Oceanside

Epilogue: Chapter 48

Two years later

Odette

The smell of seasoned meat flowed from the grill and into the house as I opened the back door. I held one of the French doors open wide so Natalie could walk through it.

She balanced the cups full of iced drinks in one hand while the other held on to the pitcher. When she was through I let the door close behind us, walking straight to the table under the porch to put down the salad bowl.

I peeked over at Silas, smiling when I caught him looking at me. He was standing next to Trey by the grill, flipping steaks while Trey cut up vegetables to put in next. His lips pulled up before he had to look back to the food.

"I swear I can't stand that smell," Natalie scrunched up her nose.

I laughed. "I know how you feel." I started placing napkins around the table with her following behind with silverware. "I was practically vegan before."

As I passed Serena she bounced in her highchair, giggling with her teething ring in her mouth. I leaned down to press a quick kiss to her cheek making her squeal. The sound always made my chest burst with happiness.

Happy babies always brought smiles to everyone's face but when it was my daughter I was ten times happier.

Serena was ten months old and looked like a perfect mix of Silas and I. She had dark brown hair with blue eyes. She definitely had my nose but I could already tell she got Silas's hands.

Despite her being a happy and relatively unfussy baby my pregnancy wasn't easy. I was unbelievably thrilled when I found out I was pregnant, but not as excited as Silas. I had never seen a man that big jump and down like a kid until then. He was on a high for weeks, then my symptoms kicked in.

I couldn't eat meat without vomiting, or smell it for that matter. I had constant headaches and would have dizzy spells. It wasn't until I went to the doctor that I found out my blood pressure was abnormally high.

For the rest of my pregnancy I tried to stay as stress free as possible, with additional medication. Unfortunately I found out I was pregnant not two months after Silas and I decided to move. Silas did most of the work and we managed to set everything up before Serena came.

Since then things had been wonderful. Silas was a dream with her. He always jumped in to help whenever I needed him. Whether it be with the baby or me he was right there. He constantly picked her up to rock her or carry her around. He was going to spoil her to death I just knew it. I kept having to remind myself when I saw him smiling down at her that I wasn't ready for another one.

"That sounds like a good idea." She eyed the salad. "I'm not sure I'd want to vomit here. I'd never get over that embarrassment." She laughed a little.

I laughed with her. "As long as it's in the grass or toilet I won't hold it against you."

She smiled and sat down at the table. I sat across from her, right next to my daughters chair.

Natalie herself was four months pregnant with her first. They were due to find out the gender at their next doctors visit but she swore up and down they were having a boy. Her usual red hair had her naturally brunette roots peeking out. It was a little longer and in a constant ponytail these days.

While the boys talked by the grill I took time to speak with Natalie about her baby shower. It was still a couple months away but her mother wanted to invite a long list of women. We were trying to figure out how to cut the list in secret.

I suggested just telling her mother but Natalie laughed. Apparently her mother wasn't good at listening to others, or letting go of the reigns. If she wanted it one way, it would be. So we discussed how to twist it in Natalies favor.