Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 64~

~Raelyn~

~May 12th 2024~

The past 5 months have been nothing short of a whirlwind of love, laughter, and the sweet chaos that comes with a growing family. For us, life has settled into a beautiful rhythm with baby Aspen at the center of our world. Aspen, with her infectious giggles and wide-eyed wonder, has been exploring every inch of her world, her tiny fingers grasping at the edges of the coffee table to pull herself up. Each wobbly step she takes around it is a victory, a moment that we treasure deeply.

Blake, with the wisdom and patience only a big brother can have, has taken his role seriously. He's there, guiding Aspen small hands, showing her how to balance and step forward. His encouragement is as steady as his presence, and my heart swells watching them together.

The intrusion 6 months ago is now a distant memory, one that prompted Colby and I to fortify our home, not just with gates and surveillance, but with an unspoken promise to protect our little ones with every fiber of our being. The new security measures stand as silent sentinels, allowing us to focus on the moments that matter most.

The wedding planning has also been in full force. We decided that the wedding would be in June of this year.

Me and Isa found the perfect venue, it's out in the middle of the woods giving it the perfect twilight wedding vibe.

Sam, Jake, and Corey were on the catering. The food would be in Italian chicken Alfredo chicken Parmesan chicken Brian and of course Devyn's iconic bestest of sandwiches. And as a side we'll have a salad bar with any toppings you can imagine.

Katrina, Devyn, and Tara were on the decoration aspect. The decor would be ethereal with a lots of green and vines. Leaves would scatter the place as well would the many gold accents.

Colby and I have been overseeing everything and all of it was coming into place perfectly. Colby's and the groomsmen's suites had been delivered after the last fitting. Everything about the wedding was going smoothly but then came the biggest dilemma.

Who am I going to be inviting?

I want my mom here, and I want Colby's family here too. Colby's mom is over the moon about us getting married. She absolutely adores Aspen as much as his siblings do. I was just worried about Colby's dad, he loathes me and my daughter with a passion. We've concluded to exclude him from the event for Aspen's safety. We would be going dress shopping soon to find my dream dress for our special day.

~

We often find ourselves in quiet conversation after the children have been tucked in, reflecting on the journey so far. Colby's arms around me, my head resting against his chest, both watching over our children with hearts full of gratitude. It's been a time of profound connection, a testament to the strength of their bond and the love that envelops our little family. It's been 5 months of sweet, heartwarming life, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

~

As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, I stirred beside Colby, the familiar and comforting aroma of bacon and pancakes wafting up from downstairs. "Morning, love," Colby's voice was soft and husky, his words a gentle caress against my ear.

"Morning," I whispered back, a smile curving my lips as we lingered in the warmth of our bed for just a moment longer. But reality awaited, along with our little ones and their needs. With a shared look of understanding, we donned our battle armor—sweatpants and hoodies—the perfect gear for a day likely to be decorated with spit-up courtesy of our little Aspen.

I padded softly to the nursery, where Aspen's little coos quickly turned to fusses, her gums surely aching from new teeth trying to break through. "Shh, it's okay, sweetie," I soothed, lifting her gently from the crib and into my arms.

Meanwhile, Colby's laughter mingled with Blake's excited chatter as they made their way downstairs, the sound of their footsteps a familiar rhythm in the early morning quiet. "Come on, buddy, let's go see what Sam and the gang have whipped up for breakfast," Colby encouraged.

"Is everything alright up there, Rae?" Colby's voice floated up the stairs, tinged with a hint of worry.

"Yeah, all good!" I called back, though Aspens cries were reaching a crescendo. In moments like these, I found solace in the melody I had composed during those months of anticipation, the song for our miracle baby. As I hummed "Miracle Baby," Aspen's cries began to soften, her little body relaxing against mine.

"You're doing so well, Aspen," I whispered, relief washing over me as I changed her into the adorable ladybug onesie, complete with a matching headband adorned with an oversized bow. She looked precious, and I couldn't help but plant a gentle kiss on her forehead and take a picture or two.

As I descended the stairs with Aspen's cries punctuating each step, I hoped the fussing would cease. Aspen had been soothed momentarily, but it seemed the teething pains were persistent. Aspen wriggled in my grip, signaling my need for haste.

Isa was already helping Katrina with the table, while Jake and Tara were playfully arguing about who made better pancakes.