“But what noise does a monster make?”
“A scary one?”
“It goes…rawr!” Miller tickled Jacob’s side.
Jacob started laughing, flailing around in the sheets.
“Hey, you two,” I said. “You’re supposed to be getting ready for bed.”
Miller patted the bed. “We were waiting for you.”
“Mhm.” I shook my head, but I was smiling. I ran over to the bed and jumped on it.
Miller laughed as I ducked under his arm. He pulled me in close, placing a kiss on my cheek. This was my favorite place to be.
I leaned over and tickled Jacob too, sending him into another fit of laughter, before leaning back against Miller’s shoulder. “Now, where were we?”
“That part about monsters,” Miller said.
“Of course. And what noise does a monster make?” I asked.
Jacob smiled. And then he “rawred” at the top of his lungs.
I rawred back.
And so did Miller.
And somehow we all started jumping on the bed rawring.
I tumbled down, grabbing Jacob with me. “Little monster, it’s time for bed.”
“But, Mommy…”
“Even monsters need sleep.”
He yawned. “Even monsters?”
“Yes, sweet boy.”
“I want to grow up and be a monster,” Jacob said. “Can I go to school for that?”
The thought of Jacob going to school made my heart race. I glanced at Miller and then back down at Jacob. “Hmm.” I kissed his forehead. “We’ll have to see. For now, let’s finish your book.”
Miller sat down on the opposite side of Jacob. He tucked Jacob in like a sausage so he couldn’t move and then cleared his throat. “And the duck goes…”
“Quack,” Jacob said.
“And the lion goes…”
“Roar,” Jacob said with a yawn.
“And the turkey goes…”
“Gobble gobble…” Jacob started snoring.
I smiled down at him and then looked back up at Miller. I knew he could see the worry in my eyes.
He leaned down and kissed Jacob’s forehead before climbing off the bed slowly, doing his best not to wake Jacob. I followed his lead, tiptoeing out into the hall.
