Close As Lovers

Twenty-Seven.

Song: I Love You This Big- Scotty McCreery

"Good morning, sweetheart. I made you guys breakfast!" Daniel greeted, motioning for us to grab a plate. He and Samantha had prepared a huge breakfast. Pancakes, sausage, waffles, bacon-- any breakfast food you could think of-- sat on their island like a buffet. My siblings and Samantha were already sitting at the table enjoying the food. She smiled at Wes and I before helping my baby sister. Daniel stood in front of the stove finishing up some eggs.

I raised my eyebrows. "You know how to cook?"

"I do," Daniel smiled softly, his eyes crinkling. "Sam's parents never taught her, and I knew a little bit about cooking from your mother, so I started using what she had taught me to cook."

I started piling food on my plate as Daniel continued to cook. While I was throwing some strawberries on my plate, Wes walked over to Daniel, whispering something to him, and Daniel grinned from ear to ear as he nodded. Wes grabbed a plate and began putting food on it, and I bumped his arm with my elbow. "What was that about?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Wes winked before pressing a gentle kiss against my cheek and leaning by my ear. "Besides, you'll find out later."

Wes and I finished putting food on our plates, and then we joined the rest of the family at the table. Samantha glanced at my plate and giggled as she smiled brightly at me. "I was the same way when I was pregnant. Food was my best friend."

"Well, she definitely loves to eat, just like her daddy."

Wes rolled his eyes as he continued shoveling food into his mouth, and Samantha and I laughed as I rubbed my swollen belly. As everyone returned to eating, I glanced around the table, a small smile spreading across my lips as I realized that there was nothing I had enjoyed more than that moment. It was nice to finally be able to sit at the dining table with a full family, and even though I wished mom and David were there, I couldn't deny that it was nice to spend time with Daniel and the other half of my family. And when Wes rested his hand over mine that was rubbing my swollen belly with our soon to be born daughter, happiness washed over the entirety of me. I was finally genuinely happy.

Once we finished breakfast, I spent half the day with my siblings and Daniel out in the backyard. Nicolette and I drew on the open deck with chalk, Brylee and I debated who was the hotter guy on Gossip Girl-- we fought to death about Chuck, Nate, and Louis-- and the boys and I practiced baseball. I pitched them the ball, and they hit it.

To end the afternoon, Daniel and I sat in the lounge chairs on the back porch, watching my siblings and talking about life since he left. We talked about mom, David, California, school-- anything and everything. It was nice being able to talk to him and not fighting for once, but it only made me realize how little time I had left with him. For once in a long time, sadness washed over me when I thought about my father. When I finally had him back in my life, he was only going to be leaving again, and not because of anything either of us had done, but simply because his time was coming all too soon.

Once Daniel led the kids back inside, I walked up to my room and hopped in the shower. I had received a text from Wes telling me to be ready by five, so I quickly dried off, changed off into a yellow sundress and sandals, and clipped pieces of my hair back. I looked out the window of our room, watching the trees silently swaying in the wind, and then two arms wrapped around my waist, resting their hands on my swollen belly.

"Wesley Grayson, don't you know better than to sneak up on pregnant ladies?" I teased, placing my hands over his, and he chuckled as he pressed a soft kiss against my temple.

"I couldn't resist such a beautiful woman," He left butterfly kisses against my neck and I closed my eyes, smiling. "And I'll never get over the feeling of our baby girl that you're carrying. It's amazing."