Hearts and Rockets | Hutchpoppe

Chapter 40

4 Years Later

Maddie's POV

"Hurry! Hurry!" Maylee giggles.

"I've almost got them on, baby," I laugh at her, putting her other floatie on her left arm, "Okay, there you go."

"Yay!" She cheers, going over to the ladder and getting into the pool. She swims around for a moment, "Daddy?"

All of a sudden, Caleb emerges from underwater and grabs her, getting a high pitched scream from Maylee in response.

"Right here, cutie," he tells her, holding her close to him.

"Daddy!" She giggles before giving him a kiss on his cheek, "Mommy, are you getting in?"

"I'm coming," I tell her. Once I'm in the pool, I go over to her and Caleb.

"Where's Aunt Catie?" She asks, curiously.

"She'll be out in a minute," I smile at her.

"I'm right here! Watch out!" Catie yells.

Maylee squeals, "Daddy! Swim out of the way!"

She gets on his back, and he quickly swims over to the side of the pool, before Catie jumps in.

Today, we are having a pool party at Catie's house. Michael, Cade, and Jurnee are here, too. Jurnee finally moved back a couple of years ago. We all went to college, and we have already graduated. Cade and Gabby are still broken up, and we haven't heard from her since high school. I'm not complaining though.

Maylee is growing up way too fast. She is already five years old. She has long light brown hair, and beautiful blue eyes. She is starting Kindergarten in a couple months.

Catie's dad comes out not long after we start swimming, and turns on the grill. Maylee swims over to Catie and Jurnee and they play with her. Catie fills up the water gun, and Jurnee does the same. Maylee swims over and grabs another water gun from the side of the pool before filling it up.

I rest my elbows on the side of the pool behind me. I watch Maylee shoot her water gun at her 'aunts' as I feel an arm go around my waist.

"Having fun?" Caleb asks.

"Yeah," I smile over at him.

"We should go out later. Just the two of us."

I turn around to face him, smiling, "What do you have in mind?"

"Oh, just dinner. It's been a while since we've had a date," he smiles back.

"Okay," my smile widens.

We've been together for over five years, and somehow I love him more and more everyday. I could not imagine my life without him. Not only does he love me, but he loves my daughter just as much, if not more.

"Food is ready!" Catie's dad calls out.

We all get out of the pool, and I help Maylee dry off.

"What do you want to eat?" I ask her, putting her coverup on her.

"Mmm, a hot dog," she smiles.

"Okay," I smile back.

I help her fix her plate before fixing my own. I get two cans of Pepsi out of the cooler before going over and sitting with her. We sit with Catie, Michael, and Jurnee on a blanket on the grass that Catie had laid out. A few minutes later, Caleb and Cade join us.

"This has been really nice," Jurnee says, "It's like a reunion. The last time we were all together was a couple years ago."

"Yeah, this was a really great idea, Catie," Caleb says, and we all nod in agreement.