Sweet and Sassy Daddies
Page 98
He reluctantly gave it to his wife, and she screamed with delight. “It’s a boy! We’re having a boy!”
“Another Saint son,” Big Mike said, weeping.
Cheers erupted, and even the little kids joined in the celebration.
When it had calmed down, Candy said, “I have one more surprise.”
This was a legal-sized envelope. “Open it up,” she said, handing it to him.
In this envelope were the signed adoption papers and altered birth certificates for Anne Frances Roberta Saint.
Epilogue
The July weather was quintessential Southern California summer. The family had rented a huge place on the beach in Carlsbad. Everyone marveled that Candy Saint could wear a bathing suit and look like a million bucks five weeks after giving birth. Even her mother had to admit that Candy was in great shape in spite of just having a baby.
She had her hands full, too, with baby Joey Saint Junior—just don’t call him Junior—and Annie, ten months. Aware that she looked good, she didn’t waste a minute getting into a bikini and mincing around with a newborn in one arm while carrying Annie on her hip. The two babies were often a topic of conversation among onlookers.
“It’ll be easier when Annie starts to walk.”
“Don’t rush it. She’ll be into everything.”
“Irish twins.”
“It’s not like they had any control over the ages,” Roberta snapped every time it was repeated.
“Give it a rest, Roberta,” Big Mike would say. “You’re the only one taking offense.”
Candy’s many sisters-in-law and Roberta took pity on her and took turns watching the babies so she had time to sunbathe and beachcomb while Joey and his brothers did their thing surfing, fishing, and bikini watching.
“They do not do that,” the wives snapped the first time they heard a suggestion that the men bikini watched. “It’s purposeful. We make sure our suits are skimpy enough that they have their eyes on us the entire time we’re outside, to make sure nothing pops out and no one else is looking at us.”
“That’s what we mean when we say bikini watching. They’re watching their own women.”
Playing beach volleyball was the family beach pastime, and as soon as Uncle Charlie arrived, the first thing he and the boys did was string up the net. Daily beach volleyball games took precedence over everything but beach combing and, of course, eating.
Once all the babies were in bed, it gave everyone the chance to gather around the firepit and catch up. On the last night at the beach, Candy and Joey sat side by side in beach chairs, sharing gossip and general news.
“You look amazing, by the way. No one can take their eyes off you.”
“Why, thank you, Joey. It’s nursing baby Joey. I can eat as much as I want because I’m like a cow, manufacturing milk.”
Laughing at her comments, he stared along the length of her, at the fire department sweatshirt she wore, to the cutoff jeans, which emphasized her long legs. Then he got serious.
“I’ve always thought you were gorgeous, but watching you with our baby, wow. It’s amazing.” He got up close to whisper in her ear, “How much longer do we have to wait?”
“How old is baby Joey?”
Joey screwed up his face, looking at the sky. “Let’s see. He was born right after you graduated.” He put his hands up, counting on his fingers.
“Get over yourself.” Candy laughed. “He’s six weeks today and you know it.”
“So that means that right now, you’re available to, you know.”
“Are you ready for me? Because it’s been six weeks for me, too.”
He looked around, his family occupied. “Let’s go. I can’t wait any longer.”
Taking her by the hand, he pulled her out of the beach chair. Completely charmed by him, Candy was ready to show him how much she’d missed him in the last six weeks.
“It’s going to feel different,” she said. “Things get a little rearranged down there.”
“Uh, watch it, or my family is going to get a show.”
But when they got inside, baby Joey was crying, interrupting the action.
“It’s for the best,” Candy said, disappointed. “Let’s wait until we get home in our own bed tomorrow.”
“Okay, you’re probably right. Aw, the little guy is hungry,” Joey said. “I’ll get him if you want to grab some snacks. If I can’t have sex tonight, I’m eating junk.”
“Honey, we don’t have to wait.”
“No, you’re right. At home I can dive off the dresser onto your body if I want to.”
So they got into bed with their baby, and while Candy pulled out a breast to feed him, Joey talked to her nonstop while he ate a bag of chips.
“This is the life,” he said. “I knew being married with kids would be great, but I never realized that it was going to be such a source of contentment.”
“You mean you don’t miss your freedom?”
“Naw, I never liked running around that much. Once I found you, I knew. I wanted a beautiful, intelligent person. You should see the looks on peoples’ faces when I tell them I’m married to a doctor. Wild.”
“I get the same thing. I’m married to a calendar-worthy firefighter.”
The baby had fallen asleep again. “Are you sure we should wait?” she whispered.
“Hey, I’m ready at a moment’s notice. Are you telling me it’s time?”
“All I have to do is stick him back in the bassinet and I’m good to go.”
Joey was at her side in seconds. “Give him to me. I’ll put him to bed. You get ready.”
“All I have to do is take my pants off,” she said, laughing.
“Thank you, heavenly Father,” Joey cried. “The deed is about to be done.”
“I married a crazy man,” Candy said, laughing. “But I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
And just like that, their romance found its niche in a family with children.
The End
A Word from the Author
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About the Author
USA Today Bestselling, award winning author SUZANNE JENKINS writes page-turning contemporary romance, mystery, and women's fiction with passionately gripping characters that stay with readers long after they turn the last page. The Detroit Detective Stories, beginning with The Greeks of Beaubien Street are a reflection of American fantasy with historical reality. Pam of Babylon books consistently rank in the Top 100 Best Sellers in American Drama with over 500,000 downloads.
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