He pulled away instantly and kicked her out. Then he stomped over to me and held my face in his hands.
"I swear, I get so jealous of our children! Don't you get it? I fucking love you, Caroline, and you only care about them. What the hell do I have to do to get a simple reaction? A bit of jealousy?"
"It's not that I don't love you, River," I sighed, his eyes widening, "I just don't really get affectionate with people. I love my babies because I'm their mother. Don't you think it would be weird if I was all clingy with you?"
"No. Hell, I wish you were like those annoying girlfriends. I wish you were as crazy about me as I am about you. I just want to make you happy, and you won't let me. You let the kids do it."
"Don't worry. I'll make it up to you tonight. I promise," I pecked his cheek and scooped Isaac into my arms, "But Isaac has to study for the math quiz I'm giving him on Wednesday, isn't that right?"
"Yes, Momma," he said and hugged me.
Isaac was seven, Griffin was six, Xander was three, and Emmy was just learning how to crawl at the age of one. They were all my little angels, and I suddenly didn't mind being kidnapped anymore.
That night I pulled River close and told him something.
"Thank you. Thank you for my children. Thank you for everything, River."
"I see. You're finally as messed up as I am."
"Yes."
And we fell asleep.
YOU ARE READING
To Keep Alive
RomanceCaroline Erickson was a tiny, quiet, woman who worked at the St. Peter Local Library. She hasn't had any excitement in her life and on her twenty-third birthday wishes for something impossibly dramatic to happen to her. You know what they say, be ca...
