by Kristi Gold
She smiled a sad smile. “Even if I still forget to put up my shoes?”
He bent down and kissed her. “Even if you left every pair you own scattered in every room in the house.”
When Meg released a quiet little hungry cry, Rachel began unbuttoning her blouse. “That’s my cue. Now, the two of you scoot. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Matt carried his daughter down the hall and into the great room where his friends waited. “Rachel’s on feeding duty,” he announced. “She’ll be out in a while.”
The minute Ellie caught sight of Sam’s daughter, Jamie, Savannah and two-month-old Ethan, the newest McBriar, she wriggled in his arms. After he set her on her feet, she practically rushed the trio, chanting, “Baby, baby, baby!” Her dark curls bounced in time with her rapid gait.
As Ellie settled in beside Jamie, Matt walked into the adjacent kitchen where Sam sat at the island, drinking a beer. A nonalcoholic beer. “I brought a twelve-pack,” he said as he held up the bottle. “We can consume the whole thing without worrying that Chase is going to arrest us.”
Matt had been able to count on his friends to respect his nonalcohol policy. He took a bottle from the fridge, twisted off the cap and leaned against the counter. “Anyone know when Jess and Chase are supposed to get here?”
“Jess phoned a minute ago and said they’re on their way,” Savannah called from the couch. “Apparently Jake poured a bottle of syrup on his head before they could get him into the truck. Can’t wait for Ethan to enter those terrible twos.”
Matt wandered over to the sofa to sneak a quick look at the newest McBriar. “Man, Rachel’s right. He looks just like you, Savannah.”
“But he has Sam’s impatience gene,” she said.
“I’m patient,” Sam shot back as he joined them in the living area. “I waited a dozen years for you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did, and it was quite worth the wait.”
“Can I take Ellie into the backyard to play?” Jamie asked as she stood.
Savannah rose and picked up the baby carrier containing their son. “I believe I’ll join you.” She pointed at Sam and Matt. “Sam, fire up the grill. Matt, you bring out the burgers. And tell Jess when she gets here to grab some food or a kid and meet me out back.”
“Bossy attorney,” Sam muttered as his wife walked away. “But let me tell you, I like her to be bossy in bed.”
“Hell, I’d just like to get my wife in bed.”
Sam grinned. “How’s that celibacy thing been treating you?”
Matt scowled. “It’s over as of tonight. So as soon as we’re done with dinner and the girls catch up, get the hell out of here and go home.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
When the doorbell rang, Matt answered the summons and let the last of the stragglers inside. Jess looked frazzled and Chase looked frustrated when Jake zoomed by and proceeded to climb underneath the coffee table.
“Get out of there, young man,” Jess called as she handed off the diaper bag to her husband, but the boy didn’t budge.
Chase set the bag on a chair and calmly walked to the table. “On the count of ten… One, two, three…”
The toddler scurried from beneath and grinned up at his dad. “I wanna play.”
Jess crossed the room and took Jake by the hand. “Works every time. Where is everyone?”
“Savannah’s out back with Ellie, Jamie and the baby,” Matt said. “Rachel’s feeding Meg and should be out shortly.”
“Then outside we shall go to expend some energy.”
After Jess left, Matt turned to Chase. “How do you get him to mind you?”
Chase looked a little sheepish for a sheriff. “I bribe him. If he does what he’s told by the time I reach five, I let him have an extra cookie after dinner. But don’t tell my wife.”
Danny wandered into the kitchen, arms full of sacks that he set down on the counter. “I brought my ball and glove so we can all play some catch.”
Matt immediately noticed the boy’s voice had lowered since he’d seen him last, and he looked as if he’d grown an inch. He ruffled the kid’s blond hair. “Man, Danny, you’re going to be as tall as your dad before you turn thirteen.”
Danny shrugged. “I plan to be taller than him before I turn eighteen.”
“You wish,” Chase said. “Now, go out and help your mom corral your baby brother.”
Danny frowned. “Do I have to, Dad?”
“Yeah, if you want to play catch.”
“Okay.”
After Danny walked away, Chase grabbed a beer, joined Sam and Matt at the kitchen bar and held up the bottle for a toast. “Here’s to beautiful wives and summer barbecues. And last, but never least, to our three boys and three girls, the future six-pack.”
“To the future six-pack,” Sam and Matt repeated as they clinked their amber bottles together.
After they retired to the backyard to begin the festivities, Matt opted to man the grill while his guests concentrated on visiting. He soon had trouble keeping his mind on his business when two arms circled his waist from behind. “I just love a man who wields a mean spatula.”
He flipped a burger, then turned his wife’s arms. “Did you sell our baby when I wasn’t looking?”
She nodded to his left. “Jess would probably make an offer if Chase let her.”
From the nervous look on Chase’s face, Matt figured his friend wouldn’t be putting in a bid. “Everyone needs a girl or two.”
Her expression went serious. “If you want to try for a boy in a couple of years, I’m game. My uterus should be rested by then.”
“Even if we do decide to have another baby, I wouldn’t mind having another girl. Besides, I’ve already had a boy.” A son who had left an indelible mark on his soul. “No one could ever replace Caleb.” Rachel gave him a kiss, taking him by surprise. “What was that for?”
“Just because you mean more to me than you’ll ever know.”
And he loved her more with each passing day.
He lowered the cover on the grill and walked his wife, arms around waists, back to their group of friends.
As the sun began to set, they all shared good food and great stories from the past. They celebrated Rachel’s upcoming return to college as well as Sam’s bumper crops and Chase’s recent victory as the county’s most recent Reed son to be elected sheriff. They congratulated themselves on adding to the population of Placid, where their journeys had all begun. They tossed horseshoes and baseballs and played with the kids until the kids were all played out.
When everyone had left and the babies were tucked into their cribs for the time being, Matt took Rachel to bed and made sweet love to her. And as they settled down in each other’s arms, he counted his blessings instead of sheep.
He had a gorgeous wife, two beautiful, healthy daughters and an appreciation for all the little things, like a baby’s first steps and the sound of “Dada” coming from their sweet mouths. His dad was clean for the first time in twenty years, and his father-in-law was happily married and living large in sunny Florida.
Most important, Matt had learned to grant grace not only to others, but also to himself. He’d learned to be a little more open with a little less prodding. He’d also discovered that shedding a tear now and then—as he had when his children were born—didn’t make him less of a man. Just the opposite.
He’d come to understand that each moment was a gift, a sad lesson learned from a prestigious judge whose life would probably end way too soon. Just as both his and Rachel’s mothers’ lives had ended too soon.
He didn’t need riches or fame—only a front porch with rocking chairs for when he retired in thirty years or so, and the love of a family that had been a long time coming. He definitely didn’t need a bottle to cover his pain or to enhance his joy. He was already high on life.
But he did need to be the man Rachel had always believed him to be. The man he’d always wanted to be for her. The only man his remarkable
, loving wife would ever need.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459230859
Copyright © 2012 by Kristi Goldberg
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