Page 74 of Reconcile
“Pipes, what’s worrying you? Tell me.” He kisses my shoulder.
“I just... The first time I did it all on my own except for the nanny when I was in school. But if I wasn’t in school, I was with Audrey. I don’t know if I want to leave this baby with a nanny.”
“You want to quit? Viv would understand.”
I love working with Viv, Penelope, and Lola. I truly do. “I don’t know. I really love my job. But I love the idea of raising our children myself.”
“Look, if you want to work full-time, that’s fine with me. We’ll hire the best nanny there is. Or I’ll stay home. Whatever makes you happy. But I can see it on your face. You want to stay home with them, and that’s okay too.”
“It feels somehow anti-feminist to quit my job to raise babies.”
“Isn’t that what feminism is? Women making their own decisions based on whattheywant and not what society wants? Seems to me, if you want to stay home and raise our kids, then that’s what you should do. And you should be able to do that without any judgment. You’re a fucking fantastic mother, Piper.”
I look at him, cocking my eyebrow. “That’s very enlightened of you.”
“Well, I’m a feminist.” He kisses my neck with a smile. “I’m very fond of a few females.”
I laugh and shove him back. “I want to work until I have the baby. Then, I’d like to take some time off to be a mom.”
He grins, kissing my nose. “Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. I always have.” He places my hand on his chest over his t-shirt, right where the “P” is inked into his skin.
“I never saw us here. I never let myself. But I’m so happy we made it.”
“I never thought you’d give me another chance, but I’m thrilled you did. Thank you.”
I kiss him with everything I’m feeling, letting my body move under his. Letting him cover me and relishing in him.
I guess even the worst things can be forgiven because I am irrevocably in love with Sawyer fucking Ross.
EPILOGUE
SAWYER
One year later...
“Daddy! I want to go outside!” I laugh as Audrey whines, which I still find really cute. I’m holding my son in my arms, trying to get him back to sleep so Piper can sleep a little longer, but that’s not going so well with Audrey here.
“I promise we will soon, okay? Let’s let Mommy sleep for a little longer and try to keep Mr. Adrian quiet for a little while.”
Audrey thinks that over, placing her little finger on her chin and then bouncing out of the room. I look down at Adrian, his big eyes peeking up at me. He’s not crying, but he’s not sleeping either.
Audrey walks in with a green blanket and hands it to me. “It’s his favorite.”
I smile. She’s such a good big sister. “Thanks, kiddo.”
“No problem.”
There’s a quiet knock on the front door, and I scramble to answer it before they do it again and startle Adrian. The kid has a set of lungs on him.
I laugh when I see who it is and open the door for Ash, who walks in with Baz in tow. “Hey, man.” He looks at Adrian and grins. “Hey, little man.”
I hand him over to his Uncle Ash, giving up on the whole nap thing. Viv walks in with their baby boy, and I grin as she hands him over to me. “Where’s Piper?”
“I’m right here.” Piper emerges from the hallway with a big grin on her pretty face, greeting our guests.
