Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“I don’t know what you mean.” Noah just stares at the TV screen over the rim of his bottle.
“He said you questioned his skills as a doctor the entire time and had the audacity to tell him what to do.” Keith bursts out laughing, slapping his knee like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “If you weren’t the only mechanic in town, he would’ve told you to do it yourself.”
“Yep, still have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No? How about when you threatened to pull out his car’s battery if Nora’s labor continued in the next hour?”
I almost drop my cup. “Oh no, Noah. You didn’t!”
He twists at the waist to face me, one arm draped over the backrest. “Look, baby. I couldn’t stand watching you in pain, okay?”
Keith groans. “Jesus Christ. You both make me want to puke. I’d stay away from this house if it weren’t for my adorable nephew.”
Right on cue, Nathan lets out a cry. Both Noah and Keith jump out of their seats and rush to the bassinet. Nathan’s little arms flail, and Keith scoops him up, cradling him and gently swaying back and forth.
Noah holds my gaze, and we both smile.
I have everything I need under this roof. How can a girl get so lucky?
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
NOAH
It’s December 31, and just like every year, everyone gathers in the town square. We have our own table there now, fit for a family of five.
I come out of the bathroom with our four-month-old, Natasha, after changing her diapers. She’s cooing and smiling in her sleep.
When I get to our table, some blonde punk in khaki pants and a white polo shirt is chatting with Nora. She’s being polite, but he stares at her like he wants to take her home. Oh hell no.
“You lost, boy?” I snarl.
His head turns to me, but since he’s just as tall as me, he doesn’t seem fazed. He just shrugs and smiles at Nora. “Nah, just mixing in with the locals.”
I throw him a glare and point at myself with my free hand while Nora takes Natasha and puts her in the stroller. “Well, THIS local doesn’t appreciate you staring at his wife’s legs.”
I take a step toward him and he steps back. “W-what? N-no, I wasn’t. I was just asking about those peanut butter cups.”
“Yeah? The right person to ask is the lovely Mrs. Dawson who’s wearing that floral dress and is busy decorating the cupcakes.”
“I… I…”
“Leave.”
He doesn’t need me to tell him twice because he sprints to the table farthest from us. He keeps glancing over his shoulder, and I stand with my hands on my hips, throwing him a fierce scowl.
Nora slips her arm around my waist and sidles to me. “You scared the poor boy away.”
“Baby, you know how jealous and possessive I am. Anyone who looks at you the wrong way and I’m gonna have to bash their skulls to the ground.”
“Bash! Bash! Bash!” Our three-year-old boy, Nick, chants while he punches the air like a warrior.
“Why do we bash skulls? Is that fun?” Nathan asks.
Nora is the color of tomato. She massages her temples and lightly smacks my arm, widening her eyes at me in warning.
Then, she turns back to the two kids munching on chocolate fudge. “No, that’s not… We don’t… We don’t do that. Daddy was just kidding.”
“Daddy says he’ll do it,” Nathan argues.
“Daddy! Bash!” Nick stomps his feet to the ground.
Nora lowers her voice and hisses through clenched teeth. “I am so gonna kill you.”
“Later?” I tease her and kiss the top of her head.
“Later.”
“In bed?”
“Bed! Bed! Later in bed!” Nick takes two more fudges in each of his hands and raises them while he marches around the table.
Nora laughs along with me. This tribe is chaotic, but it is my tribe.
Life’s good. Life’s very good. And I have Nora to thank for it. For all of these.
The End.