Esperanza (Brides Dock On Portum Island!) #1

Untitled Part 17

Epilogue

Four years later...

Esperanza poured lemonade into a glass. She felt a tug on the hem of her sundress. She placed the glass on the table and glanced down. A beautiful little boy with dark eyes and unruly ringlets peered up at her.

"Up, mommy!" he instructed. Asher Winston Lawson Junior was a handful, just like his father. She sighed and scooped the toddler into her arms. Esperanza might as well enjoy the time when her boy was attached to her. She knew that one day, Junior would do anything to get away from her. He wrapped his chubby arms around her and clung to her. The front door opened, and a heavily pregnant Liz rushed in. Esperanza chuckled when she spotted the sundae in her grip.

"Catherine brought it by this morning. Man, it's hot," Liz said as she plopped down on the chair. Junior wiggled in Esperanza's arms and she placed him down on the floor. He immediately went to greet his aunt Liz.

"I know. I feel like I ate more chocolate when I was pregnant with Mia," Esperanza noted. Mia was six months old and cried throughout the night. Of course, when it was daytime, she was knocked out. Esperanza was tempted to wake her hellion up. When Asher entered the room, Junior squealed.

"Daddy," he yelled, his little legs carrying him to Asher. Asher lifted his son into his arms.

"Hey Junior, want to help me grill?" Asher wanted to know.

"Yay," Junior cheered. Asher carried his son out the back door. Esperanza rubbed her forehead.

"I have a feeling that Junior is going to get really dirty," she groaned.

Liz laughed as she rubbed her stomach. "I know. Junior's version of helping always involves him making a mess," she said, fondness in her eyes.

"So when is baby Cassie coming?" Esperanza asked. Pregnancies on the island varied. Some people carried their babies for nine months, while other children came early.

"The doctor thinks that I'll give birth in a couple of weeks," she reported.

"Yeah! I can't wait to be an aunt," Esperanza told her sister-in-law.

"Yeah. You just can't wait to have a baby that you can return," Liz accused.

"So true," Esperanza said as baby Mia began to cry.

The End