A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~thirty-four~

Chapter 34

I wake up long before the alarm is set to go off. I toss and turn in an effort to get some more rest but sleep eludes me. I shouldn't be this wide awake before 5 a.m. after all of last night's festivities: The surprise wedding, the celebration, the dancing, the slow, tender lovemaking. I should be comatose. But after accepting that I'm not going back to sleep anytime soon, I quietly ease myself out of bed, making sure I don't disturb Tobias and slip on my robe. Even though I hear nothing through the baby monitor, I check on Tessa anyway. I find her sleeping soundly in the middle of her crib. Not having anything else to do, I decide to take a long, hot, pampering shower, which has become a rare luxury for me since I became a mom. I turn on the water to the perfect temperature, hang my robe behind the bathroom door then step inside the shower. I exfoliate every inch of my body with my loofah sponge then use my new luxurious coconut oil body wash I got at an Amity booth at the farmer's market a couple weeks ago. It eliminates the need for lotion right after my shower. I can feel the difference in the texture of my skin as I'm drying myself off after a single use. I hope they have more the next time we go to the market. I'd like to keep this on hand.

I slip my robe back on and go into my bedroom to get dressed. I'm surprised to find Tobias still asleep. I contemplate waking him up for a little fun but he must be exhausted from yesterday because I hear his light snoring. When I head for the dresser, I nearly trip over my new shoes, which are lying in the middle of the floor in between my side of the bed and the wall and I blush. In our haste to make love last night, I left my shoes on ... again. What is it about shoes that turn him on so?I don't think I'll ever quite understand but then again, Tobias in the kitchen does strange things to my libido. I smile to myself thinking about seducing him in the kitchen wearing nothing but a pair of sexy shoes. I'm confident we'd both love that.

I pick up the shoes after putting on a matching dark gray breastfeeding bra and boy shorts and put them in my closet with my other heels. I dress in typical training gear then pick up all our discarded clothes from around the room. I put everything except for the dress in the hamper. I hang it up on the inside of the closet door with my other items that need dry cleaned. I decide to check on Tessa and this time find her awake and a bit grouchy.

"Good morning, little one," I say as I pick her up. "Let's get you out of this wet diaper." I put her sleeper in her dirty clothes basket and change her into a dry diaper then sit down to nurse her. "There, is that better? Now let's get your tummy full." She easily latches on and suckles eagerly. "Do you know you were the prettiest flower girl ever last night? Will and Christina were very lucky to have you in their wedding but I'll let you in on a little secret, Mommy and Daddy are lucky to have you every single day. Yes, we are. You're such a precious gift, my sweet girl. I'll never let you forget that. I love you, Tessa Beatrice." She releases my nipple and coos at me. "Did you just tell me that you love me, too?" I kiss her cheek before putting her up to my shoulder to burp her. I look up as Tobias walks into the room. "Good morning. Look who's here, little one. Your Daddy came to see you. He loves you, too."

"That I do. Good morning," he says, leaning over and giving me a tender kiss then kissing Tessa's head. "You're dressed already." He sounds surprised.

"I've been up a long time," I sigh. "I couldn't sleep."

"I'm sorry, love. I heard you talking to Tessa. That's what woke me up," he says, a blissful smile on his face. I furrow my brows, confused. I wasn't talking loud enough to have woken him. "I heard you through the baby monitor," he clarifies.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I never thought about turning it off after I got dressed."

"It was a nice way to wake up, hearing my wife talk to my daughter. I don't think I'll ever tire of saying those words," he says. He looks so young and carefree this morning and happy. "Do you want me to wake Tyler or start breakfast?"