Page 95 of Beautiful Crazy

“An hour and a half.” His eyes widen, and it makes me laugh. “Yeah, you were a stubborn boy.”

Everett comes back in a moment later, sitting on thearm of the chair I’m in, handing me the water and a tissue. Charley and Grace end up staying about an hour, and once they leave, Rosie and I lie down for a nap. I forgot how utterly exhausting it is to push a human being out of your body. After we wake up and she nurses, Everett takes her, insisting I take a shower.

In the bathroom, I strip out of my clothes and stand in front of the mirror. A smile curls my lips as I take myself in. I don’t think it’ll ever not amaze me what a woman’s body is capable of. The fact that yesterday morning I had a baby inside my stomach, and now that baby is a living, breathing being. The stretch marks, saggy skin, swollen breasts, and even my pregnancy nose… all of it came from growing a life inside of me. It’s so miraculous, and sometimes, I think it’s easy to forget just how special that is.

After I take a too long, too hot shower, I dry off and get dressed, eager to get back to my two main men and the little princess who already has them both wrapped around her tiny finger. Opening the door, I stop in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat as I take in the sight before me. Tears sting the backs of my eyes and my heart thumps in my chest. Sitting with his back against the headboard on my side is Sutton, his sister in his arms as Everett sits beside them, his arm around Sutton as they both gaze down at Rosie.

My family.

Watching Everett grow so effortlessly into his role as a father in Sutton’s life, and now watching him find his footing with Rosie, makes me fall in love with him all over again. From the moment he stepped into our life, he’s made us a priority. He’s never made us feel like a bother, nevermade me question his commitment. Everett has been all in from the beginning. I’d even go as far as saying he’s been all in since the minute we locked eyes on that pier. As if in some magical way, he knew what was coming for us.

Like he knows I’m thinking about him, Everett lifts his head, his ocean blues meeting mine across the room where I stand with my shoulder resting against the doorway. He smiles at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners as the first tear falls from my eye.

I can’t imagine life getting much better than this. As I watch the man I love, love on our two kids, I thank the universe for whatever it was that sent him to us.

I’m so in love with this beautiful crazy life I’ve been blessed with.

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