Page 17 of Say Yes
Lindsay
“Go tellDaddy it’s lunch time.”
Serena toddles on her two-year-old little legs, falling to her diaper padded little butt once, but getting right back up and making a beeline for Colton’s office.
“Daddy!” she squeals, her laughter floating from the room. Then my big, strong, intimidating husband strolls out of his office with a pint-sized, female version of himself nestled in his arms. No wonder I’m pregnant again. The man is deadly to a pair of ovaries.
He winks at me, and after three years, it still threatens to make me swoon. Once Serena is buckled into her high chair, he saunters over to me and dips me back into a deep kiss. Before he brings me all the way back up, he crouches slightly and smacks a kiss on my big belly.
“How was your meeting?” After we got married, Colton and I settled into our life and if didn’t take me long to see how restless he was. The further along I got in my pregnancy, the worse it got. He hated leaving overnight, and it made him irritable. His poor attitude on the trips ended up costing him a couple of clients. But, he just didn’t seem to care.
Then one day he mentioned a conference call with a company he was consulting with. After the call, I interrogated him about the project, how he liked it, what his input was used for, and many, many other questions. He seemed exhausted when I finally reached the end of my steam. Not that he has anything to complain about because I definitely made up for it later.
There were points in the discussion when he got really excited, and I started filing bits of info away and doing some research. Finally, when I felt like I was properly schooled and could have an intelligent conversation with him about Aeronautics, or at least sound like I could, I sat him down. I laid out my ideas for him to become an independent consultant to multiple clients and all of my other thoughts around the matter. He jumped on the idea and was just about to sign several contracts when life took a turn we never saw coming.
NASA showed up at our door one day, inviting Colton to work on a new project, something that was being kept so close to the vest, even I couldn’t know about it yet. He had to travel to NASA headquarters from time to time, but mostly he worked from home. They’d be unveiling it next year, and I was already chomping at the bit to brag.
“My call was actually really productive,” he says animatedly. “We’d hit a snag that was stumping everyone, and last night I had an idea. We implemented it, but it still wasn’t working. Then Phil had an idea and while it won’t do any good on its own, when we mixed solutions, we came out with something even better that what we were trying to achieve in the first place.”
I blink at him for a moment in silence then toss my head back and laugh, which make Serena clap her hands and giggle.
“Sometimes, when you talk about work, it’s like reading vaguebook posts on Facebook. I get the gist, but really, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Colton chuckles and kisses me before going over to Serena and tickling her in between feeding her. She was Daddy’s little princess and had him wrapped around her finger. Not that I had any room to talk. He was pretty well wrapped around mine too.
“Oof!” I grunted and leaned over from the uncomfortable sensation of a little foot digging into my rib.
“Come sit down, honey,” Colton commands and I glare at him.
“Does this look like the bedroom, fly boy?”
His eyes narrow and he gets up, then in a flash, he’s standing in front of me. Before I know what’s happening, he swings me into his arms and marches to our bedroom. He places me down on the bed and then leans over me, caging me between his arms.
“Want to try that again?” I shake my head, holding in my laughter until after he nods and leaves the room. Then I fall into a fit of giggles. Colton has only gotten better at reading me, and while it’s incredibly annoying sometimes, days like today, it reminds me how much he loves me. Paying attention enough to know how tired I am before I realize it myself.
I snuggle down into the pillows and get as comfortable as I can, considering I’m eight months pregnant. In no time, I’m fast asleep. A little while later, I drowsily get up and use the bathroom. I’m still feeling wiped out, so I make my way back to the bed. Time stops as I gaze down and sear this scene into my memory forever.
Colton is laying on his back with Serena fast asleep on his chest. She’s getting big for this position, but Colton is determined not to notice that his little girl is growing up. I slide under the covers, and his arm immediately reaches out for mine.
Cuddling up to his side is really possible at the stage of pregnancy, but neither of us sleeps well without touching the other. It’s not even something we really notice anymore. We simply gravitate to each other, even if it’s simply the touch of our hands.
I grasp his tightly and lay back down, holding on to this life, grateful for the time I’ve shared with both my heroes.
The wall at my bakery flits through my mind as I doze off. Two pictures now hang in the center. One of a man we honor posthumously, who we lost in the service of his country. And the other, also a proud and dedicated soldier. Though he may not be actively serving in our military, he is still worthy of our gratitude and respect.
The end.