“And what would happen if you did it?” Ace asked.
“I wouldn’t get ice cream.”
“What about if I didn’t stop you?” Ace was finding it hard not to laugh.
“You wouldn’t get ice cream.”
“What is Mommy gone to get?”
“Ice cream.”
“Then come on down, so we can clean Izzy’s forehead, and we can both have ice cream.”
Izzy screamed in a giggle. “No. I love my pretty butterfly.” She spoke in baby speak, but Ace understood her just fine.
Kneeling down on the floor, Reese climbed on Ace’s back, and together they hunted down their prey.
They were rounding the corner, coming out toward the front door, and Ace stopped. Trixie, her stomach already swollen with their third child, held their little girl in their arms. She laughed down at them.
“I cannot leave you three alone, can I?” she asked, laughing.
Reese climbed off his back, and ran toward her, wrapping his arms around her.
“I was totally watching them,” Ace said.
“You were, and this is probably the best butterfly I have ever seen. As it happens, I changed his pens for washable ones, so we won’t have to keep the butterfly for long.”
Ace took the shopping, and they headed toward their kitchen. Izzy was placed in the high chair, and as he put away the groceries, he watched the love of his life as she used wipes to rub away the butterfly.
She had taken a picture as well, and Reese had gone toward the computer to grab the printed out picture.
“He is so talented. Just like his daddy,” she said.
“Can I still get ice cream?” Ace asked, moving up behind her. He kissed her neck, and placed his hand on her stomach.
“You can have anything you want,” she said, sinking against him.
“Ew, Mommy and Daddy are being so gross,” Reese said, handing the piece of paper over to her.
His son would one day follow in his footsteps. He was so damn good. Taking hold of Trixie’s hand, he gave it a squeeze to which she did the same back. His woman, his wife, his love, there was no limit to his happiness. He loved her so damn much, and his children, his family, it was everything he had ever wanted.
She leaned back, and smiled. “I love you.”
Pressing a kiss to her lips, he whispered the words against her ear, knowing he would show her in every single way tonight.
The End