The Fall Bride (TSBS-3) ON HOLD

Chapter Twenty-Three

It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.
― John Joseph Powell

Ivan Dwayne

After almost fifteen years, I had a peaceful sleep. That was only because of the woman next to me.

Beautiful didn't do justice to the view I was rewarded with this morning.

Forgetting to close the blinds last night had the morning shine draping enticingly on her. Janet remained unaware of my attention. Her hair was everywhere, those natural curls spreading from the pillows to my face.

It was wild and untamed, and it had me hooked. Just like her hair, she was enclosed within my reach. I had a very hard time letting her go even though my bladder was screaming.

It still seemed too good to be true. To have such a wonderful and satisfying ending to a disastrous and devastating day.

As she snuggled near me further, her soft sigh—a beautiful tune to the ears, I breathed in the new day, a new beginning.

Some things needed to be put to rest. Janet made me realize what needed to be treasured. She made the present so beautiful that I didn't want to dwell on what happened in the past. But that never meant I would forget. I would always remember and cherish the memories of those gone, but I was also going to start cherishing those who stayed with me from now on.

I studied the beautiful morning light coming from the windows, one of my hands under my head and another holding onto the most precious gift life had surprised me with.

From this gift, I had another gift, who must be soundlessly sleeping next door with his favorite uncle.

That reminded me that I had to get up but still couldn't find the will to leave the bed.

Few more minutes.

******

"You need to come home early."

I backtracked to her as she settled up the leftovers from the heavy spread of breakfast. Someone was too happy this morning to cook up a feast.

I must've done a good job.

"Why?" Looking back at Caden who was out on the deck with Mark, I leaned conspiringly closer to my wife. "You want to get started early tonight?"

Janet rolled her eyes and pushed me off, but her pale skin was advertising the red blush to the fullest. "You're too incorrigible. No, I invited some guests."

"Say, Janet, these guests wouldn't happen to involve a certain man you like so much?" I narrowed my eyes as she bit her lip sheepishly.

"Oh, please. I invited them because I happen to have a niece in that family. Not because of her handsome father."

Pulling a string of her hair, I made her unable to escape my wayward hands. "You cannot keep on calling another man handsome, Janet. It hurts my pride."

She paused, blinking innocently then took a peek at the duo outside before jumping up to kiss my mouth. "He got nothing on you, dear husband. He wasn't the one who made me scream out his name last night."

My instincts flared and I was having second thoughts about my impending meeting back at the office. "No. Definitely not. Only I get to do that."

"Yes. Only...you." She slid her hand from my chest, so breathtakingly slow that I almost picked her up for another scream-out-my-name session.