Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
When we reached our climax, we ground our hips together. There was an explosion of heat and passion. Stars flashed before my eyes. I felt like my entire life drained out into her, and she accepted it, welcomed it. She was my one true love, the mother of my child, my Lindsey. We fit together so perfectly, as if we had been made for each other. We left all the dirty dishes for tomorrow and fell asleep exhausted in each other’s arms.
EPILOGUE
LINDSEY
Iwas in the kitchen, getting the baby food ready for Mary Ellen. She had just begun eating solids, and we had stocked our pantry with boxes of oatmeal. We had named the baby for each of our grandmothers: mine was Mary, Jason’s was Ellen. We both had fond memories of the matriarchs, and it seemed only fitting to carry on their legacies.
I emptied half a box of cereal into a bowl, mixed it with breast milk, and worked it into a creamy consistency. Our six-month-old baby was in her highchair, squishing her favorite toy into the white plastic surface. I sat in front of her, delicately removing Mr. Octopus from her drool-covered fingers.
“Here’s lunch,” I said, spooning a bit of oatmeal into her mouth. She gummed it down with a blissful smile.
Jason was at work. I was officially a stay-at-home mom, tasked with cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the baby. It was a wonderful job, despite never being easy. I felt like I was doing the best I could, spending time with Mary Ellen and ensuring that she had the best of everything. We took walks in the forest and drove into town to go on playdates with some of my old clients’ children. Every time we went to the grocery store, we would walk by the gas station, where the proprietor kept a big friendly golden retriever. The dog would bark in greeting, licking Mary Ellen’s hand to her delight.
I experimented with cakes, adding sour cream, adding more eggs, taking eggs away. I tried different flavors: fresh strawberries, chocolate, and butterscotch. We watched stupid cartoons together and had tummy time on a blanket in the living room. I almost felt like my life was complete, except for the small nagging desire to be back in the workforce.
Jason surprised me by opening the door at noon. I had expected him to be gone all day like he usually was. The suspicious grin on his face alerted me to the fact that he was aware of my confusion.
I got to my feet, still holding the bowl of oatmeal. “Hello.” I kissed him. He had something behind his back.
He kissed me in return, his eyes sparkling with delight. “Put the bowl down.”
I crossed to the island and set the bowl down. I wasn’t stupid enough to put it down within reach of the baby; she would be wearing it before I could turn around. Jason pulled a bouquet of wooden roses out from behind his back. They were delicately carved, hand painted in reds and pinks. Each one was perched on a wooden dowel rod, gathered together with a bright green ribbon.
“They’re beautiful!” I said, hugging them to my chest.
“I made them in the shop.” He found a vase and set it down on a table he had crafted himself. I slid the bouquet into the vase, standing back to admire it. “There’s more,” he said.
“More?” I asked, looking around the room for some other gift.
“Get the baby out to the truck.” He grinned mischievously.
I cleaned Mary Ellen up and gave her a bottle, changed her diaper, and put her in her carrier. I almost forgot to put on clothes myself, until I looked down and saw I was still wearing my pajamas. I freshened up quickly with a stick of deodorant and a splash of perfume. A T-shirt and jeans were the best I could do nowadays.
“You look beautiful,” Jason said when I reappeared.
I wasn’t sure if it was true, but it was easy to believe when he said it to me every day. We got into the truck and buckled up, the two of us in the front seat, on either side of the baby. Jason pulled out a piece of fabric and motioned to me to lean close. I obeyed with trepidation, surprised when he tied it around my face like a blindfold. We rumbled down the driveway and took the first right into town.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“It’s a surprise,” he said.
“Can’t you just tell me a little?” I pushed, eager for information.
“You’ll see.”
I could feel the truck rumbling to a stop, then heard the engine die and the driver’s side door open up. A moment later, he was at my side, releasing the passenger door and helping me out. He led me away from the truck, directing me to step up over a curb and onto a sidewalk.