by S. C. Ellen
Tears of happiness fill my eyes as I touch his cheek. “You deserve love just as much as you deserve to be loved, Carson, and I will spend the rest of my life reminding you of that.”
His eyes soften, as waves of pleasure wash over me. “And I will spend the rest of my life thanking God every day for giving me you.”
Alayna
Four years later
The lake this time of year is beautiful, cherry blossoms filling the premises and rose bushes blossoming all around. I sit on a blanket, mindlessly trailing a hand up and down my full and growing belly, while watching the loves of my life playing happily in front of me.
“Higher, Daddy, higher!” Eva Grace sings as Carson pushes her high above his head, running underneath the swing.
“Look, Momma! Look what I found!” Our son joyfully shouts, running over with a muddy worm in his hand.
“Gabriele Vincenzo Costanelli, you put that thing down right now!”
“But, Momma, it’s just a worm! What’s it gonna do? Eat me?” He carries so much sarcasm in his tiny little voice…it’s almost laughable.
I look over at Carson who holds back a smirk, no doubt thinking the same thing. I have somehow cloned a tiny little man-version of myself. “You heard your mother, son. Put it down.”
“Fine, but you gotta catch me first!” Gabriele takes off, and Carson chases after him around the big backyard, pulling him into his arms once he reaches him, and throwing him high up into the air before he catches him again.
My phone next to me, chimes with an incoming text.
New Picture Message from Tessa Rose.
I open the image and smile at the beautiful picture of Tessa, my brother, and their new beautiful baby girl named Mia, soaking up the Florida sun on their private beach.
I send a quick text back,
Me: Can’t wait to visit soon. Xo
I throw my phone back onto the picnic blanket and lean back to bask in the heat. Michigan summers are always my favorite, but now we have Florida and Italy beaches to look forward to, and Christmas in New York, as well.
“Daddy! Daddy! I want to swing higher again!” our daughter shouts, kicking her legs out into the air.
“Okay, mio angelitto, I’m coming. I’m coming.” Carson would never admit it out loud, but that little girl has had him wrapped around her pretty little finger since the day she was born, and he knows it, too. He relishes the fact that she is a total daddy’s girl, and I love the way he is with her. It reminds me of the relationship I had with my own father.
What I love the most, though, is how amazing of a father he is to both our children. He’s patient and understanding, kind and tough when he needs to be, but in the most gentle and effective of ways. It’s sweet, and I swear I fall in love with my husband that much more every day because of it.
Looking around at my beautiful family, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. Everything that Carson and I have endured and all of the battles we fought to get to where we are today was worth it, and I’d do it a thousand times over.
We finally found our happily ever after, and no one will ever take that away from us.
Carson’s phone vibrates next to me, interrupting my thoughts, and I chance a glance at the display to read what it says:
Maksim: Is now a good time to cash in that favor?
THE END
S.C. Ellen is from a small city right outside of Detroit, Michigan. She loves all things mafia related and uses her love for old films and even older music to influence everything she writes.
When she’s not writing, she’s either playing with her beloved Yorkie or has her face stuck in a book with a nice glass of wine to accompany it.
Her writing consists of badass alpha males and headstrong female leads with major plot twists that will leave you in tears, or on the edge of your seat. She believes strongly that the darker the book, the better the read, so warning labels are always advised!
Follow her on social media for news, updates, and future releases!
Facebook
Instagram