Page 78 of 7+Us Makes Nine

Then two turned into three.

And pretty soon, we were hauling her clothes up the steps and making room in my closet for them.

I pushed the door open and saw her there, her legs cocked and her stomach resting against the bed. Her hair poured over her face and her mouth hung slightly open, and I stood there watching her. Listening to her sounds. Reveling in how incredible she was. Growing four of my children while running after the other three, and the only thing she complained about after our fight a few months ago was how much her feet hurt at times.

I walked across the room and sat the tray on the bedside table.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I said as I smoothed her hair back.

She groaned and turned towards me as I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Nine o’clock.”

“Wait, are the kids up?” she asked.

“Nope. Apparently, staying up until midnight makes them sleep later. Who knew?”

“Mmmm, what is that wonderful smell?”

I pressed a kiss to her cheek before I helped her to sit up. I wrapped my arms underneath hers and hoisted her up, watching the sheet fall from her body. Her breasts were naked and her stomach was thick with stretch marks. I had to stare. I couldn't help it. The way her body had swollen with my children made me want her all the more. I gazed at her naked body as she propped herself up, groaning and grunting and trying to get comfortable.

“Enjoying the view?” she asked.

I licked my lips as my eyes panned back up to hers.

“You know I always do,” I said. “I made breakfast.”

I grabbed the tray and set it on top of her stomach. It always made her laugh, and the wondrous sound filled our bedroom as I smoothed my hand over her leg. She drew in a deep breath before grabbing her orange juice, and I watched her gulp it down. Chug it like she hadn’t had anything to drink in days. I reached out and wiped away a trickle of the juice that didn’t quite make it between her lips, then listened as she polished the glass off.

“Want me to go get you some more?” I asked.

“No,” she said breathlessly. “Sorry. I was really thirsty.”

“No need to be sorry. You can have whatever you want. You know that.”

“This really smells good. What’s the special occasion?”

I looked into her eyes and I saw her expression morph. Her brow began to furrow and her lips turned themselves down into a frown. She placed her tray off to the side-- but not before taking a bite of the veggie sausage. Then she took my hand within hers and stroked her skin against mine.

“Jace. What’s going on?” Catherine asked.

“It’s Anya,” I said.

I watched her draw in a deep breath as I squeezed her hand.

“She won’t be bothering us any longer,” I said.

“Wait, what?” she asked.

“She was caught last night partying and buying heroin off an undercover officer. And when they arrested her and took her downtown, they drug tested her. Found a concoction of pills in her system, heroin, and a stupidly high blood-alcohol level.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very. I got off the phone with my lawyer about thirty minutes ago. The judge has tossed the case out, deeming her an unfit mother. And the custody agreement is being amended to include protection for you

.”

---