Broken Lantern

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I'm sitting on the front porch, rocking and sipping my fresh squeezed lemonade. The air is cool and brisk on my skin; I love when Fall starts to sweep in. The weather is good for a few more weeks before the chill sets in. We're currently in the middle of nice weather, and as fleeting as it may be, I'll take it.

Noah's kicking me like crazy, while I watch Dally and Nate run around the pumpkin patch, as usual. Kevin's in the house washing his hands; he's just finished loading a truck full of pumpkins onto a pickup for the church. We'll be painting them with the kids in children's church this Wednesday night.

We have one week left for the trail to pull in as many visitors as possible before we have to begin closing it down due to the weather. Last year we did pretty well to keep it open a few weeks longer than we'll be able to this year. It's cooler this month than it usually is.

"Hey babe, what ya doin out here? Enjoying the last of the good weather?" Kevin asks as he sits in the rocking chair next to mine. "Look at those two, running around those pumpkins, not a care in the world, right?"

I nod in agreement and take a sip of my drink. "They love each other. It warms my heart to watch them together." I tell him, smiling at our daughter.

"Makes me think of you and Darry, a little bit. That's just how the two of you always were." Kevin says, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Yeah. Me too." Is all I can say back to him.

He leans over and puts his hand on my belly, then he puts his mouth to it and says, "How are you doing in there, little boy? Aren't you ready to come out yet? We sure are ready to meet you, and today is a good day for being born." He sits up and kisses me, moving the hair out of my face and tucking it behind my ear. "You sure do look beautiful today, my love. Pregnancy looks really good on you. I think I'm gonna have to keep you this way." He says, winking at me, a suggestive grin coming up at the sides of his mouth.

"Ugh! I think I'm gonna need to take some time to recover after this one, thank you", I remind him.

My pregnancy with Dally was a breeze, this one not so much. I've had a difficult time, which is why I haven't been able to get out in the fields with the guys this year.

"I'm tired and I would like to not be fat for a while." I tell him, looking down at my swollen ankles.

This little boy is strong, and he has wreaked havoc on my tiny, delicate body. The doctor's have told me to take it easy, to stay off of my feet as much as possible. No hard work, no lifting of any kind; I can't even keep up my exercise routine, which is why I have gained a little more weight this time around.

Kevin gets up, standing in front of me. He reaches down for my hands and pulls me to my feet.

He kisses me and then begins to slow dance with me on the front porch. "You, my dear, are not fat. You are gorgeous and sexy, and you are carrying our child." He dips me as far as he can without hurting me and bends down to let his lips brush lightly against my neck, knowing it drives me crazy when he does it. I wrap my arms around his neck and let him guide me along the floor, as he sings softly to me in a whispered voice.

"This is why we're going to have ten kids, Kevin!" I tell him, feeling the blood begin to warm in my veins. He just grins at me, and spins me again, bringing me back into his arms when I come back around to face him.

"I don't mind ten kids." He says, his eyes darkening and his face taking on a look of sheer desire.

My pulse quickens and I can feel my heart beating fast against my chest. I love and hate how he can say something to me and look at me in such a way that I no longer have control over myself, it's all him; I am his to do with what he will. My heart bursts every time he looks at me like this; his eyes darken and all he sees is me, and all he wants... is me. It's overwhelming.

He scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the door, kicking open the screen, we move into the house, seamlessly.

"What about the kids?" I ask him, feeling a little panicky about leaving them outside.

"Your dad and Matt are out there, Alley. I think they'll be fine.'

We go into the bedroom and he lies me on the bed, lifting himself over me, he bends down to kiss me, moving from my lips to my neck and down my body.

He's exploring now and when he's like this, it's difficult for me to think of anything else. The ache he always seems to have for me in his eyes, burns straight through me; his stare stirring things inside of me and I'm all his.

He's so sweet and attentive, moving very slowly, making sure to focus on me as much as possible. He watches me with such intensity, such love; so full of longing, it makes my heart flutter and my blood run warm. After four years, he hasn't lost his intense desire for me, he never bores of me or loses interest. It's like he's with me for the first time, every time.

He lays back on his pillows, holding my hand to his chest, it rises and falls as he tries to catch his breath. I can feel his heart pounding underneath my hand. "I love you, Alley" he breathes, bringing my hand to his lips. I roll over and lay my head on his chest, "I love you too, Kevin... so much more than I'll ever be able to tell you." He kisses the top of my head and we both lay there for a few minutes just holding each other.

The house is quiet, and for the moment, there are no machines roaring outside of our bedroom window. We can hear Dally and Nate playing, squealing and laughing as they chase each other around the yard just beyond our bedroom. We lie in bed, holding one another, listening to the happy sounds of children enjoying a carefree life, and Kevin says to me, "For all of their happiness, we must be doing something right, ya know?"

I smile at his sweet, loving fatherly observation and tell him, "Absolutely. Those two are some of the happiest children I think I've ever known in my life. They know they are loved."

He sits up and leans over my belly, putting his hands on either side, he kisses me and looks up at me, whispering, "and so will he."

We collect ourselves and head outside to check on the kids and to watch the sunset before making dinner.

I sit on my rocking chair and look over at Dally and Nate who are now sitting in the dirt in the middle of the field between our houses, picking petals off of flowers.

Over by the barn I see Robby leaning over the corral, kissing Beth. They laugh together as she lets her head fall back, her hair trailing down her back. I watch them for a few minutes, noticing how Robby can't keep his hands off of her; even if he's simply brushing his hand down her arm, or moving a stray strand of hair from her face, he's affectionate toward her, always attentive.

I know instantly that he gets that from our daddy. Daddy is the same way with Mom, even now, after being married for as long as they have been, he still touches her constantly. It's sweet, and I silently pray that Kevin is always like that with me; even when we're older and we have ten kids!

Kevin looks over at me and follows my stare to see the couple fawning all over each other down by the horses. He smiles and squeezes my hand, "Aren't they adorable?" He says, somewhat teasing, but I can hear the sentiment in his tone. He loves them, and I know he's glad they have each other too.

"Yeah, they are." I reply, squeezing his hand back and then reaching up to kiss him.