Danny scratched his head as if he was thinking. “Is she swick?”
“No, she was up late. She’s just tired.” I placed my hand on his shoulders and guided him back to the living room. “Why don’t you turn on some cartoons and I’ll get us something to eat?”
“Otay.” He shrugged as he bounced over to the couch and took his position. Crisis averted; now to see what I had for breakfast fixin’s.
“You like sausage?” I stuck my head around the corner.
“Doesn’t evweybody?” Danny looked at me like I’d grown a second head.
“Good point. Does Mommy?” I waited for a response, but was given a look that said ‘didn’t we just talk about this’.
While Danny went back to his show, I began scrambling eggs, heating a pan for sausage and popped some bread in the toaster. The house smelled great and I laughed to myself as I thought of Max and his whole cooking thing. I could do this family thing and I could cook.
As the smell of sausage filled the house, I heard the bedroom door open. “Good morning,” I called, knowing she was on her way to us.
“It smells great,” she murmured as she stepped up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her chest to my back.
“We’re almost ready to eat. Wanna set the table?” I glanced over my shoulder at her. God, I was in trouble. I know she thought I’d be disappointed or some shit, but she was beautiful. Her hair was a tangled mess, her cheeks flushed slightly from sleep. She’d grabbed my t-shirt from the night before and her tan legs seemed to go on for days.
“Sure.” She reached up to grab plates from the cabinet and my shirt rose up slightly, revealing a pair of sleep shorts. My sex induced brain took a minute to catch up and realize that my son was still in the other room and Savannah was used to him being there. I needed to get a grip before he started asking questions.
“Morning sweetie.” Savannah greeted Danny as she began placing the plates and silverware on the table.
“Mornin’. You’s otay?” His feet padded on the floor; I’m assuming to come over for a hug.
“I’m fine. Just stayed up late watching TV.” She laughed and proceeded to jump into a conversation about what he was watching.
Just as they were sitting down, I came around the corner with a platter of food. “Breakfast is served,” I announced as I set it in the middle of the table and went back for coffee.
“Yay!” Danny fisted pumped the air as he jumped down and came rushing over. “Heys, Daddy? Can yous get me the syrup?”
“You do that too?” I laughed lightly. I grabbed the pancake syrup and handed it over as I sat down. I watched in amusement as he proceeded to drown his sausage and eggs in the stuff.
“I don’t know where that came from.” Savannah shook her head, seeming slightly embarrassed.
“Max does it too. It’s a Stanton thing.” I laughed again as Danny shoved a giant bite into his mouth.
“It’s a goodf thing.” He nodded as he chewed.
“If you say so.” Savannah giggled. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe it can become our thing,” I mused.
“Like a Sunday morning thing?” Her head tipped to the side as she stared at me.
“Like an everyday thing.” I reached over and squeezed her hand, “That is if you want it to be.”
“There’s nothing I want more.” Her lips pressed together as tears welled in her eyes. “I love you.” She mouthed the words and then looked over at Danny. “So much.”
Epilogue
2 years later…
Micha
“Are you sure this is the one you want?” I looked for the price of the Star Wars backpack my son was currently holding in a death grip.
“Yes.” He glared at me. “All the cool kids like Star Wars.”
“I thought you’d want a Paw Patrol backpack.” I reached for the blue backpack slightly to my right.
“Dad, that’s for babies. I’m a big boy now.” Danny sighed. “I like this one. You said I could pick out whatever I wanted.” One hand went to his hip as he flung the Star Wars pack into our cart.
“You’re right. I did. What’s next?” I scanned the list my wife had given me when she left this morning. I don’t know what’s up with Savannah. I thought she’d be all over this school shopping for kindergarten, but she rushed out the door this morning with not so much as a goodbye kiss.
“We need crayons.” Danny marched ahead of me to the next aisle. “Paper, Post Its, pencils.” He kept tossing things in and I kept adding it all up. “What do you need all of this for? It’s kindergarten, not college.”
“For learnin’.” He shrugged as if I should already know this stuff. “Ooh. A stormtrooper lunch box. I have to have this, Dad.” He made a pleading face.
“Fine. Toss is in.” We went down the remainder of the list before heading to the checkout. Twenty minutes later and seventy-five dollars lighter, we were on our way home. “You excited about school?” I checked my rearview mirror for his expression. Danny had been going back and forth between happy and sad that school was starting. I don’t think he knew what to make of it because he didn’t go to preschool. Between being sick and then Savannah sheltering him for fear that something might happen, he really didn’t know what he was going to experience. He had a few friends from the playground that he hung out with, but most of the things he knew about school were from TV or books that we’d read him.
“Sure.” He smiled. “But who’s going to help you when I’m gone?” His face fell slightly.
“Mommy will, and you won’t be gone forever. Just a few hours a day.” He nodded as if he was thinking about what I said.
“I better show Mommy where all the stuff is. She might use the wrong water bottle.” He rolled his eyes.
“That’s a good idea.” I laughed. Since getting married, Savannah had continued working at the farm. She doesn’t just work in the stand now though. She’s driven the tractor for me, helped with repairs and even driven the water truck around for the staff. Danny’s been glued to me when I’ve been working on something that he can be there for and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss him, but the idea of whisking Savannah away for a little lunch break at home was more than appealing.
“When’s Mommy coming home?” Danny broke me out of my fantasy.
“We’re meeting her at Uncle Max’s. Thought you might want to go swimming this afternoon.”
“Yay!” He bounced in his seat.
“Nora and Jack want to swim with you.” I winked at him in the mirror. “Just hang tight for a few more minutes. K?”
“K.” Danny turned his attention to the countryside outside the window.
ooooooooo
“Uncle Micha!” Nora came flying off the porch when I pulled up in front of my brother’s house.
“Hey kiddo.” I smiled at Nora before waving to my brother, who was following in her wake.
“Aunt Savannah’s inside. She’s waiting for you.” Nora had this look on her face like she knew I was in trouble, but I didn’t know what I could have done.
“I’ll watch Danny. You go talk to your wife.” Max gave me a sympathetic smile before patting me on the shoulder.
“Thanks? I think?” I shook my head and trudged up to the door. I paused for a moment with my hand on the knob, trying to figure out what I was walking into. “Hello?” I slowly opened the door. The conversation between Hailey and Savannah stopped and silence ensued.
“I’ll let you two talk.” Hailey smiled before standing and going outside with Max and the kids.
“What’s going on?” I looked around. Nothing seemed different. “Are you sick or something?” When she didn’t say anything, I pushed on. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry. I’ll fix it. I promise.” I moved closer and grabbed her hands. “Just tell me how to fix it.” I squeezed her hands and she lifted her eyes to meet mine.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you did everything right, a little too r
ight.” She giggled. “You know how you talked about changing the guest room into a man cave?” I nodded, not really understanding where this was going yet. “Well, I think it might be better suited to be a nursery.” She grinned.
“What?” I shook my head as if I wasn’t hearing her right.
“I’m pregnant.” Her grin spread as she clamped her teeth down on her lower lip.
“But I thought…” I rubbed my palm down my face.
“Yeah, you apparently have super sperm. Are you happy about this?” She stepped back and placed her hand on her flat stomach. We’d talked about more kids, but after what we went through with Danny, we were scared. Savannah’s been on birth control ever since. I have no idea why it didn’t work.
“Are you kidding? You have my baby in there.” I pointed to her stomach. “I did that.” I laughed and puffed my chest out like a proud peacock.
“Yep.” She nodded. “So, you’re happy?”
“Yes. I love Danny, but I missed this part with him.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” She frowned slightly. “You can be there for all of it with this one; the good and the bad.”
“Bad?” My brows dipped. “How could any of it be bad?”
“Midnight cravings, labor, a crying newborn, no sleep…” She waved her hands in the air. “But there’s so much good, that the bad doesn’t seem so bad.” Her lips turned up into a soft smile as a wistful look graced her features.
I could see our future right there in those moments. Our kids playing in the treehouse out back. Teaching them to drive the tractor. Taking Danny to little league games and possibly this little one to ballet class. When Savannah said ‘I do’, I didn’t think I could love any more. I had a wife and son. My life was complete, but now I realize that I have so much more. This feeling that’s surrounding me… I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it.
“I love you.” I pulled Savannah into my arms and brushed a kiss across her lips. “And I love you.” I rubbed her belly.
“Wanna go tell Danny?” She laughed.
“Soon. I wanna enjoy a few more minutes with you, just one last time before our family changes again.” I pushed a few buttons on my phone and as music filled the room, I took her in my arms and swayed around the kitchen. My life was perfect and just how I planned it, even if it did take a while to get here.
The End
Playlist
Someone You Loved- Lewis Capaldi
The Ending- Papa Roach
Somebody To Love- OneRepublic
Crowded Places- Rynn
What If I Never Get Over You- Lady Antebellum
Impossible- James Arthur
Sad Song- We the Kings
Someone I Used to Know- Zac Brown Band
Nobody But You- Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani
Who Do You Love- Marianas Trench
Other Works by H. D’Agostino
The Broken Series
Irreparably Broken
Saving Us
My Broken Angel
Broken Pieces
The Shattered Series
Destined
Shattered
Restored
Renewed
Fated
The Witness Series
Being Nobody
Becoming Somebody
Promise Me Tomorrow
Say You Remember
Below the Surface
Crash and Burn
On Broken Wings
The Second Chances Series
Unbreak Me
The Boy Next Door
The One That Got Away
Inside Out
Fallen from Grace
The Family Next Door
The Cook Brothers Series
Walking Among the Cherry Trees
Beyond the Cherry Trees
Before the Cherry Trees
The Sutter Family Series
Catching Raindrops
Trusting You
Finding the Green Room
Teaching Cayden
Standalones
Privileged
Beautiful Goodbye
Pieces of Forever
Sands of Time
Just One More
Acknowledgements
This book was never supposed to happen. When I wrote Micha into Max’s book, he was the comic relief. The younger the brother that we either had or wanted growing up. I love small town romances, and growing up in the country. I knew when all of you met Micha that I had to write a book for him. As with any of my books, there is a bit of truth mixed in with the fiction. Those who know me well, know where those bits are. If you enjoyed One Last Time, I urge you to please go leave a review wherever you bought it from. Reviews are the best way to thank an author. We rely on them to help others find our works. If I miss anyone, I’m sorry. You know I love you all.
To my Alpha Reader… thank you Tabitha. I know how much you love being part of the #coolkidsclub I appreciate all your feedback. You may have some fights on your hand to claim Micha.
To my Beta readers… thank you Angie and Melinda. You are #MyTribe. Thank you for your honesty, speediness, and most importantly the laughs and support. You guys are experts at catching the things I seem to miss. It all runs together after you’ve read it a bazillion times.
Thank you Golden for an awesome photo. Your professionalism is top notch, and I can’t wait for us to work together again. You have this ease about you, and it calms even the craziest situations. Narrowing down my pictures was almost as hard as writing the blurb. Haha. I appreciate the ‘build a package’ option and will definitely be back.
Last but not least, thank you readers. I couldn’t do what I love without you support. Thank you for buying my books. Thank you for loving my books, but most importantly…thank you for sticking with me through this journey of being an author.
About the Author
Heather D’Agostino is an avid reader turned Bestselling Author of the Contemporary Romance Series The Broken Series, The Shattered Series, The Second Chances Series, The Cook Brothers Series, and Romantic Suspense series The Witness Series.
She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics.
She currently lives in Central New York with her husband, two children, dog, and two cats. When she’s not writing she can usually be found at the dance studio, soccer field, or one of the many other places that she plays ‘Supermom’.
You can follow her here:
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One Last Time (The Stanton Brothers) Page 19
