The Wanted Short Stories(39)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“Yeah, baby, feels so good. You want it harder?”

“Josh! Josh! Josh! Stop!”

“Mmm…oh yeah, baby—wait, what? Stop?”

I used my hand and began swatting back at him. “Stop! Libby! Libby is sitting here on the floor, looking up at me!”

“What?”

Josh pulled out of me so fast, and he jumped off the island. He ran into the laundry room, and the next thing I knew, he was running out with a towel wrapped around him. He handed me one, and I carefully wrapped it around me before getting off the island.

Josh bent down and said, “Hey, baby girl. What are you doing down here?”

“There was a butterfly flying in my room, and I followed it down here.”

Josh looked at me, and I shrugged.

“Baby, you can’t get up and walk around the house at night. This new house is way too big.”

She shrugged her shoulders and looked at us.

“Sleepwalking again?” I asked.

Josh carefully picked her up, and she snuggled into his chest. My own butterflies took off in my stomach, just like they did every time I saw Josh holding our daughter. I loved seeing her so safe in his arms.

We walked back up the stairs, and Josh placed a sleeping Libby into her bed. We stood there for a few minutes, just watching her. Josh motioned for us to leave. I carefully shut the door and then followed Josh into Will’s room. I had been pleasantly surprised that neither one of them threw a fit about not sleeping in the same room. I was hoping it hadn’t been because they were so tired and just hadn’t felt like it, but rather, they were ready to separate a little from one another.

Josh and I quietly made our way back to the living room. We gathered our clothes and headed to our bedroom. We walked in, and I shut the door before we both busted out laughing. I fell onto the bed and held my stomach as I laughed my ass off.

“I opened my eyes, and there she was, just sitting on the floor and looking up at me!”

Josh was chortling so hard that he could hardly breathe. “Oh my gosh. These two kids are going to be a damn handful. What are we going to do about her sleepwalking?”

I sat up and took a deep breath as I wiped my tears away. “I guess we’ll have to get a little alarm on her door, like the doctor suggested. I really think it has to do with the separate bedrooms.”

“I agree. It seems like this all started after we talked to them about it.”

I let out a sigh and turned to him. “Baby, I’m exhausted.”

He pulled my towel off and gently laid me back on the bed. He kissed me so gently and tenderly that I instantly relaxed. We both crawled under the covers as Josh pulled me up against him.

“You know, I wouldn’t trade any of it, not a damn thing.”

I smiled and thought about how we had already made some wonderful memories in just one day. “I wouldn’t either.”

I listened as Josh’s breathing slowed, and he drifted off to sleep. It didn’t take long before I closed my eyes and dreamed of chasing butterflies.

Heather handed me a beer as she sat down next to me. We watched as Will and Libby played with the new puppy.

“Not even two days, Josh.”

“What? They needed a puppy.”

Heather laughed. “They did not need a puppy this soon. Now, we have two three-year-olds and a ten-week-old chocolate lab.”

I chuckled as I watched Boo chase after Libby. “I still can’t believe Will let Libby name the puppy.”

“I know. He has such a sweet and tender heart when it comes to Libby.”

“I feel sorry for any boy who falls in love with her. He will not only have to deal with me, but he’ll also have to deal with her brother.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes and took our surroundings all in. The rest of the gang was planning on coming over for dinner tonight. They’d planned to bring all the side dishes, and we were going to grill up hamburgers and hot dogs.

“Just having everyone right down the road is going to be so nice. I do feel bad for Brad and Amanda though,” I said.

I waited for Heather to respond. When she didn’t, I glanced over to her. I quickly got up and fell down onto my knees in front of her. She was sitting there, crying.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Heather?”

I looked behind me to see where she was staring. Will and Libby were sitting on the ground with Boo, so I knew they were okay.

I turned back to Heather and placed my hands on her face. “Heather? Baby, please tell me why you’re upset.”

She shook her head and smiled. “I’m not upset. I’m happy.”

I frowned as I tilted my head, and I used my finger to make her look at me. “You’re crying because you’re happy?”

She smiled big and nodded her head. She glanced up and over my shoulder, and then she looked back into my eyes. “I feel them here with us.”

“Your parents?”

“Yes.” She let out a sob and glanced back out into the distance.

When I turned again to see what she was looking at, I saw it. “Oh, wow,” I whispered. “He is huge.”

I stood up and looked at the buck that was standing there, looking in our direction. He had to be at least a twelve point.

Heather stood up next to me and took my hand in hers. “Nothing but good things are going to happen here. Our kids are going to grow up in the country with their friends. They’re going to swing off rope swings into the river, riding horses, and having parties in the hay fields. They’re going to fall in love and come back to this house. Then, our family will grow bigger. It’s going to be perfect, Josh.”

I nodded my head and watched as the buck turned and began walking toward the tree line.

He stopped just short of it and turned back. Take care of my Princess.

A tear slowly moved down my face as I whispered, “I will.”

The buck walked into the trees right as Libby and Will came running up. I bent down, and Libby tackle-hugged me.

“Daddy! I wuv you!”

“I love you, too, Libby.”

Will smiled at me and then took off running again. I barely stood up and made it back to my chair. My knees felt weak. Heather leaned against the post as she gave me the most beautiful smile.

“I love you, Heather.”

“I love you more,” she said.

I glanced out at Libby and Will and then looked back at Heather. We were going to be happy here. The memories had already begun.

I smiled at Heather and motioned for her to come and sit down on my lap. She sat and raised her eyebrow as she wiggled on top of me.