Perfection

Epilogue

Alexia
Three Years Later

I pressed a light kiss onto my wife's bare shoulder. She were still sound asleep and I was glad. Last night was long and we didn't arrive home until it was already into the late hours of the night. She needed all the sleep she could get anyway.

I slipped out of bed and pulled my half of the sheet and comforter up. I left our bedroom, but not before passing our wedding photo. God, she was so beautiful. She still is.

After Barcelona's Champions League win three years ago, Sam and I planned a wedding ceremony. We wanted our friends and family to be in attendance for something so beautiful. We got married at Castell de Tamarit. We shared our vows in front of our family and the Mediterranean Sea. We walked through the gardens in the middle of the night when no one was around. One of the best days of my life.

I peeked into my daughter's room. She was already awake and reading something. Nala was asleep at the end of her bed. Riley had grown a few years older and wiser. She took to reading a few months ago and hasn't been able to put a book down.

"Buenos días, Princesa." I whispered.

"Hola." She kept her eyes on her book. I walked into her room and sat next to her. She shut her book for a moment. "Ingrid told me about it."

"She has good taste. It's a good one." I kissed the side of her head.

"You've read it?"

"Sí. Believe it or not, I read. I don't have the time I wish I had though." I sighed. "How was your day yesterday?" She shrugged. "You know we wished you were with us."

"It's okay. I get it."

"Hey," I pulled the hairband off my wrist and pushed her hair into a ponytail. "We didn't want you to get overwhelmed there. Those events are loco."

"Crazy, right?"

"Sí." I smiled. "We were worried about you."

"You worry too much."

"I have good reason to worry. But I promise to relax some. The season is at its break now and at the perfect time to, no?"

"Momma?" She laid her bookmark down and closed her book. "I have a question."

"What is it, mi amor?"

"Will you love me as much as the baby?"

"Of course I will." I laughed at her question internally. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I—I don't know. I'm not...yours. Not like the baby."

"Riley," I moved my head to look her in the eye. "Do you remember when you drew this?" I held out my arm, showing the tattoo I got a few years ago. "I got it so when I leave, I have something to look at when I'm not with you. You have been one of my greatest gifts. I love you." I pulled her into me.

"I love you too."

"Come on," I kissed her head. "Let's go make Mommy something before she wakes up."

The two of us walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Riley let Nala outside while I put together a bowl of cereal together. I slid it to my daughter when she sat down at the kitchen island. She ate while I made my wife breakfast. This was a weekend routine that had become normal. I loved it. It was easy. Simple. Light.

"What do you want for your birthday?"

"Mmm. I don't know."

"You do know." I smirked. "Spit it out."