Page 22 of Ruby's Strength

Epilogue

Rett

“Hey, dad, what’s for dinner tonight?” Elijah, our oldest asks staring into the refrigerator.

“Close the fridge, Eli.” I feel like all I ever do lately is tell him to get out of the kitchen. The boy is nine going on sixteen. He’s already working on doubling our grocery bill for the month.

He closes it and comes to stand beside me. “I’m starving. When are we going to eat?”

“You just had lunch an hour ago. Why don’t you go outside and play with Willow and Zachariah?”

“They’re driving me crazy. Willow talked him into playing house, and she wants me to be the family pet. Can I go read in my room instead?”

I laugh picturing all three of them in their clubhouse, Willow telling everyone what to do and making Eli be a dog. “Sure.”

A few hours later all six of us are gathered around the dinner table. “Baby you outdid yourself once again, this dinner is incredible.”

“It really is mom. I love your homemade lasagna even better than your chicken and dumplings.” Eli says taking another bite.

“Me too mommy.” Zach and Willow tell her.

“And what do you think my little stinker?” Ruby coos to our youngest Amelia who just turned five months old yesterday and is definitely a blessing after trying for a few years to have another.

Amelia slaps her hands on the table of her highchair and takes the bite of food Ruby is trying desperately to feed her.

Once dinner is over, I clear the table and clean the kitchen while Ruby gets the kids in the bath and ready to relax before bedtime. I’m just finishing up and adding another log to the fire when Ruby comes out looking exhausted.

“Did you get her to sleep?”

“Yeah, but she didn’t want to go down in her crib. I should have never let her sleep in our bed.”

“Babe it’s fine, she’ll sleep in her bed eventually.”

“I should have known better. With the other three, it took them years to finally sleep in their beds.”

“Who the hell cares? Get your sweet ass over here.”

She laughs and lays back against the couch propping he feet in my lap. I grab one and start kneading the soles of her feet making her moan. “That’s better than sex.”

I drop her foot. “Take it back.”

She laughs a full belly laugh. “I can’t, you do that so well. Please don’t stop.” She pushes her other foot into my hands and sticks out her bottom lip.

Caving I begin rubbing her foot. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“I know I am, and I love you too.”

The End