“Well guys, I guess now it’s official, I’ll get my PA to announce that I’m leaving XrAid on Monday morning.”
The last boat left just after 10:00 p.m. and Alfie and I got ready for bed.
“What a day,” he muttered, flopping down on our big bed beside Charlie who was wide awake.
“Productive. And to think I was crippled by nerves,” I admitted. “I can’t help feeling…”
“Sorry for Cody,” he finished. “Yeah. I can’t imagine what it’s like to love someone for all this time you can’t have.”
“Don’t,” I said when tears suddenly sprung to my eyes.
He shifted onto his side and perched his head up on one arm. “He’ll get over it. Best thing he can do for himself is to make a clean break. You’ll see, Lily.”
I nodded, convinced Alfie was right. Cody was a fabulous, good-looking guy who deserved to be happy. I only hoped the future would bring that special someone that he couldn’t see past, just like I couldn’t see past Alfie.
“So, Mrs. Black. Back to XrAid, eh?”
“I guess so, but no touring at least for the next year.”
“Sounds to me like you really can have your cake and eat it too,” Alfie said, grinning. The way he said it sounded very much like an ‘I told you so’.
“You know, I should be excited about that, but I’m not. I’m more excited about having the next year at home with you and that little guy you’re lying next to.”
“And you thought you wouldn’t be a great mom. I see that in you every day. Baby, when I see you holding our son in your arms, I feel so much love in my heart, it can threaten to get overwhelming. You and this little man are all that I care about. If I never sang another note, played another gig, or wrote another song, it wouldn’t matter because I have both of you.”
“I noticed you never included not having sex in that list of the things you love doing,” I teased.
“Sex? I’m so sleep deprived my brain isn’t fully functioning.”
“Tell that to your morning wood, you almost drilled a hole in my back this morning,” I said, laughing.
“Talking about drilling, when did the doc say we could have sex again?”
I nodded slowly and raised my eyes to the ceiling to look like I was trying to recall. “I think he said 2028.”
Alfie laughed, shot off the bed and scooped me up in his arms. “He didn’t say anything about not using toys to get you riled. The penetration can wait. But as for the rest, I think you’re just about sassy enough now, for us to start playing again.”
“Playing?” I queried, a little apprehensive, yet wet from his playful suggestion.
“It’s kinda hard to explain. Why don’t we put Charlie to sleep, then maybe I could show you,” he said like he was about to teach me.
“I’m sure you could,” I said, playing along. “But you will be gentle with me, won’t you?” I said, sounding innocent.
“Baby, until the doctor says we’re good to go, I’m going to treat you like glass.”
“I’m not that fragile,” I insisted.
“No, but I don’t want you blacking out either,” he said in a mock stern tone.
“Blacking out… what exactly did you have in mind for us, Alfie?”
“Ah, now that would be telling,” he mumbled, flashing me his infamous lopsided smile and waggled his brows.
Right then, I figured life couldn’t get better… then again, with Alfie Black as my husband, and if I knew him like I thought I did, I figured it wouldn’t be long before he’d prove me wrong.
The End
EPILOGUE
