Falling In Love: Of All The Dumb Luck (On Hold)

Chapter 34

Kelsea:

The sun shined over the backyard. It was a warm spring afternoon, laughter filled the air.

"I'm gonna get you." Jared said, chasing Michelangelo and Aurora. They ran circles around the swing set and the play house.

I placed my hand on my belly, thinking, I've finally have everything I've ever wanted. Two and a half kids and my loving husband.

Michelangelo just turned four years old the week before. And Aurora Estrella Amaro Avery was born almost two years ago, ten seconds into the new year. Six pounds, eight ounces, seventeen inches long. She was tiny, but that didn't stop her.

"Mommy, mommy come play with us." Aurora calls from under the slide.

"When mommy's done with her meeting."

Mateo was sitting next to me with his notebook in front of him. He was as distracted as I was. Who could ever withstand the cuteness of a father spending time with his kids.

"I know you said you wanted to take some time off, to finish the book your working on, and the baby." He said, pointing to my bulging belly. "Which may just work out perfectly. If you get the final draft to me before the baby is born, we should be able to have it published by the time you come back. Maybe a book tour?" He looked to me for a possible answer.

"I said, we'd see." I scolded him.

"Okay. Okay. I had to try." He stood and picked up his notebook, and I stood with him.

"I'll see you at the barbecue on Friday."

"At least you agreed to that." He said, shutting the screen door behind him.

I pressed my hand to my belly, and stared back out at Jared trying to get himself unstuck from the top of the swing set where you go down the slide.

"Mommy. Daddy stuck." Aurora giggled as Jared continued to struggle.

"He looks silly mommy." Michelangelo laughs from the swing.

I lean against the play house. "Do you need some help?"

"No. I've got this. I'll be out in no time."

"Okay. Mikey, Aurora, do you guys want to come help mommy make dinner."

"Yay!" Aurora cheered.

"Coming." Mikey called out. He pumped his legs once more. He had that look in his eyes.

"Michelangelo Jaxon Amaro Avery. Don't you dare jump off that swing." I gave him a serious look.

"Okay, mommy." He waited for the swing to slow and dragged his sneaker across the worn dirt.

Aurora was holding onto my left hand and Mikey sauntered over and took my right.

I was only about five months along, but I decided to take off from book signings and readings to finish my fourth book and prepare for the baby. After the baby arrived, I was going back after another few months.

The kids helped me get the pans from the lower cabinets were I couldn't reach at the time.

Every once in a while, I'd glance out the window that overlooked the yard, and watched Jared struggle. I put Aurora in her highchair and helped Mikey into his chair.

After the kids helped set the table, i decided to go check on Jared's progress. "Stay here you guys. I'll be right back."

Back out at the swing set, Jared is twisting and turning, trying to get out of the tight space.