the fate played

Bonus Chapter #3 - a happily ever after

Chris Langford

Jeremy turned out to be a momma's boy. That little man did have my eyes and my face but his mother was his favourite parent and one can say that I was a little bit jealous. We moved into the house after Jeremy and Hailey were given the green signal to go home after he was born. Nick was named to be my son's godparent.

Hailey turned out to be an excellent mother though Jeremy's first words were 'dad' and I had cried happy tears. I was wondering if there could be a possibility of Jeremy developing separation anxiety. Romano had prayed that my son doesn't take the grumpiness from me and I had replied by saying we'll see in the future. 

My parents were beyond happy watching Jeremy getting love from all sides. He got a best friend in Nick and Jenny's son- Aaron Martin. 6-7 months older than Aaron yet they were inseparable. They did from a gang with Lorenzo and Layla- Lucas and Scarlett's twins who had the same age as Aaron. 

The four of them were one hell of a team, playing around and doing everything together.

Also, Jeremy turned out to be a Star Wars nerd just like his mother. Hailey said, "We should start early, he needs to learn", about Jeremy loving Star Wars. The mother-son duo were inseparable when it came to the same.

Even when Hailey's shifts were keeping her busy, she'd always manage to have a movie night and some quality time with Jeremy. When it came to me, we'd play football and various other sports with Nick and Aaron in all the available time. 

Being a father was something terrifying yet pleasing. There were times when Jeremy slept closer to me and Hailey and I was just watching the two of them sleeping, feeling over-whelmed and lucky.

There was this one time when three of us were having a movie night. Hailey was in the kitchen getting us our drinks when I was about to take a seat a 4-year-old Jeremy kicked the chair and I landed on my butt leading to the popcorn bowl tripping on me and the final result was me covered in popcorn, Jeremy suppressing a grin while Hailey having the best laugh of her life. I'd chase Jeremy around the house after that and had tickled him for a good five minutes.

6 years later..........

The economy department manager had some issues and had been in my office since morning regarding the same. I had to sit my ass down to do various re-checks on the reports he presented and fish out the errors and all that. It was late afternoon when there was a knock on my office door. Without looking up from the papers I answer a 'come in.' 

Footsteps of lower decibels fall in my ears yet I keep my focus on the paper. The door opens and a 5-year-old Jeremy walks in. His eyes were scanning the room curiously with a frown marring his forehead. A second later he sighs. Romano is going to have a run for his money because if my wife's following statement 'Jeremy is going to turn out to be a mini-version of you' turns out to be true then God help everyone. 

He was wearing his 'Luke Skywalker' t-shirt with black pants and white shoes. Hands at the back, his analyzing gaze was roaming the room. "Hey, Dad", he says while he makes his way towards the chair I was sitting in. "Jeremy" -I say- "What is it?" 

"Your office looks boring", he says. The guy sitting in front of me stifles a laugh by pressing his lips. I glare at him, raise an amused eyebrow to Jeremy and ask, "And what makes you think so?" "it could look much cooler if you had used the black and white colour", he answers. 

I slide the chair towards him, pick him up by his arms and set him on my lap. "so you think it should've been black and white?" He nods. Before I could say anything the manager gets up and takes his leave. Once he is out of the door I turn to face Jeremy who was keenly flipping the pages of a file kept on the table and groans. 

The door opens again and my wife walks in with Harry tagging behind. She sighs in relief, "here you are." "How did you reach this fast Jeremy?", she asks. "Momma, I had help", he answers. I ask, "from whom?" 

"Uncle Harry"

I make Jeremy sit at the table after which I get up and watch my wife walking toward me. "Don't mind me, Sir but he said he wanted to go before Mrs Langford catches him mid-way so I straight away sent him to your floor", Harry explains. 

Hailey shrugs, "Well, he said he wanted to see Dad's office so I thought we can drop by earlier." "I'll leave you all to this", Harry says. "Thank you, Harry", I say. "No worries, sir" he answers and leaves. 

"So what do you say about Dad's office, Jeremy?"

"It is good but looks a little boring", he says to his mother. Well, isn't it great my very own 5-year-old son is judging my taste in the interiors of my own office? "You can change it the day you have the company under your name when you grow up."

"So I'll have it one day?" he asks, surprised by my statement.

I shrug, "if you want and if you don't want I can hand it over to Julianna."

Julianna Hazel Langford, our one-year-old baby. The reason she has the middle name 'Hazel' was that she was born with the most beautiful eye colour we'd see. Though she almost had the same eye colour as her mother yet it felt different so Hailey gave her the name. I had the time of my life watching Julianna pick me as her favourite parent yet both of my kids were more fond of their mother. 

Lucas was named to be her godparent. The three boys- Jeremy, Aaron and Lorenzo protect her and Layla with their lives. Romano didn't hesitate in spoiling Layla and Julianna. The boys were jealous as their grandpa's favourites were the girls. 

"and if me and Julie both want it then?" Jeremy asks.

"we'll divide it into two parts- one for you and one for Julie", Hailey answers quickly.  

"Where is my Julie?" I ask.

"She's with Dad, Jeremy and I thought to get you to the place before we head out for the picnic", she says. 

"How thoughtful of you Mrs Langford!" I grin while pulling Hailey closer. She hums in response while wrapping her arms around my neck. She smiles and I lean down and was about to kiss her when Jeremy's voice stops me, "Momma, Dad, Can we get M&M's before going out for the picnic?"

Hailey sighs yet a bright smile makes its way on her face, "Sure, son but only if you share them with Aaron and Lorenzo." He groans, "we'll get them their different packets." 

"Fine", I say. 

Hailey giggles, "My dad was correct, Jeremy is going to turn out grumpier than you."

I smile, "After all, he is my son. Had to take it from me."

She hums, "I love you, Mr Langford."

"I love you, Mrs Langford."