Page 33 of Rock My Girl
EPILOGUE TWO
FORD ~ SIX YEARS LATER
Since it was past bedtime, Cassie and I tiptoed into the house as quietly as we could, only to be deafened by the thumping of tiny feet, and shrieking of happy little voices.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
I barely had time to drop our bags before a three-year-old barrelled into my knees. "How's my little man?" I asked, scooping Teddy up into my arms.
"I missed you," he said, throwing his arms around my neck.
Cassie knelt down to scoop up Ava, who had just started toddling. "Were they a handful?" she asked my parents, who were grinning from the living room doorway.
"Angels, as always," Mom said.
Dad shot her a sideways glance. "We're not telling them about the blueberry incident?" he whispered a bit too loudly.
"We. Are. Not." she said through grit teeth.
Cassie and I just laughed.
Even though our seventh album was an instant hit when it was released, our fan base understood that we only did short tours in certain areas now that we had children.
Cassie had attempted to insist that I tour without her when the kids were tiny, but I wasn't having it. In the end she relented and we built our touring schedule around the availability of my parents, and some close friends and nannies.
We never left the children for more than a week, and they were always with someone that they knew and loved.
"I'm sure you did a great job of trying to put them to bed," I said to Mom and Dad. "Sorry that we interrupted at a bad time."
"Don't be silly," Mom laughed. "They've missed you for the past five days. Bedtime can wait."
Cassie and I carried the kids upstairs. I held Teddy, rocking him in my arms while Cassie put Ava down. Then we read him a story in his brand new big boy bed before turning out the light.
By the time we got downstairs, my parents were already putting on their coats.
"We stocked the fridge for you yesterday," Mom said. "The dishwasher is clean, a load of towels are still in the dryer, and—"
Dad clapped a hand gently over her mouth. "They're tired, Mary. I'm sure they can find the couch. That's what they need."
We hugged them both. "Thank you so much," Cassie said. "You know how much we always appreciate it."
"And you know how much we love spending time with our little rugrats," Dad said with a twinkle in his eye.
After locking the door behind them, Cassie and I collapsed onto the couch.
"No shows for three whole months," I said, reaching out to take her hand. "How do you feel about that?"
"You know I love performing now," she said. "But I'd also like to teach the kids how to plant spinach, and actually be here for the whole growth cycle."
"Mmm-hmm."
She snuggled against my shoulder. "And we can go to the farmer's market, like normal people," she laughed. "Putter around the house."
"You do love puttering," I laughed. "Plus, we can start the kids with swimming lessons, and actually go with them."
"Why does normal people stuff sound so exciting?"
"Because everything is exciting with you, baby," I said, running my lips over the top of her hair. It was true. The transition from rock star to husband and father was the smoothest adventure in the world. "I love you so much that I'll even empty the dishwasher in the morning."
"And I love you so much that I will do all of the laundry tomorrow," she whispered. "Big fluffy mountains of it."
Cassie hummed happily, then curled up on my shoulder just like she had the first night she fell asleep on me.
But this time, when I carried her to bed, I was going to tuck her in properly, so that she could sleep in my arms all night long.
* * *
