It's Not That Easy

Epilogue

The love of family and ... friends is much more important than wealth and privilege - Charles Kuralt

Epilogue

"How are you feeling?" I ask Addyson as she stands in front of the bathroom mirror checking the fit of her suit. A pile of swimsuit non-contenders were in a heep beside her hand, and the frustration on her face told me I shouldn't have asked.

"I'm fine." She blows a puff of air that moves across the curls that have escaped her bun and hanging near her eyes. "I'm just too fat to wear these." She picks up the pile and I watch as the suit parts fall back into a messy hump.

"Oh, god. Mo Ghra, I love my job." She laughs as her eyes meet mine in the mirror. I move across the room to stand behind her, watching her smile back at me. "You are so beautiful." I lay a kiss on the crown of her head, and then dip to her shoulder before catching her gaze through the mirror. My hands travel across her cheeks, following the pink that I am still able to bring to her face.

The back of my hand follows the outline of her shoulders and down her arms. "Is this where you're feeling fat?" She shakes her head.

My hands snake under her arms and up to her breasts and I enjoy a moment of play, paying special attention to the newly formed pebbles. "How about here?" Another shake.

My hands journey down and caress the tiny bulge of her abdomen. "I know this is not where you are feeling fat, because this is the most wonderful gift we could ask for." Her eyes are no longer on me but on my hands as I touch our baby bump. "I love you," my lips whisper on her neck.

She moves so I could stand in front of her, but instead of a hug and kiss which usually follows a few minutes of encouragement, I fall to me knees. My hands are on each side of her small baby bump, and I place a few small kisses. Addyson's face shows nothing but love for me, as I begin to talk to our baby.

"Are you causing your momma a little grief, already?" I run circles below her belly button. "She sometimes forgets just how beautiful she is to me, and you causing problems isn't helpful. Don't make me have to come back down here and have this talk with you again." I try to sound stern, but I'm smiling through my words.

"You're impossible," she laughs at me, and I pull her into my arms for the hug and a few kisses she missed earlier.

"Yeah, probably so, but think of it like this. You know that little glow I like to put on your face...thanks to our little blessing, I get to see it for another 24 weeks non-stop." I waggle my eyes and she swats at my arm. "Hurry up, they should start arriving any minute."

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Joel, Helen, and Leta are hanging out in the kitchen keeping my fair-skinned wife company, as I wrangle the other guests outside by the pool. This is always a fun weekend, the first days that we open the pool for the summer. We haven't told anyone about the bundle of joy Addyson is growing, but this is as good a time as any to share.

"Cannonball!!!" Elliot yells as the pool practically clears out. With a huge splash Elliot comes up laughing. Holden like always just shakes his head at the "dufus" brother.

We're still missing a few more guests, and then Addyson will join me by the pool. She thought as long as she was busy inside she would not be tempted to strip down to get in the water, and we could keep the secret until we had everyone here.

Holden holds his finger out for a two-year-old carbon copy of himself, while he watches Evan, Peyton, and Daniel follow Elliot's lead in cannonballs. Nate doesn't join them, because after 10 years of being chased by Chloe he now wants to get caught. The moment she peeled off her cover-up, he was there shielding her body from his brothers' view.

I heard him mumble a few times, "That shit's not funny," when they would coo at her and tell her how pretty she looked. I swear he looks at her like I look at Addyson. At least he figured it out earlier than I did.

Mason has taken over the grill, but he's not alone. He has his two little 'mini-me's helping him, and of course Coach is there to give him some pointers.

There's a small tug on my leg and I look down to, "I want my Daddy," a dark haired, dark eyed little heart stopper says.

"He's inside with Addyson. Do you want me to go with you?" I ask.

"Uhh, huh," and she takes my hand and proceeds to take me inside the house to find Joel.

My mom and dad make it through the French doors, and I give them a quick hello and a kiss for mom, before I walk inside. When the sound of Joel's laugh echoes from the kitchen to the living room, I'm forgotten by his little sweetie.

"Nice crowd," Cooper says as he surveys the guests.

"Yes, sir. We were just waiting for you guys, now the fun can begin." He laughs and gives me a man tap, and I reach down to kiss Ms. Emily on the temple.

A flash of brown curly hair runs through the house with a squeal, "Daddy?!?!" I barely have a chance to brace myself before four-year-old Mary Celeste jumps in my arms. "Daddy, Momma said you would take me swimmin' if I was good for Mimi and Pops. I was." She looks at me with her mother's pale green eyes, and then turns her head toward Emily and Cooper and they both agree with her.

From the other side of the room I watch Joel carrying his little one, holding a beach towel. Helen, Leta, and now Jillian follow him talking about who knows what; and my sweet precious wife, holding our cuddly blonde little boy, walks up to me.

"Are you ready for this?" She asks as she offers her hand.

"Yes, I am," I tell her and our little family of four walks into the backyard together.

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A/N: This story has one more chapter. I honored a request that was made by some of my readers -- I published a list of songs that either inspired my writing, or were referred to in this story. Please check out the list, offer any suggestions for songs I've missed. I'm always curious to what other people are listening to.

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This book is one in a series of related characters, so check out my other books:

Like That: The story that started it all. Emily, a mother of two, moves home to find support after a family tragedy, and find more than she bargained for...new love.

The next two stories overlap with It's Not That Easy's timeline.

His One Request: Mason's story - complete. Emily's oldest son Mason, now an adult, working for his grandfather, moves to take care of his sister, but finds a new love in an old friend.

To Protect and Serve: Holden's story - complete. Emily's nephew, Holden, fights only himself as he tries to balance his love for a girl with his need to protect her.