He always smiled when he thought back to that time when they would read together by firelight and then make love, encapsulated in their own little world. He wondered if perhaps life was not simpler then, but as he heard his children rushing into the room, he would gladly take everything they had to give.
Turning, he watched as his oldest chased his youngest around his legs and they laughed, playing their game of tag.
His mind moved back to his childhood when he landed at Miss Ethel’s home. He still remembered his parents before the accident that took their lives. He knew he was lucky… he had known a loving home and then landed in another loving home. His life could have been so different if Miss Ethel had not taken his pain and grief, helped him to carry it, and taught him to nurture the memory of his parents by the hours they spent in her rose garden.
As his children carried their game out the patio doors and under the arbor filled with climbing roses, he remembered her once telling him, “Amit Ray says to focus your energy on the fragrance and beauty of the petals, not on the thorns.”
And so, she had taught him to hold tight to the loving memories of his parents while reveling in the knowledge that he had been given a second family as a child, filled with love. And now, his next family, one that he and Eleanor created together.
“I hope they’re not getting their clothes dirty,” Eleanor said as she stepped into the room.
He turned and looked at his wife, the dark-haired beauty that held his heart. Smiling as she neared, he pulled her close and peered down into her upturned face. “They’re fine,” he assured.
She smiled back, her hands snaking up to hold onto his shoulders. “I’m just joking. On a day like today, they might as well play and be happy.” Her smile slowly left as she held his gaze. “And you? How are you?”
“I’d rather be out of this suit and working in the yard.”
Her lips stayed curved as her gaze moved about him. “Everything has its season.”
He understood what she meant and bent his head, taking her lips in a kiss that swept through him to his very core, just as it had the first time he’d ever kissed her. Will it always be like this? Where Eleanor’s beauty tames me, the beast? The walls did not provide an answer to that question, but as their kiss was interrupted by their children running back into the room, he knew the beauty of their family would always fill him.
Cael stood in his kitchen, sandwiches and snacks packed in bags, and called out that it was almost time to leave. It did not matter how long they would be gone; he knew his children, like him, always needed a snack.
He thought back to Miss Ethel’s kitchen counter, always filled with food, and especially after school, always with a platter of homemade cookies. After his mother died, his grandmother did not have it in her to fix snacks for him, and he had relied on his older sister until he landed at Miss Ethel’s house.
She had never made him feel guilty for eating, always saying that she wanted him to grow big and strong. At over six and a half feet tall, she had gotten her wish. Actually, she wanted her boys to grow up happy and healthy, and through her love, she had gotten that wish as well.
His oldest son came running into the kitchen, already tall for his age, and spied the food on the counter. “Hang on, buddy,” he said. “You just had breakfast, and this is for later.”
His son groaned as though he would never have a morsel to eat for the rest of his life, soon joined by his younger son. He looked up as Regina walked into the kitchen, as always taking his breath away. She was tall, built, and with thick red hair that was now tamed into a simple ponytail. From the moment he saw her on the dance floor, she had fired his blood, and those flames had not lessened.
Placing her hands on her generous hips, she looked down at their sons and pretended to scold, “You just ate!” Hearing their moans, she laughed and handed each of them an apple, telling them that would have to suffice.
As they raced out of the kitchen, she stepped up closer to him, her curves fitting perfectly to his tall, muscular frame. Reaching up to cup his jaw, she murmured, “You look good, Titan.”
He laughed and lifted her chin with his knuckle, saying against her lips, “And you look luscious, Red.” He kissed her, and his cock twitched as it always did whenever she was near.
She pulled back slightly, holding his gaze, and he could see that there was something on her mind.
“Whatcha thinking, babe?”
She nibbled her bottom lip as her eyes cut to the side for a moment. Sighing, she looked back up at him. “The timing of this might suck, but you know I can’t keep a secret from you.”
He tilted his head to the side, waiting for her to speak, when she lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him once again. Sliding her lips around his ear, she whispered, “I’m pregnant again.”
His heart pounded as he lifted her in his arms and twirled her around, kissing her with all the passion stored inside. “I love you, Red. I love our sons, and I promise to love this baby with all my heart. Girl or boy, it doesn’t matter, I just want you and this new life healthy.”
She grinned, the same smile she always offered whenever he made a promise. He knew what she wanted him to quote, and he did not disappoint. “And when I promise something, I never ever break that promise. Never.”
“You know,” she said, “you won my heart the first time you quoted Rapunzel to me.”
Kissing her again, he said, “You were always my real-life Rapunzel.” His kiss was interrupted as their two boys raced back into the kitchen, wanting to know if it was time to leave. Sighing, he knew it was. Walking out to his SUV with his sons running in front of him, his beloved wife now pregnant with their third child and tucked in his arms, he knew he had the world.
Jaxon stepped into the large master bathroom and watched Morgan as she brushed out her long curls before securing them at the base of her neck with a complicated clip. He stepped behind her and bent to kiss the skin underneath her jaw, now exposed. She was as beautiful as the first time he saw her rising from a swimming pool with her hair slicked back and water droplets rolling down her body. Strong, athletic, sure.
Her body was just as amazing now, even after having two children. He sometimes wondered if their children were not part fish as much time as they spent in the swimming pool with her.
Their eyes met in the mirror, and for a long moment, no words were spoken. Just mutual admiration and love flowing between them.
“You look good all spiffed up.” Her eyes cast an appreciative gaze over his body.
He straightened his tie. “I figured I’d wait and put the suit coat on once we get there. I tend to get hot, and I hate to sweat in my good suit.”
She turned in his arms, her hands moving to his tie which she straightened ever so slightly before placing her palms on his chest. “Do you know how much I love you?”
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in close. “I remember Miss Ethel reading to us boys when we were little. I can still remember the first time she read the Princess Bride and said, ‘Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.’ That, my beautiful, little mermaid, is how much I love you back.”
He kissed her once more, then the sound of their children from downstairs rang out, and she said, “Can you check on them? I’ll be right down.”
It was an easy request to check on their children, something he did every morning as they woke up, all during the day, and when they slept at night. He now understood why Miss Ethel tucked them in each night, moving around from child to child to whisper something special. He did the same thing.
He and Jayden had started life out rough but landed soft. Now that he was a parent, not a day went by that he did not appreciate Miss Ethel even more, if that was possible.
Morgan descended the stairs, and his eyes traveled from her heeled pumps up her shapely legs, over her curves, to her brilliant smile. Their daughter exclaimed how pretty Mama was, and he agreed. Picking up his youngest, h
e escorted his family out to the SUV, ready to face the day.
Jayden’s twin daughters, petite like Ruby, had ready smiles for everyone. His son, still a toddler, generally had a serious, thoughtful expression on his face. His children’s uniqueness constantly amazed him and thrilled him as each day he watched his children grow.
He often thought of how he and Jaxon landed on Miss Ethel’s doorstep, trying to fool her by giving their wrong names. He never understood how she instantly knew which was which from the first time they were introduced. But like so many things with Miss Ethel, it defied reason and defined love.
He sometimes thought that if he had never known Miss Ethel, he might not have ever known true love, other than the love he had for his brother. But, because of her, he now understood the love he felt for Ruby and their children.
As he straightened his tie, he walked down the stairs and entered the living room, seeing his children playing together and his wife sitting on the sofa, laughing at something one of them had said. As soon as her eyes lifted to his, he felt the shot straight through his heart, just like always. Her dress was dark red, showing off her pale complexion and wide eyes. She came to her feet and moved to him, her arms instantly surrounding his waist as he tucked her under his chin.
“You’re gorgeous, Ruby,” he said. Looking over her head to their children, he added, “Everyone’s beautiful.”
She tilted her head back and accepted his kiss, lifting on her toes so that their bodies were pressed tightly together. As their lips separated, she asked, “How are you doing?”
“I keep thinking of Miss Ethel and all the things she taught me. Mostly about love.”
Smiling, Ruby quoted, “'I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you…’ That was from a book of love sonnets from Pablo Neruda that Miss Ethel gave to me years ago.”
He chuckled, squeezing her tighter. “I see Miss Ethel’s influence over more than just us boys.”
“I think her influence will be felt for many, many years,” Ruby said, her lips gently curving.
“I think you’re right.” Turning Ruby in his arms, he kept her tucked to his side as they stepped into the living room. “You all about ready to go?”
“Are we going to see all of our cousins?” one of his daughters asked.
“Yeah, everybody will be there. All your aunts and uncles and cousins,” Jayden replied.
His other girl looked up, her eyes bright. “Daddy, how come everyone will be there?”
Kissing the top of their head, he ushered them onto the porch and toward their vehicle. “Because that’s just what we do,” came the simple answer. As he closed her door and walked around to the driver’s door, he repeated to himself, “Because that’s just what families do.”
Asher stood in the master bedroom, looking into the mirror hanging on the back of the closet door. He had straightened his tie but continued to fiddle with the collar of his dress shirt.
Penny walked into the room from the master bathroom, her limp barely noticeable, looking every bit as gorgeous as she always did. Her eyes were also on his, and she cocked her head to the side as she watched him tugging on his collar. She moved directly to him, lifted her hands, and smoothed them over his chest. “It looks great, sweetheart.”
“I wasn’t sure if it hid my neck tattoos well enough,” he replied, his gaze moving from her face back to the mirror where he twisted his head back and forth to see if his tattoos showed.
Penny lifted her hand, cupped his cheek, and drew his face back toward hers. “Asher, you’re gorgeous. Your tattoos are part of you, and I won’t have you worrying about covering them up.”
Lifting his brow, he smirked. “Considering I’ve got them all over my chest and abdomen, I don’t have to worry about covering some of them up. I don’t think anyone wants me to go to church shirtless.”
She laughed, and he loved the sound. Even after all these years, he was still awed by her strength and perseverance.
She lifted on her toes, pressing her lips as well as her body against his. He took the kiss deeper, angling his head and delving his tongue inside her warm mouth.
“Eeww,” came the voice from the doorway. “Daddy’s kissing Mommy! That’s yucky!”
Breaking apart, Penny rolled her eyes as they both turned toward their son. “One day, boy, you won’t think kissing a woman you love to be yucky at all,” Asher said.
Penny moved from his arms to inspect their son to make sure he was ready. He looked so handsome in his little suit, and Asher watched as she pulled him in for a hug. His son might protest yucky kisses, but in that moment, he watched his son’s face light with love as his mom’s arms curled around him.
That simple scene squeezed Asher’s heart, knowing he had never known that kind of mother’s love until he landed at Miss Ethel’s house. She had taken a scared, lonely, abused little boy and made him feel true love, all while giving him a true family.
He remembered clearly the day that Miss Ethel helped him understand the real meaning of family, not what his birth mother had taught him. She had quoted from Mitch Albom, “This is part of what a family is about, not just love. It’s knowing that your family will be there watching out for you. Nothing else will give you that.” It had been easy for a scarred and scared little boy to recognize the difference between his birth family and Miss Ethel’s.
And, having been raised with her love, he found it easy to pass on to Penny and their children. His son, finished with his mother’s hug, ran over to Asher and threw his arms around his legs. Asher bent and scooped him up, knowing that one day his son would no longer want that sign of affection. But just like witnessing what he offered Penny, Asher loved the feel of his son’s arms around his neck.
Zeke, satisfied with his shirt, tie, and jacket, walked up to Cynthia and asked, “What about my hair?”
She was in the middle of changing purses, taking out what she needed from a big slouchy bag and putting it in a small black purse. She twisted her head and looked up at him, a flare of interest hitting her eyes as she smiled. “You know, baby, I love your hair.”
“I just didn’t know if I should leave it down or pull it back,” he mumbled against her lips as she moved in for a kiss. When he was working in his restaurants or the homeless shelter kitchen, he always had his hair pulled back in a ponytail or up in a bun. Otherwise, it usually hung below his shoulders, wild and free. But, for the event they were going to, he was uncertain.
“I think the most important thing today is that you’re comfortable,” she said. Her lips curved into a smile again. “I like it down.”
That was all the encouragement he needed, and he kissed her lightly once more before sliding his feet into his dress shoes.
“I’m almost finished changing purses, so can you check on the baby to see if she needs changing before we go?”
Walking into the nursery, he stopped just inside the doorway, the sight of his daughter just waking up always hitting him in the chest. Her eyes moved his way, and she blinked several times before she smiled. That was new… smiling when she recognized him or Cynthia or her older brother.
A smile from one of his children never got old, and he prayed it never would. He wanted to give them the world, but Miss Ethel had taught him the most important thing he had to offer his children and his wife was his love.
Miss Ethel once quoted Dr. Seuss, saying, “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” It was not until he found Cynthia, and then they had their children, that he truly understood what that meant. Sometimes at night he would lay awake and watch Cynthia sleep before slipping from their bed and moving to the children’s rooms to watch them. He could never have dreamed a life so full was doing something as simple as watching his loved ones sleep.
That was one of the many lessons Miss Ethel had taught him as she opened up her heart and home, giving him a mother and brothers to love.
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Quickly changing his daughter’s diaper, he dressed her in her soft dress and leggings and carried her downstairs where Cynthia and his son were waiting. As they climbed into their vehicle, Cynthia asked, “Is the food ready for afterwards?”
He nodded. “Yeah, we’re going to be meeting at the old home, but I’m having some of the Grimm’s employees bring the food over. That way none of us will have to worry with it.”
While Cynthia snapped the baby into her car seat, he assisted his son into the toddler seat, making sure he was secure. He opened Cynthia’s door, and with a quick glance at her ass in the tight dress she wore, he lifted her by her waist to give her a boost into the vehicle. Once she was seated, she shot him a smile that promised a good time that night after the children were in bed.
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, then walked around and climbed into the driver’s seat. Backing out of the driveway, he turned and headed toward the church.
Cas walked out of the workshop and through the back door of his house in the woods, carrying with him the small, decoratively carved wooden cross that he had made. He had it stained so the grains stood out in stark relief.
He remembered bringing Miss Ethel into his workshop several years ago, and she had run her gnarled fingers over the various pieces of wood, quoting Thomas Hardy. “Two dwellers in a wood, almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its features.”
There was a time when he would not have known what those words meant, but she had spent so much time making sure each of her boys had their own voices, becoming their own men. She had taken the rough, often unloved, ragtag group of boys and turned them into a family while making sure she nurtured each of them individually.
He gently laid the wooden cross on the table before reaching for his tie which he had hung on a dining room chair. He slung his tie around his neck, efficiently knotting it before he looked over his shoulder at Bianca coming down the stairs, holding their baby. Wearing a dress and heels, she had not lost all of her baby weight, and he grinned. Her body was lush with curves, and he loved the softness when he pulled her close.
Cas: Heroes at Heart Page 17
