Life is Short

Epilogue

"Mom who is this?" Maya handed me the picture and it was of me and my mom. Yes I had another daughter. Turns out I was already pregnant when Shiloh asked for a little sister.

"That's me and my mom." I smiled at her.

"That's not grandma." She frowned looking up at me.

"Your right. My mom died when I was nine, she had cancer."

"What's her name?"

"Her name was Jessica and I was so close to her. I was a momma's girl while your aunt Mikayla was a daddy's girl."

"Do you miss her?" I nodded.

"Every day. I wish she was here to meet her grandchildren and everything else." She wrapped her arms around me hugging me.

"Thanks, I needed that."

"Mom." I looked over finding a worried Shiloh.

"I'm okay, I was just thinking about my mom." I smiled.

"Can you tell us about her mommy?"

"Of course." I brought them up to my room and they curled up to me.

"When my mom was about your age Maya, she got sick for the first time. This was also when she realized she was in love with Grandpa Ryan. They were best friends before they finally got together. Grandpa always says she was born to be a mother and she was the best mommy. When they were twenty they got married and shortly after that they had me, then aunt Mikayla came about a year later. She was so full of life, whenever we were upset she was tell us all the good things that we had.

'When I was about four she got sick again, so for five years she was sick. Even when she was sick she was still so full of live. Some days I would be really upset and I would just go in there and curl up with her and she would tell me stories. You know how you how two are curled up with me like this?"

They nodded and I kissed both of their foreheads.

"When I was nine I came home and curled up with her and so did Mickey. We told her about our day and she just listened and told us how much she loved us. That day she died with us clutching to her. Your daddy came over and I couldn't stop sobbing, finally your daddy got me to calm down and I fell asleep curled up with him. When I was upset I would go sit at my mom's grave and tell her about my day. On certain occasions she had written me letters and also Mikayla. In those letters there would be advice, stories, and things to help us and cheer us up."'

They wrapped their arms around me tighter and I just held them.

"Are you going to get sick?"

"No I'm not baby, I'm not going anywhere."

"What about Tylor?" Maya asked.

"What about her?"

"Did Grandma Jessica know her?"

"No she didn't. Tylor worked with your grandpa Ryan that's where they met. When I first met her I didn't like her. I didn't want her to replace my mom. I got into a lot of fights with grandpa and everyone. One day I got badly hurt so I was in the hospital. Grandpa was so upset, but Tylor calmed him down and they brought me home. That night she stayed with me and that was when everything changed between us."

"Is it true you had a girlfriend?" Shiloh asked.

"I guess but it wasn't really like that. I'm pretty sure she's married and of course I'm married and have four of the most amazing kids."

"Did you love her?"

"Not like I love your daddy." I smiled as he walked in smiling at us.

"There are my girls."

"Daddy, mommy was telling us stories."

"About what?"

"Grandma Jessica." He smiled.

"She was amazing. I always loved spending time with her. My mom has pictures of me curled up with her while she was pregnant with your mom."

"Did you hold mommy when she was a baby?"

"Sure did."

"Where are our boy's?"

"Sawyer's in his room and Harley is still at practice."

"I have to go, I have practice." Shiloh left so Bradley moved taking her spot.

"Should I tell him or are you going to?"

"Tell me what?" She looked at me and I looked at Bradley.

"Little miss over here has a date."

"Has a what?"

"A date tonight."

"No." He hissed.

"Bradley."

"She's not old enough."

"Babe, she's fourteen." I tried to plead with him.

"Daddy we're going to the movies."

"Fine."

"Go get ready." I kissed her forehead and let her go before turning to Bradley.

"You know what happens at movies?"

"Babe, she's not going to be doing anything, this is her first date, and don't you dare ruin this for her."

"Or what?"

"No sex for you." I smirked.

"This means no sex for you." He fought back.

"I'll be okay."

"Right." He leaned but I pulled away and went to Sawyer's room.

"Tease."

"Love you." I walked over to Sawyer's door finding it open.

"Hey buddy."

"Hey mom."

"Everything okay?"

"Just thinking about Laura."

"What about her?"

"We've been fighting." He said weakly.

"Do you love her?"

"Yea mom I do." I smiled.

"Does she know?"

"No."

"I know you're scared, but you need to tell her. My mom told me if you really love someone you need to tell them. You need to know if she loves you too."

"You think I should tell her?"

"Yea, I see the two of you. She loves you, but she's just scared."

"Thanks mom."

"Your welcome. I'm always here if you want to talk about anything."

***

"Hey momma. I know I haven't really been around that much. I've been busy as you know. The triplets are going to college next year, it seems like it was just yesterday when I found out I was pregnant with them. All the kids are doing amazing. I wish you could see them. Sawyer told his girlfriend he loved her and she told him she loved him. I gave him the same advice you gave me all those years ago. Shiloh and her boyfriend broke up so it's been hard dealing with that, but she's getting better. Harley is a little player, I hope he finds the right girl and just settles down with her. I'm scared he's going to come home one day and tell us he got a girl pregnant. Maya found a picture of you so I got to tell her about you and it was nice. Daddy says she reminds him so much of you, and I see it too some times. I know you would be happy to hear that Bradley and I are still going strong. Looking back at when I was teenager, I wish I would have figured out my feelings for him sooner. Things would have been so different but then I wouldn't be who I am today. I love you momma so much, there's not a day that goes by that you're not on my mind."