Introvert

30

Epilogue

The girl's toes barely touched the still lake water as she sat on the edge of the dock. Her eyes watched the evening sun set over the trees and water. The sound of the slight wind tickled her ears as well as sending a shiver down her bare arms. "Mommy!" Dylan's son called out to her. 

She looked over her shoulder to see the six-year-old running over to her whilst carrying a few branches. "Hey Reecey, did you get enough?" Reece nodded his head towards his mom as he held up the branches they would use for the fire. "I helped Daddy carry them cause I'm strong." A slight chuckle left the mother's lips as she stood from her seated position. Lifting the boy up in a way not to be hit by branches, she looked over to the house's backyard where her four-year-old daughter walked carefully with her own handful of sticks. Following behind her was Austin. 

The girl walked off of the wooden dock and onto the dirt and grass. Her arms let go of her son, but her hands now held the branches he once held. "Go inside with Stevie and wash your hands." The boy nodded.

"C'mon Stevie!" Dylan watched as the two Porter children ran into the house. She couldn't help but laugh at their adorableness. 

The girl looked over at her husband, "Do we actually have enough wood for smores?"

A grin curled at his lips as he shook his head, "Nope not at all. Unfortunately, your children have very small hands and are not able to hold enough sticks." Austin's arms wrapped around his wife's torso while her arms fell around his neck. 

"You helped create them," Mrs. Porter argued back. The boy pressed his forehead to hers. His lips hovering over her own lips. "That I did." And with that, their lips were attached, but only for a few seconds as the sound of the sliding glass door pulled them away. Reece and Stevie walked together to the fire pit, carrying the ingredients for the smores. "We better make the fire," Dylan whispered.

"That be a good idea," Austin whispered back. The two walked hand in hand over to their kids ready to make a mess of marshmallows and chocolate.

~

By the time the stars had cascaded over the night sky, Dylan was exhausted. She quietly closed the door of the house that led to the backyard. Heading over to where her husband sat, she expected to sit in her own chair around the fire. Instead, she was pulled into his lap. 

"I finally got Stevie to sleep," She whispered to Porter. Her eye watched the dying fire dance in its pit. "I swear you are better at getting her to bed than me." The girl turned to look at him over her shoulder. His eyes were already on her. 

"It just means that you are more exciting than me." He smiled at Dylan. She leaned her head against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. 

"I guess so," She took in a breath as she paused. Her eyes fluttered shut, "I love you, Porter."

Austin's lips pressed against the top of her head, "I love you too, Dylpickle."

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The End