still a little off. He fell face-forward into the middle of my shoulder blades, his giggles filling the living room. I reached around to grab him and rolled onto my back. A lovely stream of drool dropped into the neck of my sweatshirt.

“Hope that tooth comes in soon, you little demon.” I rolled up to a seated position with my fifteen-month-old son.

His giggles were still hearty in response. “Too!”

“Yeah, tooth.”

The latest sketch I’d been working on for the gingerbread house I’d been commissioned for was now crinkled under my butt. Henry bent over and I caught him. “That head is still a littletoo heavy huh, bud? You’ll grow into it. Your uncle Finn finally did.”

I detangled his surprisingly strong little fist from the drawing and struggled to my feet. The Valentine’s Day house was going to be the centerpiece for the grand opening of a new shop on Main Street.

It was pretty fitting since it was for Hadley McTavish’s jewelry store.

She was the artist who made the first gift I gave to my wife. The proprietress for the gift shop was correct—she’d definitely blown up. And Valentine’s Day week was the best day for shopping.

I knew firsthand.

But part of my commission included a very special item for Ocean.

Christmas was in a few days. And as was tradition, the Hawkins and MacGregors were renting the cabin again for the non-Coveites. The family had definitely expanded in two years.

But I was planning on giving Ocean my little gift tonight.

Her parents were in town already and itchy to take Henry for a sleepover. And I was itchy to get my wife alone for once.

Having a toddler was a little chaotic, especially since he was going through another bout of teething, but I loved every minute of it.

I hooked Henry’s legs around my waist and left my office, closing the door since our little demon was now very mobile. He was already wiggling to get down.

I set him down and he zoomed down the hall where Ocean and I had our office spaces. We definitely needed our separate areas. OH Cookie Company was now a four-man show. We had another baker to help out so I could concentrate on the actual illustrating and decorating of the product. We’d expandedinto larger 3D versions of cookies and gingerbread houses after exploding on social media.

Because my wife was a genius.

Now she had a minion to help with her end of the business. They always had a damn camera over my shoulder while I was working, but that was how things sold these days.

Social media was king.

Which I was fine with as long as I didn’t have to do the posting and replying.

Perri, my baker, caught the tornado and sat him in his highchair. “I’ve got a broken cookie for you.”

“Yay!”

Broken cookies were a happy thing in this house. It meant we could eat them.

I shook my head as I walked through the living room into the massive kitchen we’d built into the house. I hoped to have a separate space for my business someday, but for now, we made do.

We were growing faster than even Ocean had projected. My wife had a helluva head for numbers. And whatever she didn’t know, she learned. She was a freaking whiz.

---