Page 19 of All of Me

“We thought we’d come check on you,” she says, stepping into the room. “You’ve been on mom duty all day. How about I take her for a bit?” she offers. “You should grab a plate of food and take a moment to breathe. Sara is downstairs playing with the other kids. I’ll lay Ruby down in the bedroom across the hall. Vicki found a portable crib from when Cam was a baby and set it up for you.”

Her words catch me off guard. It’s such a small gesture for Vicki to take the time to find something like that for us, but it feels monumental. We don’t even know each other that well, but now I understand why she asked me about my escape mission before I came in here. She gets it.

I blink back the sudden sting in my eyes and glance down at Ruby, my reluctance to let her go warring with the realization that I don’t have to do this alone.

“Are you sure?” I ask, unsure myself.

“Absolutely. I’d love to spend some time with her.” The certainty in her voice soothes my hesitation. I hand Ruby over, happy for the reprieve.

Suzanne closes the door behind her as Owen crouches beside me. His steady presence grounds me and we settle into the quiet around us. He looks at me, his gaze warm and full of quiet concern. “You sure you’re doing okay?” he asks.

I take a deep breath and sigh it out before I begin. “I guess I’ve just been... feeling off lately,” I admit. “I mean, I have so much to be grateful for, you, the girls, Barrett, everything but... I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I’m not enough.”

Owen frowns, his hand tightens around mine. “ That’s not true.”

I shake my head and scoff. “I look at myself in the mirror, and I don’t even recognize the person staring back. It’s been four weeks, and I still feel like I should’ve lost more of the baby weight by now. I just... I don’t feel like myself.”

His brow furrows, and he stands, pulling me to my feet. “Callie,” he says firmly, eye to eye, “you just brought a whole human into the world. You’ve been feeding her, caring for her, and taking care of Sara too. Do you have any idea how incredible that is?”

I look down, my cheeks burning, but he tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His dark eyes are full of raw, unyielding emotion. It steals my breath.

“You’re stunning,” he says quietly. “Every part of you. Not because of what you look like, but because of who you are. The way you love our kids, the way you love me, is what makes you so damn beautiful.”

“Owen...” I whisper, my throat tight with emotion.

He leans in, his forehead resting gently against mine. “You don’t have to be perfect, Callie,” he murmurs. “You just have to be you. That’s more than enough.”

The tears I’ve been holding back finally spill over, and he catches them with his thumbs, brushing them gently from my cheeks. His touch is reassuring, intimate. I reach up, curling my fingers around the front of his shirt.

“Thank you for always knowing what to say,” I whisper.

“I mean every word,” he replies, his voice rough around the edges. “You’re everything to me, Callie.”

The intensity in his gaze sends a shiver down my spine. When he kisses me, it’s soft and full of purpose. His hands slide to my waist, pulling me closer, and I melt against him. It’s been weeks since we’ve been this close, trying to navigate this new chapter of our lives. This quiet room is the first time we’ve really had to find each other again. .

“I’ve missed this,” he pulls back, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’ve missed you.”

My fingers trace the line of his jaw. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

His lips brush against mine again, slow and deliberate. I feel the familiar spark that flares to life whenever he’s close. “Trust me,” he murmurs against my lips, his hands tighten on my hips. “I know exactly how you feel.”

“Four weeks of waiting,” I say with longing. “I can’t tell you how much I wish the doctor would just clear us already. I need you.”

His laugh is low and rough, sending another shiver down my spine. “ You’re not the only one counting the days,” he replies, hands still on my waist. “But we’ll wait. I’ll wait, Callie. As long as you need.”

His words settle over me and I lean closer, drawn to him in a primal way that I haven’t felt in weeks. I press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I love you,” I murmur, the words carrying more than just affection—they carry the gratitude, the trust, the vulnerability I’ve placed in him. “But you’re making patience feel impossible.”

His smile is slow. “I love you too,” he replies, “I’ll make the wait worth it.”

The way he looks at me makes me feel seen, valued, and adored for who I am. I feel breathless and allow myself to linger in the safe space he’s created for me. When we do come together again, it will be all the more meaningful.

eight

WATCHING YOU - RODNEY ATKINS

OWEN - NOVEMBER 28, 2013

As we leave my grandparents’ house, Callie looks relieved. I can tell she likes my family—they’ve gone out of their way to welcome her—but the sheer energy of a Sullivan gathering is enough to wear anyone out.

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