Epilogue – 1 year later.
"He's not going to walk for months, Jax." I toss the tiny sneakers onto the floor. "You have to stop buying him things he doesn't need."
"Like that's going to happen." He kisses my cheek as he wraps his arm around my waist. "I can't stop. I want him to have everything."
"He just needs you. Like this." I pat his chest. "Open and loving. You're the most amazing father."
"I am pretty good at this house husband thing, aren't I?"
I pull my eyes around the apartment and wince when I settle on dirty dishes, blankets strewn everywhere, a few baby toys and a laundry basket overflowing with clean clothing. "You're learning."
"I'm happier than I've ever been." The words bounce through me with the excitement that he's attached to them. I've never seen him this content.
"I love knowing that you're exactly where you want to be." I lean in to him, enjoying the quiet solace while our son naps.
"When you leave for work every day and I get to hold that little prince in my arms and tell him stories about how I met his beautiful mommy, I feel like I'm on cloud nine."
"Tell me the story," I tease.
He pulls me towards the couch and motions for me to settle into his lap. "It's like this." He runs his hand along my arm. "I say, Jackson, once upon a time not that long ago, this beautiful woman with pretty blonde hair was staring at a painting at an art show. She thought it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen and that's when daddy fell in love with her."
I jump to my feet. "Very funny, Jax."
He bolts to his too. "That's a true story."
I race down the hallway trying to suppress the giggles. Everything stops when I feel his hands on my waist pulling me into our bedroom.
"Jax," I whisper into his kiss. "I love you."
"I love you, Mrs. Walker." It's the nickname he's called me since we married right after Jackson was born. Holding my newborn son in my arms while I pledged my undying love to the man I adore had made me finally feel whole, complete and anchored.
I close my eyes as I feel him undo the sash on my dress.
This is my life.
This is my everything.