~Stevie~
"Oh, my goodness." I let out a gasp lightly, staring down into the two little blue eyes that are taking in the unfamiliar world around him. "Hi..." My eyes scan over his face, admiring that little button nose and those chunky cheeks.
"Isn't he so sweet?" Candace is sitting up in bed, watching me cradle her new baby.
"He's pretty cool." Lindsey is right next to me, not daring enough to hold his new grandson quite yet... he said that they make him nervous when they're that little.
I chuckle, reaching out with one hand to take hers. "He's very sweet, honey." I assure, giving her the softest wink.
Mason smiles in return, having been the doting father already. He's proud- I can tell by the look in his eyes and it warms my heart... I'm sure it does the same to his father.
"We were wondering..." he lingers, looking from his wife, back to me. "Since dad will be grandpa and..." he trails off for a moment, and we all know what he's hinting at. "Can we call you grandma?" He chuckles, eyes meeting mine from across the room.
He looks so much like Lindsey- it's crazy. He has the big blue eyes, the little dimples when he smiles and those curls... It's like Lindsey cloned his two sons.
"Oh..." my heart sinks as the tears begin to fill the brims of my eyes. "I would really love that..." I whisper as I look back down at the five pound baby in my arms.
Of course, I'm not here to take Jenny's place- ever. However, since she passed a couple of months ago, I've become a lot closer to her two sons. And not in a way that I'm trying to be their mother, but instead in a way that I want to be their friend.
Like we go out to dinner every Friday night with all of the kids- his and mine, which was a transition smoother than you'd expect... They all get along perfectly- they laugh, they joke, they even hang out when Lindsey and I aren't around and that means the world to us.
It makes us feel like we're doing something right in this crazy world. We're not letting them down and hopefully we aren't letting our spouses down either...
I don't really know, but right now, the only thing I'm certain of is that I'm happy... I'm the happiest I've been in a long, long time.
I forgot what it was like to be swept off your feet and in love- the kind of love that make you want to get up in the morning and sleep better at night. It's a safe, warm, devoting and relaxing love.... Something I don't think I've ever had until now.
"Did you see those cheeks?" With his hand in mine, i trail next to him as we head for the car.
He chuckles, nodding softly. "I did," he's excited- I know he is, but he has a funny way of showing it.
"Isn't that magical?" I think it is- I did with my other two grandchildren as well.
He grins, kissing the side of my head and listening to me ramble on about the baby all the way to the car.
He's good at that. He listens... most of the time.
~Lindsey~
"Honey?" Her sweet voice lingers down the hallway as the sound of her feet quickly hitting the hardwood floor follows.
She's been locked away in her office- sitting in the swivel chair that no one can pry her from as she types like a mad woman... She's been working like crazy for the last coupe of days and honestly, I can tell that it makes her feel better.
"I'm in here." I announce, still sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee and watching the evening news... right where she left me a couple of hours ago.
With a smirk on her face, she tip toes into the room. "Guess what?" She's carrying two glasses in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other.
I can't help but smile, arm draped over the back of the couch as I watch her intently. She's so beautiful. "Hm?" I raise a brow playfully, trying to pretend like I don't know just so she'll tell me.
With a soft giggle, she bends down in front of me, eyes meeting mine. "I finished..." she whispers, even though an excited little squeal comes immediately after.
I chuckle, reaching out to pull her in. "That's amazing." I wait for her to turn around, taking a seat on my leg comfortably. "Congratulations, beautiful woman." I add, watching as she cracks the seal of the wine.
"Thank you..." her voice is soft as she hands me a glass, pouring another before she leans back into me. "You have inspired me." She lingers in a low, very gentle tone of voice.
I look at her side profile, falling in love with her for the tenth time in months. "Have I inspired you enough to get married?" I ask, stretching and I know that.
She creases a brow, that little smirk still plastered to her face. "You want to marry me?" She says that like it's crazy and honestly, it might be, but nothing feels more right.
Staring into my favorite set of brown eyes, I nod. "I know that I'm madly in love with you..." I tell her, gently swiping some of the curls back behind her ear so I can look at her a little better. "And this feels so good- this life, with you." I clarify, eyes scanning over her face.
"You won't get tired of me?" She's teasing as she leans in closer, forehead meeting mine.
"Never." That's a promise.
She pauses for a moment, looking deep into my eyes before she replied. "I believe you..." she assures, one hand meeting my cheek. "And I want to marry you, too."
~The End~
