My family will always come first.
I call Indi over, passing her Eve. “Dadda,” she cries, her chubby little arms reaching out for me. Fucking hell. My kids will be the death of me, I’m sure of it.
“Daddy will be home soon, Princess,” I tell her, kissing her sweet cheek. The tears pooling in her big, green eyes tug at my heart. I know she’ll be okay though. She has the rest of the family with her. Poor Jaxson will be left on his own if I don’t stay. “I’m gonna hang here for a while,” I say, turning my attention back to Indiana. “The teacher said I can sit in the classroom until Jaxson settles in.”
Indi smiles as her hand reaches up to stroke my face. “You’re amazing,” is all she says, getting up on the tip of her toes to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “Call me when you’re ready and I’ll come back and pick you up.”
Both Jaxson and I survived the first day. I stayed for the better part of the morning, but once he’d made a few friends, he settled in fast. He was all smiles when I picked him up in the afternoon and didn’t stop talking about his day all the way home. He even said he was excited to go back tomorrow, which is a good thing.
Our parents, my grandmother, Megan, Drew and their two girls, Isabella and Jasmine, are here to help celebrate Eve’s first birthday. A day I wasn’t sure we’d ever see in the beginning, but I’m so fucking glad we did. Jax and Candice are on their way up here now. I’m still freaked out about those two, but they’re perfect for each other. I couldn’t be happier for them.
Leaning down, I place a kiss on Eve’s head. Indi has put Eve’s dark hair up into two piggy tails. She looks adorable. I’m so in love with her. She’s her mum all over. I’m not sure if I could love her any more if I tried. She’s sweetness right to the bone, just like Indi.
Something about her unravels me. I’m not even sure why. Maybe it’s because she’s my baby girl, or because of everything she went through at birth. I can’t really say. Maybe it’s a combination of both. She already has a tight grip on my heart. I know that will only tighten as the years follow.
Eve is sitting on my lap watching the other four kids running around and playing with LJ. I tried to get her to join in, but she was happy to stay with me. My little shadow, Indi calls her. The boys get on really well with Megan’s girls. They’re kind of like cousins I suppose. We’re always together.
Indi and Megan come out of the kitchen laughing, both holding a glass of wine in their hands. I love seeing Indi happy like this. As she passes I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her down onto my other knee before planting a kiss on her cheek.
“I love you,” I whisper in her ear.
“I love you too.” My eyes move around the room. My mum is sitting on my dad’s lap, laughing at something he said. My grandmother is smiling as she watches the kids playing. Everyone seems so content, so happy, and that makes me happy. I have a perfect life. The perfect family. My heart is so full.
I’m the luckiest BASTARD in the world.
Bonus Story
First White Christmas …
Carter
The second I’m finished with my last client and all my shit’s cleaned and packed away, I’m out the side door of the tattoo parlour, taking the steps that lead to my apartment two at a time. This is without a doubt, my favourite time of the day. Nothing beats the feeling I get when I’m with my family.
“I’m home,” I say when I walk through the front door. Nothing. Everything’s so quiet. Did I walk into the right house? Usually I have my three little munchkins hanging off me before I even get a chance to remove my shoes. “Indiana.”
“We’re in the bathroom,” she calls back. She must be bathing the kids.
“Daddy,” they all squeal as soon as I enter the room. The love I see reflected on the sweet faces of my children is indescribable, they’re my life. Seeing that same look mirrored on the face of my beautiful wife, no words. I’m one lucky bastard.
After pulling her into my arms, I place a soft kiss on her lips. “Hi, beautiful,” I breathe. I hear the kids giggle from behind me. The boys always do that when they see us kiss. I’m sure Eve just follows suit. She’s still too young to understand. She likes to copy everything her brothers do, and finds their crazy antics extremely amusing. She’s so sweet.
“Hi, handsome.” Coming home to her will never get old.
Letting go, I take a step towards the tub before placing a kiss on top of Jaxson, Levi and Eve’s heads. “How was school today?” I ask the boys, when I stand to full height. Levi started school this year. Unlike Jaxson’s first day last year, Levi was fine. The moment we pulled up outside the gates he told us we could go. Of course we didn’t, but it again proved how different they are. Their personalities are miles apart.