Page 154 of My Wife
“That you want me to clean up my hair from the sink and stop leaving water glasses everywhere? I’m working on it.”
“No, that I love when you fold my laundry, make the bed, and tidy up the kitchen at the end of the day. I feel taken care of.” He clears his throat. “I feel loved … and—” His hands move and he speaks and signs, “I love you.”
The truth of his words and how he shows them to me are brighter than sunshine. They fill me and warm me.
“I’ve never loved anyone other than Grandma Dolly and KJ. But this is different.”
He lifts his eyebrows.
“I love you, too. I love when you wrap your arms around me. When you ask about my day, make me tea, when you fix things.”
“Yeah?”
“I really love it when you sign. There are lots of ways to communicate.”
“I’m ready to learn all of them.”
We kiss again and I feel so very loved.
EPILOGUE
LIAM
Jessica says a sleepy, “Good morning,”when I come in from my run. With her insomnia gone, lately, it seems like she’s making up for lost time.
KJ is not a professional sleeper in his big boy bed, and when I checked he and Ranger were already awake.
He recently had the first cochlear surgery to enhance his ability to hear alongside speech therapy, and has his own language with Ranger—they’re best buddies. He also has loads of friends at nursery school and is perfectly at home with his cousins.
Holding a mug of coffee aloft, I pass it to Jessica as she sits up in bed and kiss her on the forehead.
“Hey, sleeping beauty. I’m going to hit the shower. Big day today.”
“I’m shocked KJ isn’t in here bouncing on the bed with anticipation.”
He was telling Ranger about the party.
She chuckles and we spend the next couple of hours preparing for the gathering. It would’ve been perfect if we could’ve done it halfway between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but we’re well into summer and didn’t want to wait any longer now that we wrapped things up with the Coogan’s and Jessica signed the adoption paperwork.
We have a piñata, pin the tail on the donkey, and lots of mini Bundt cakes.
Dolly and my parents are the first to arrive, followed by my siblings, with a slow filtering in of the guys and their families from the team.
KJ and Ranger race around with all the kids and I bring Jessica another coffee but notice she doesn’t drink it. Maybe she’s less of a caffeine fiend now that she’s been sleeping better.
We insisted that guests don’t bring gifts, but there is something special that I want to present to Dolly. Along with Redd, Hayden, Pierre, Mikey, Grady, ‘Bama, and a few others, I say and sign that there’s a surprise for her.
Taken aback, she plants her hand on her chest then signs, “Me?”
Jessica bounces on her toes as I reveal a large, flat, wrapped rectangle.
Her eyes widen as she tears the paper and sees a framed team photo with all of our signatures. On a little plaque along the bottom, it says,We’re your number one fan!At the end of the season, she gave us each a handmade Knights fleece blanket. This prompted Jessica and me to make good on a promise.
In thanks, Dolly hugs each one of us. As she moves down the line, I realize that she’s surreptitiously testing everyone’s abs. This gets me laughing and when she reaches me, I get a long hug. When she pulls away, she signs, “You have the best abs.” Then she pats me on the cheek before she and Grannie Bell disappear—probably to discuss the abs investigation and nibble on some fudge my grandmother smuggled in from Canada.
Jessica glows among the children, showing them how to play a balloon game. The second she’s done, and the chaos begins, I lace my arm around her waist, drawing her out of the fray.
Hendrix sidles over and lifts his drink, hesitating as if conflicted before saying, “My genuine well wishes to the happy couple.”
