In Your Arms

Chapter 1

The sound of my phone vibrating rips me out of sleep.

I yawn, rolling over, reaching for my husband.

The bed is cold.

I rub my eyes, grabbing my phone off the nightstand.

Cuddlebug: hi

I stare at his message, looking at the time.

10:02AM

Cuddlebug: are you awake

I bite my lip.

Cuddlebug: because you're my baby and I love you and I kinda want you to wake up so I can look into your eyes and whisper into your ear

I smile.

I guess I'm getting up then.

I pull myself out of bed and wander to the bathroom, brushing my teeth.

I leave my hair a nest and wander downstairs, holding my phone in my hand.

I hear giggling.

"Hey! You let me win!" A soft child voice whines.

"I didn't!" Shane says.

"That's not fair Daddy! Play fair!"

I wander into the kitchen.

Shane is sitting at the table with our four year old, Owen. They're playing candy land.

"I didn't let you win, Owen." Shane says, smiling.

I walk over to the table. Shane's back is to me. I lean down, wrapping my arms around his neck from behind, kissing his cheek.

He stands up, turning to me.

"Good morning." He kisses me. "You're beautiful."

I smile.

"Morning. I love you."

"I love you too." He smiles.

"Hi Mommy." Owen gives me a toothy grin.

I smile.

"Hi baby." I kiss his head. "What's happening here?" I smile.

There's Cheerios all over the table, and jelly. I love mornings like this.

"Can we go now?" He asks, looking between Shane and I. "You said last night that we can leave when we're all awake!"

"Mommy needs to eat breakfast first. We need to bathe and get dressed, and clean the table." Shane says. "And Mommy needs to get ready too."

"I'll go get dressed right now!" Owen says.

"Not so fast, little one." I say. He looks at me. "You have to help Daddy clean up." I remind him.

"Oh yeah." He says. He's scurries up back into his chair. I get a grocery bag and hand it to Shane.

Owen is excited because it's July first and we're driving to California to spend it with our family.

He's just excited to see everybody. He's been talking about it for weeks.

So I make myself eggs and bacon. They clean up their mess, and after I eat I clean up mine and go upstairs.

Shane is in our bedroom.

"Where's Owen?" I ask.

"Bathroom." He says. He turns to me fully, and he kisses me wildly, frantically.