I didn’t want to be running away from my family. Suddenly even the distance on the beach felt like too much. I needed to run back to them. I turned around and ran faster back toward the little house we were renting.
I smiled as I saw them in the distance. They were sitting on a blanket under an umbrella. Miller was reading something and it looked like Jacob was fast asleep. I sprinted up the sand and launched myself into Miller’s arms, knocking him backward into the sand.
“Hey,” Miller said with a smile, even though I’d probably just knocked the wind out of him and definitely gotten his book sandy.
“Hey.”
His fingers wandered into my hair. “You look happy.”
“I’m so happy.”
His eyes dropped to my lips. “I think we should stay here.”
I laughed. “I was just about to tell you that I’m ready to go home.”
He drew his eyebrows together. “You weren’t happy there anymore. I really think we should stay. I want to stay.”
His cheeks were rosy from the sun. And he was staring at me with that same love in his eyes. Love that stretched years.
“I have an idea,” I said.
He stayed quiet.
“How about once a year we come back to the beach for vacation?”
“Or we could stay…”
“No. I love our home. I want to raise Jacob and all our children there.” I looked over at Jacob who was sleeping under the umbrella.
Miller rolled us over in the sand, pinning me below him. “All our children, huh?”
My skin was sweaty from my run and I knew my back was now covered in sand. It reminded me of that time, years ago, when Miller had rolled around in the sand, completely covering himself. He was ridiculous. He was the love of my life. “Yes, all our children.”
“Were you thinking about making one right now?”
I laughed as he pressed his weight down on me. “We’re on a public beach. And Jacob is right there.”
Miller looked over at our son. “He’s sleeping.”
I laughed and put my hand on his chest. “Take me home, Miller. I want to go home.”
“You are my home.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “I really am okay with staying. I’m addicted to your smiles, kid.”
“I’m okay. It was like you said. I just needed some air.”
He placed a kiss against my lips. We were on a secluded beach in the middle of the day. And Jacob was asleep. I breathed in Miller’s exhales as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Maybe I hadn’t needed air at all. Maybe I’d just needed to let him in again. Because his exhales were sweeter than the salty air.
Chapter 49
6 Months Later - Thursday
Jacob sat on the kitchen counter as I finished the last batch of cupcakes.
“Jacob, no,” I said with a laugh as I grabbed him off the counter. He was used to being my little taste tester, but these had to wait. “Those are your birthday cupcakes. We have to wait till Daddy is home.”
“Daddy!”
“Yes, sweet boy.” I placed him back on the counter. “Be good.”
He crawled toward the cupcakes again.
I laughed and picked him back up. I didn’t want to wait either. “How about we go surprise Daddy at work?”
“Daddy!” Jacob yelled.
I peppered his face with kisses and he laughed. “Come on, let’s go get him to come home. We have a birthday to celebrate. Someone’s turning one!”
“Me.”
“Yes, you.” I kissed the tip of his head. “Let’s go get dressed.”
“No.” The way he said ‘no’ always broke my heart. He dragged out the “o” forever. And he put so much sadness and passion behind it. Like he was always about to cry when he said it. But it was also somehow the most adorable thing I’d ever heard.
“Noooo,” he said again. He did not like clothes.
I blamed myself. I’d run around barefoot almost the whole time I was pregnant with him. I was pretty sure that somehow transferred to him. He only liked wearing a diaper. And ‘liked’ was probably too strong a term. Because he’d learned to take them off and loved running around naked the most.
It took me forever to wrassle him into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. And I abandoned the idea of shoes after he accidentally flung one at my face. I’d just hold him.
We pulled up to the restaurant and I turned around to look at Jacob.
He’d somehow managed to take off his shirt even though he was securely in his car seat.
“How did you take that off?” I asked.
He pressed his lips together.
Jacob never lied to me. But he liked to withhold the truth. “Sweet boy, you have to wear clothes when we leave the house.”
“No.”
I laughed. “Well it is your birthday.”
He smiled at me.
That smile melted my heart. I climbed out of the car and pulled him out of his car seat. At least he was still wearing his shorts. Luckily Alice didn’t have one of those “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” signs. Because Jacob was not following the rules.
I carried him into the restaurant.
Alice smiled when she saw us.
“He was very impatient for his birthday festivities to start,” I said.
“I bet.” Alice booped him on the nose. “You’re getting so big. How old are you now?”
Jacob lifted up one finger.
“One?”
He nodded and then ducked his head under my arm. Jacob had stranger danger. Even for people he’d met countless times. And I loved that about him. He was shy and thoughtful and careful. Just like he needed to be. Maybe he wouldn’t have to be one day. But right now I was relieved that he was careful.
“Is there any way I could steal George away a little early?”
“If you brought some of those mini scones I think I can arrange that.”
“Done. They’re in the car.” It was a silly barter. She knew I was bringing them.
Miller emerged from the back. He’d probably heard us talking.
“Daddy!” Jacob reached out for him.
“Champ, where is your shirt? And your shoes?” He lifted Jacob out of my arms.
“No,” Jacob said.
Miller laughed and balanced him on his hip. “We’ve talked about this. You have to wear clothes in public.”
“No.”
He laughed. “You’re lucky it’s your birthday.”
Jacob smiled and held up his finger.
“You’re one? How did you get so old?” Miller tickled his side.
Jacob went into a fit of laughter.
“Let me go grab the boxes,” I said.
“I’ve got them,” Miller said. He headed out to my car and brought back in the bakery boxes, somehow balancing them and Jacob. And Jacob was also suddenly wearing a shirt.
I had no idea how Miller did it. I swore it had taken me half an hour to get that shirt on Jacob. And Jacob didn’t even look upset about it now. Miller was so good with him.
“Are you excited for your birthday, champ?” Miller said.
“Yes. Cuppycakes!”
Miller kissed the top of his head. “I’ll be home in a few hours, okay?”