It was hot day and everyone was definitely feeling the heat. We were all suffering in this heatwave. Scott and I were lying and bed, feeling our fan blow nothing but hot air in our direction. "It's...it's so hot." I whined. I could feel the sweat on my body.
"We should go to the pool or something." Scott suggested. That sounded like a great idea. Out in the heat and in the water would be great.
"I'll go tell everyone else." I got up from the bed and saw that my sweat was on the bed. I walked down the hallway to the living room. I opened door and saw Mitch and the kids sat on the couch sweating whilst watching TV.
"Hi, Mitch." I tiredly waved. He waved back. I could see all of them sweating. Swimming would definitely help all of us.
I walked over to Alex and John and crouched down to them. "Hey buddies, do you want to go swimming today?" I asked my two sons. Alex was one year older than John. We adopted them two years after Scott and I got married. They were already brothers and we couldn't break them up. Alex was two and John was still a baby when we adopted them.
"Really, papa?" Alex asked in a excited tone. His reaction made my heart feel warm.
"Why don't you and your brother go get ready?" I ruffled his hair and he and his brother got up and ran to their room. I got up and smiled. "Mitch we're going swimming, you can come if you want." I informed him and he smiled.
"I'll go get ready." He got off the couch and went to his room. My friendship with Mitch had become better and better over the years, he was almost like a little brother to me.
I walked back to my bedroom and Scott was still sweating on the bed. "I told the boys." I informed him and he smiled at me.
"Help me up?" He asked as he outstretched his hand. I held his hand and helped him up. He got up and smiled at me. He still held my hand and kissed me. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." I responded. I looked at the ring on my finger and looked back at him and smiled wider. "Let's go get ready."
After an hour, everyone was ready to go to the pool. We all got into the car and drove to the pool. Everyone was still sweating like crazy but we were all so excited.
Surprisingly, hardly anyone was at the pool. We all got out of the car and went to the pool. I held John's hand and Scott held Alex's. "So, who's going to bring the little ones into the pool?" Mitch asked. Scott and I looked at each other and I pushed him into the pool. We all began to laugh, even the kids. He got back up to surface and playfully glared at me. "I'll get you for that, Avi." He laughed. "You're so lucky I have a waterproof case on my phone."
Mitch swam to the shallow end of the pool and I passed John to him and then Alex. Soon after, Scott and I went into the pool. I felt so cool once I entered the pool. I felt so satisfied. Scott swam over to the boys and began to play with them. I swam to the side and focused on cooling myself down.
I watched the man I love playing with the kids I loved along with someone I've grown fond of. My family. The people I have grown with. The past we all share is rocky but we've smoothed out our present and future.
I still remember our wedding. That beautiful service we had outdoors. It was all I could've dreamed for. It was a small service but still beautiful.
I remember the day when we brought John and Alex home. The day I held John in my arms for the first time. He smiled as soon as he looked at me.
I looked over at my family and smiled. Mitch swam over to me. "Look at this picture I just took." He brought out his phone and showed me the picture.
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My heart softened as I looked at the photo. The photo was so precious and made me feel so lucky to have those 3 in my life. "It's so adorable." I could hear myself get emotional.
I swam over them and joined in with what they were doing.
I felt so lucky. Lucky that I could have this experience. Lucky to have a friend like Mitch. Lucky to have such wonderful children. Especially lucky to have a husband like Scott. If he hadn't of found me that one night four years ago, who knows where I would've been. I could've been a drunk and drugged up mess. I could've been a lonely mad man. I could've been dead.
But I wasn't.
I was living a life that I had always strived for. Getting to it wasn't great but now that I have it, I'm enjoying every bit of it. I was comfortable.
I know my parents are watching me and are feeling so proud. And if I didn't believe it, Scott definitely reassured me. He would always help me when I felt low or dwelled on negative experiences I had experienced in the past.
