Loving Lily(62)

Smiling down at her, I whispered, “I love you, Lily.”

After securing my wife, I immediately headed straight to where Jackson was sleeping like the angel he was.

I wasn’t sure if they were aware of me always coming down here at that hour. Mrs. Connors was sleeping in the adjacent room and only came out when Jackson cried for a nightly feeding.

I enjoyed my alone time with my son. Sometimes, I would leave him be in his crib; others, I would selfishly pick him up and rock him in the chair while telling him funny stories about my childhood and how much I looked forward to sharing new memories with him when he grew up.

“I’m sure Mommy and Daddy will be planning to give you a sibling to play with. I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

“Not yet we won’t!” Lily emerged from the door, protesting my grand ideas.

“It was just a thought, that’s all!” Peering down at my beautiful son sleeping soundly on my chest, I brushed my thumb over his cherub cheek, smiling with so much love for him. “Your mommy’s a handful, isn’t she? Yeah, I know. One day, I’ll tell you all the tales your mother put me through…”

“You wouldn’t dare, Drake.” She looked like she was ready to strangle me. However, upon reaching the baby and me, she simply kissed me. “You’re the best husband and father. I just want to thank you for being here with me and taking some time off work. I know sacrificing that wasn’t easy, and I love you so much for it.”

It wasn’t. However, as much as I loved my job, my family came first. Having our first baby was monumental for any parent. I wanted to be there for her and Jackson, even if it was only a short while before I headed back to work. It was moments like these one would always cherish.

This was what Lily and I were supposed to have in the very beginning before fate decided to take it away from us. Despite cursing the day it happened, I couldn’t help realizing that maybe the string of events happened with one purpose in mind—to teach me to value family above all because, without them, we would all be lost. Without them, we would never know the true meaning of unconditional love.

Without them, we would be living superficial lives that held little meaning. Regret was another form of karma, and I sure as hell didn’t want any of that. Not anymore.

Seize every second, every chance, and every single beautiful moment you have with the people you love. One never knew when it would be the last.

~ Drake & Lily ~