Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
He turns to look at me, his hand resting on Grant’s back. He’s sleeping soundly in his daddy's arms. I’ll never tire of seeing this man be a father to our boys. “That easy, huh? I kind of expected questions and what-ifs.”
“I agree with you. With all of it. Our house is too small as it is. Royce and Owen are going to want their own rooms, eventually. I’m over hauling laundry up and down the stairs. I want a one-story.”
“Done. Make a list of what you want, baby. I’m about to make all of your dreams come true.”
“Oh, Stanley. You already have. You love me with every part of you, and you’re the best father to our boys I could ever ask for. We don’t need all of this to be happy.”
“We don’t, but we can afford it, and I want it. I want this little slice of land. I want it to be our safe place to land and be with our boys.”
“Call the realtor.” There’s a buzz of excitement coursing through my veins. I can see it all playing out like a movie reel in my mind. This is where we’ll raise our boys. One day, we’ll get to sit on the porch and watch our grandchildren running and playing in the yard just as their dads did. This is it. This is where we belong.
“I’m all over it, wife.” He kisses Grant’s little head and then reaches his free hand out to me. I go to him, settling close to them, while his arm wraps around my waist.
We stand still, just looking at the view. This is about to be our home. This is where we will raise our boys until they’re old enough to go out and start lives and families of their own. I can feel it deep in my soul.
This is it. This is where we’re supposed to be.
“It’s a good thing you insisted on seven bedrooms,” I tell my husband as he holds our newborn son in his arms. When he told me he thought we should have seven bedrooms in our new house, I protested, but he eventually convinced me. Now that we have five of them full, I can see the merit.
“Four boys,” he says reverently. When he looks up at me, he’s grinning. Not that I expected anything less. Stanley is an amazing father, and he loves our sons with everything he has inside him. He loves being their father.
“Four boys.” I nod, watching the newest addition to our family get some skin-to-skin time with his daddy. “You’re a pro at that by now,” I tease. What I don’t tell him is that seeing him like that turns me on, and considering I just pushed a watermelon out of my vagina a few hours ago, that’s saying something. Then again, it’s the Stanley effect. That’s what I call it. His hold on me is absolute.
“So are you. You were amazing.”
“We make a good team, Mr. Riggins.”
His praise makes my heart swell in my chest, but I couldn’t do this without him. He truly is my partner in every aspect of our life. He’s my rock.
“We are the team, Lena. The fucking dream team.” He smirks.
“Language,” I scold.
“He’s like, two hours old.” He chuckles.
“I can see it now. All four of our boys are going to grow up with potty mouths.”
He shrugs. “They could do worse.”
“You’re right. Happy and healthy with potty mouths. I’ll take it.”
“Well, Momma, what are you thinking for a name for this little guy?” he asks.
“I have so many,” I tell him, mentally going through my list of names. “Did you have a favorite?” There are so many it’s hard to choose. You’d think after naming three, it would be easier, but here we are.
“There is one that stood out to me.” Stanley doesn’t take his eyes off our new baby boy.
“Is it a secret?” I tease. He pulls his gaze away and sticks his tongue out at me. “Give me six weeks,” I toss out.
“Lena,” he growls, and my grin grows.
“Come on, Daddy, let’s hear it. What name are you thinking?”
His eyes go back to our son. They’re soft and dreamy. It’s the look he saves for me and our boys, and it melts my heart every damn time I see it on his face.
“Conrad.”
“Oh! That wasn’t on my list, but I love it.” I repeat it over in my head, and I know instantly that it fits.
“Yeah?”
“Conrad Riggins. It’s perfect.” He starts to fuss in his daddy’s arms. “It's about time for him to eat.”
“Yeah. Let me wrap him up. This I am definitely a pro at,” he says with a chuckle. “You can feed, and then I’ll bring the boys in to meet their new little brother.” He stands and wraps Conrad back up in his blanket and places him in my arms. It takes Conrad a few minutes to latch on, but he finally does.