Love Always (NG4)

62 - Love Always

Three and a half years later...

Rory stepped onto the sand, but it wasn't hot for late June. She watched as Sam took a picture of his nephew, little Sebastian. Sam just as quickly let the camera fall to his chest as he chased the baby and caught him lifting him until he giggled. It wasn't a fair chase because the little thing had only been walking for a few weeks and the sand was harder to toddle on than the floor.

Cole hovered nearby as Anna stood talking to Keira. Rory wanted to be chill like Anna, but was glad Sam was not like Cole. Poor Cole had a tough time when Anna didn't get pregnant right away. Unlike Sam and Rory, they didn't wait long after their wedding. He was convinced he was the problem. After all, Anna had been pregnant before. So he scoured the internet and stopped drinking, changed his diet, and wore loose boxers. When Anna finally got pregnant, Cole was the happiest, most neurotic man alive.

Sam looked up and smiled. As she started towards him, he smiled and picked up his camera. It didn't matter if her hair was a mess or if she had circles under her eyes, Sam's lens always made her look beautiful.

Sam kissed her forehead. "Hi. Did you sleep?"

"Not really." She shook her head, but Sam was no longer focused on her.

Sam was busy looking inside the sling Rory wore, at their newborn daughter, Lindy. Sam hadn't wanted Linda, because it sounded too old. He compared the name to Karen which made Rory laugh. Bryan approved of the cuter version of the name. Their next child which Rory was in no hurry for (she still hurt in some sensitive areas) would be named after her mother whether a boy or girl.

He reached out and touched her downy head and whispered, "You're beautiful."

Rory wasn't sure if he meant her or their daughter, but it didn't matter. After the ordeal with Cole not drinking, Rory worried about infertility. So once again she changed up their plans. Sam was a willing participant, and she conceived the first month. Sam had already decided five years was enough for traveling around the country for six months. His last footage had aired. He was open to doing smaller projects for the network.

Rory thought each segment was just as good as ever. Sam claimed it was harder to get the kids to open up. "I'm not a kid like them anymore."

If someone looked up Sam Keller on Wikipedia, he would be listed as a sports photographer, videographer, artist, award-winning photographer, author. Rory would add husband and father. He had a filmology, and a reference to his award-winning exhibition 'Death'. His next series was to be entitled 'Life' and featured her entire pregnancy including some artfully edited birthing shots. It was a good thing she loved him and he put the damn camera down when she needed him. With the completion of his coffee table book on diners, he was looking for a new project, but he wasn't interested in traveling the way he had. He would take assignments that only took him away for a day or two and not week after week. Sam would always keep busy even if it was taking shots of high school sporting events for the local paper.

His next assignment was the most important, he planned to be a stay at home dad when Rory returned to work. She had a thriving practice which she loved. Rory remembered the years Jack took care of her and Emma on his own. Sam wouldn't be alone.

Rory rubbed Lindy's bottom and smiled. She felt like a little ball. She'd have to keep her away from Ryan and Will.

Cole picked up Seb and walked over to them. "Can she breathe in there?"

Sam patted his back. "She's fine. Can you breathe? Relax or Seb will be a type A psycho like you."

Anna snickered, and Keira rolled her eyes. She had graduated and was enjoying her niece and nephew. Rory saw a group of teens walking their way with Emma in the middle. Jack had relaxed over the years. He had been married to Maddie longer than Nicole. They had just celebrated Emma's birthday, and Jack and Rory took a quiet walk on the beach to remember and honor her mother together. Rory was glad Lindy came a week before.