Sound of Silence(97)

"You're really here," she whispers while taking my face between her hands.

"Feel me, sunshine." I press into her so she can't mistake my need. "I'm no dream, but I promise I'll make all of yours come true."

Her fingers nest in my hair, and she frowns when they slip right through. But my buzz cut doesn't stop her. She tugs me back down for a thorough follow-up until JT makes himself known with a foot to my chin.

I smile against her mouth and squeeze tighter. "Here's my truth. Are you ready?"

"Yes. Every time, all the time."

"I'm not always great with flowery words or flowers for that matter, because if I really thought this through I would have brought you dozens," I murmur and then pull back so I can see her while I tuck a stray pink strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers linger on her soft cheek. "But what I do have is love, Piper. And from this moment on, I'm going to make sure you feel it every second of every day. You'll see it in my eyes when I look at JT and the baby I'm going to give you. Maybe two or three, enough to fill our house, and if you want more I'll build a castle. To the sky if that's what you want."

"Caden," she breathes my name like a prayer, and her eyes well.

"You'll know, sunshine, even when I'm gray, you're gorgeous, and we're rocking in chairs on our porch, that I love you. I fucking love you. And on the day I get down on one knee with a ring in my hand, when I beg you to be my wife because you're the best woman and the only one for me, you'll see love in my eyes. Let me love you."



       
         
       
        

She sniffles and nods, but when she opens her mouth a cry comes, and then another. I take her nape and tuck her into my shoulder, my lips to her hair. I'm in no hurry. Words will come when she's ready, and I'll be here to listen.

For now, I'll live in the sweet sound of her silence.





Dear Justin.



Life is far from perfect.



JT fussed all night. I fed and rocked him. As soon he was down, he'd be up and we'd start all over again. When morning came, he was overtired, so I tickled him into a laugh. Although I was weaning from breastfeeding, I gave in and when he latched on, I screamed. Sharp little biter he is. JT broke his first tooth and well, it was perfect.



Caden had a bad morning, too. He grumbled and gave me a dose of silent treatment after I left a bag of opened flour on the counter. I meant to put it away, I swear, but JT screamed, and as I ran to get him Caden knocked the flour to the floor. He wouldn't let me in the kitchen to help so it took him an hour to clean it up. He huffed and puffed just like JT. When I came in to check on him, he looked like a ghost. One giggle from me and we burst into laughter together. We may have gotten more flour on the floor and on us, and well, it was perfect.



Cara and Dax just stop over anytime. Our nosy neighbors bring wine and Willow in tow to play Monopoly and Charades, which is my favorite, and it's perfect.



Sundays we spend with Tess and Gavin. He talks sometimes, tells childhood stories about you and Caden and Cara. Some of his stories cross the ocean, and we get a glimpse into his experience and how he played a part in freedom. Even though he has a long road to recovery, he's home and it's perfect.



We lost Gus for twenty-four hours. It was so terrible. My heart hurt. I cried every five minutes, and I could see Caden wanted to do the same. We looked everywhere and still no Gus. The next morning, he pranced up to the front door with a friend. A girlfriend! A pretty, fluffy, white, furry girlfriend. From out of nowhere, she appeared. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?



Life isn't perfect, but when you look at it, really look at it, it's better than perfect. It's mine.



With all my love,



Piper



The End