Falling Into Love
Page 29
“I don’t know. I’m feeling sentimental. I’ll miss them. They’re five, Dane. Five. I can’t believe it.”
“Well, we can see the house from our front door, you’re not shipping them off to Europe and I’d love a peaceful night with just the two of us.”
“Yeah, that sounds nice.”
“Oh, I’m going to make it way better than nice. It’s going to be hot. Let’s fire up the Jacuzzi and sit outside under the stars and do stuff.” He wriggled his eyebrows at me.
“You and the stars, we make the stars blush I’m sure. Okay, if Mom says it’s fine, they can spend the night.”
I sighed heavily. I was being extra sentimental today, and that usually encouraged me to search out more sentiments. I walked into the main dining hall. Dane followed me. We stood in front of the area I dedicated to Gram.
Dane’s lips pressed against my head. “She’d be so proud of you.”
“You think? Gram was never easily impressed.”
“I know because she already was proud and look at what you’ve accomplished since.”
“I still miss her so much.”
“I know you do, but she’s here in so many ways.” He touched my heart. “Especially there.”
“I love our crazy mixed up family.”
“Me too.”
“Remember when I forced you to get a vasectomy when the kids were six-months-old?”
“Yeah, it was pretty eventful sitting on the table listening to the doctor go over the procedure. I wasn’t sure it was the right thing not to mention I was scared shitless. You busted in having a full Sydney performance. ‘Wait. What if I’m being dramatic? Have you cut him yet? Please don’t cut him.’ And yes, you were being extremely dramatic. Why did you bring that up right now?”
“The kids are five.”
“Are they? I was wondering what today was about.”
I playfully pushed him, “You’re going to make me beg, aren’t you?”
“Oh yes, I love it when you beg.”
“It’s just. I was looking at Nina today, and she let me feel the baby kick. I kinda miss it. I never thought I would. I cried a lot when I was pregnant. They kicked my ribs night and day. I was sick, fat, and miserable. They destroyed my abs, Dane.”
“I remember all that except your stomach is still sexy as hell. Don’t forget the labor. ‘Please kill me, someone kill me and take this man away from me for all eternity. He did this to me.’ I swear you were so embarrassing.”
“I’m sure I wasn’t that harsh.”
“You were, but I forgave you.”
“Whatever, but I settled down once we got home with them.”
“Maybe but there were plenty of times you sat there crying. ‘I’m a milk cow. Look at me Dane, pumping and feeding a child at the same time. When will it ever stop? It’s constant milking.’”
“Oh, nursing too. Thanks for reminding me. I miss those days so much.”
“Sydney. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying, I think we need another. I know what I said before, but odds are we’ll just have one this time, a precious tiebreaker. That’s what our third child will be. You and Gabriella always gang up on Joseph and me.”
“I guess so, but are you sure? It was hard. You weren’t the only one that struggled.”
“Yes, I think I’m sure. I did something.”
“What did you do? I get scared whenever you start a sentence with those words.”
“I had my doctor take out my IUD last week when I went for my annual.”
“Are you nuts? You didn’t even discuss it with me.”
“Because I knew you’d be thrilled and I wanted to surprise you.”
“Call me surprised.”
“Call me crazy.”
“I always do.”
Mom interrupted us. “Is something wrong?”
“Can the kids stay?”
“Of course, they can stay.” Dane grabbed Mom and kissed her cheek, “thanks, Marlene. Mimi rules!” He reached down and lifted me off the ground.
“Have a good night you two.”
We ran out the back door full speed toward our house. “Put me down, crazy man! You don’t have to carry me the whole way and slow down before my crown falls off.”
“I don’t mind. These arms were made for holding you, and I’d never let you lose your princess crown.”
I closed my eyes and remembered the first time these strong arms held me. Dane infuriated me that first moment. I was most likely furious a man like him existed, and he’d never be mine. Good thing I was wrong because he was mine and I was his.
He gingerly brought me back down to the ground when we made it to the cottage and straightened out my crown, “I love you, baby. You’re the best.”
“Love you too, princess. The moon always shines in your favor.”
“Awe, I love it when you talk romantic to me.”
“Your turn. You know the one.”
I held Dane’s dimpled cheek and stared into his mismatched eyes. I definitely knew the one because he was my one. He’d heard all my poems. I never stopped writing them. I hoped to publish a book one day and share a few with the world. Our favorite one was from our wedding day. As soon as I uttered the first line that day, emotion overtook him. He remembered my words from a special night, but this was the extended version and during special moments, Dane would ask to hear it. Sometimes we said the words together.
“And he came to regard her bathed in moonlight, covered in nature’s glow… willing, waiting, watching for her lover’s arrival.
For they are here not because of destiny or chance, these two exist as one because sadness, heartbreak and sorrow possess the lonely and the weak.
They joined because their fragile souls reached out for comfort. Separation was never possible, so fears were put to rest and the union was welcomed. Perfection is impossible, but joy is ever-present. Love pours over them like a river, the current carries them onward to their final destination.
The two hearts forever intertwine until one loses sight of his beginning and her ending.
Deeper, stronger, wiser, the lovers share an imperfect life culminating in the sweetest perfection.
Falling, falling, falling until their last breath. This is the love they made, and it was good because it was theirs.”
The love of reading good stories brought me full circle and encouraged me to give it a go a few years back. I would like to thank all the authors that have inspired me.
I have an awesome group of ladies that pre-read whatever I toss at them whether it’s utter garbage or polished chapters. Girl kisses and a toast with the good wine glass to Virna, Alix and Hala for sticking with me for the long haul. They keep pushing me to the finish line each and every time.
Hug and kisses to my husband and kids for putting up with me. I used to be supermom. Now I’m one more second, let me finish this paragraph before I pour the milk. Hopefully, they still think I’m okay because I couldn’t follow my dreams without their support. Love each one of you oodles.
The biggest thanks of all goes to the people that give me their time and take a journey with me in a story. I love my readers so much! I can’t put it into words. Here is where I get speechless. I know what it means to take a gamble and purchase a book from a new author. The stars I receive increase my sparkle. If I wrote something that touched you, please share, so the rest of the world might know.
These are the poems read by Sydney and Dane if you want to experience the words along with them.
“A Coat” by William Butler Yeats
“The Cap and Bells” by William Butler Yeats
“My November Guest” by Robert Frost
“Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare
“We Are Made One with What We Touch and See” by Oscar Wilde.
TC Rybicki is an independent author committed to storytelling and stirring up emotions. TC loves to write, writes to live some days. She has coined herself a hybrid author because she is cur
rently writing touching romances sprinkled with drama and angst but looks forward into branching out with family dynamic tales, possible thrillers and young adult stories. She enjoys a simple life in Texas with her husband and a brood of kiddos. TC adores her dogs, cats, beardies and a turtle named Tiny. When she isn’t writing, she is taking care of the family, cooking good food, walking for fresh air to hash out plot bunnies or refreshing her IG feed. Her own life story is unique and tragic with a happy ending in the works. Her writing reflects the experiences she’s endured. The muse speaks to her almost night and day so a book or two is always in the works.
Connect with TC through social media or her website.
“Instagram is where I roll, but I’m hanging around all the other social sites. Pinterest is where my mind runs amuck when I’m not writing. Check out my story muse boards if you want visuals to my work.”
www.tcrybicki.com
www.facebook.com/authortcrybicki
www.instagram.com/tcrybicki
www.twitter.com/TcRybicki
www.pinterest.com/tcrybicki/
Willow’s Wish