A Million Wishes (33 page)

“
I’ll be damned! Dakota you killed it son! Especially for your first time! Fifteen minutes and eleven seconds. You boys made me so proud.” He hugged them both, and handed Callum the stop watch and whistle.

“
Now, it’s time to show you how it’s done.” Noah took off for the start line and was off as soon as the whistle blew. The parallel bars were a breeze. God knows he’d trained on them enough the last eight months, rebuilding his strength. The tires weren’t even bad, considering he had a prosthetic, but the walls were enough to make him wince a bit when he jumped down. You could tell he tried to take most of his weight on his right leg, but it still had to hurt for him to even show a wince.

Miki’s heart was thudding as she watched her man fly through the course with ease. He was so sexy. Grinning as he slithered through the weaver like a snake and didn’t even slow on the Burma bridge. He was kicking everyone’s ass and Miki was to the point she was hopping up and down cheering for him so much the kids were laughing and teasing her. Truth be known, they were all cheering for him. He could have given up with his injury but no, not Noah. Here he was crossing the finish line and being hugged by her brother as he told him his time.

“
You still got it Noah. Losing part of your leg barely even slowed you down. Ten minutes and thirty seven seconds!”

Noah grinned and teased the boys “Who’s the old man now huh?”

It was Lilah that cracked them all up laughing when she clapped and yelled “Oh! OH, I know! Uncle Callum!!!!”

Chapter 27

It was nearly sunrise when Noah woke up to an empty bed. The scent of coffee teased his nostrils like a heavenly elixir drawing him from beneath the quilts. The house was dark except for the stove light and his Miki girl was nowhere to be found. He looked out the kitchen window and smiled. Pouring two mugs of coffee and lacing them with sugar and cream, he slipped on his old tennis shoes and carried the mugs with him out to the old oak tree. She turned her head when he stepped on a twig and it snapped under the pressure.

“
Morning Romeo.” Her voice was still husky and tinged with sleep; he loved how sexy she sounded.

“
Morning babydoll. Wanna hold these and I’ll come up and snuggle with you while the sun rises?”

“
Mmm yesss…” She purred, tucking her notepad and pen in the knothole of the tree, before taking the mugs and scooting over while he climbed up and got settled. She moved to sit between his legs, leaning back against him. “I love you baby.” She said softly. His arm wrapped her waist as his face burrowed against her neck, kissing her there. “I love you too babydoll.”

They were silent then. Each lost in their own thoughts as the sun rose, sharing soft kisses and tender touches, as the filtering light between the limbs and leaves of the old oak tree warmed them. That’s how the kids found them. Cuddled up like teenagers in the tree.

“
What’re you guys doing in a tree?” Lilah asked, jumping up on the lowest branch and smiling over at them.

“
This is her most favorite spot since she was a kid. Anytime I can’t find her, this is where I look and sure enough, here she’ll be, writing or just daydreaming about me, or sometimes even writing about daydreaming about me.” Miki laughed and playfully elbowed him.

“
Shush you. You’re so conceited!” The boys climbed up and each found their own comfy spot, laughing at the teasing.

“
Hey now…there is a difference between confidence and conceit. He just knows he got you. You can’t even deny it, it’s written all over your face when you look at em’. You get all mushy and your eyes glow, each and every single time you look at him.” Dakota laughed and winked at her. She just rolled her eyes and huffed.

“
She does, doesn’t she?” Noah kissed her cheek and hugged her. “Such a pretty little thing when she gets all doe eyed and follows me around like a ….
Oomph!
” The elbow to his ribs shut him up, but it had the kids all laughing, teasing her about being so in love.

“
I gotta take up for Momma though. Daddy gets all sappy when he looks at her too. Plus, yesterday he was flexing his muscles and stuff, showing off for her. He’s just as bad as she is on being all lovey dovey. I wish I had a boy in love with me like that.” Lilah smiled and looked wistfully up in the sky. “Someday my prince will come.”

“
And we’ll all gang up on him and beat his face in so he leaves our baby sister alone.” Dakota chimed in.

“
Nah it would be easier for me to just sit on the front porch with my rifles out, cleaning them while dressed in my gear. One crazy eyed look and the boys won’t even make it into the house.” Noah was laughing and giving the boys high fives while Lilah looked mortified.

“
You wouldn’t dare! How am I ever gonna get married and have babies if you scare everyone off!”

“
Whoa whoa WHOA! Who ever said you’re gonna get married and why the heck are you thinking about babies when you’re just a baby yourself? Nuh uh, no, not happening until you’re at least 30.” Noah looked like he was about to have a panic attack and it made Miki dissolve into a fit of giggles.

“
Come on Lilah, let’s go whip up some pancakes for breakfast while these guys beat their chests and act all manly. When you guys are done acting like cavemen you can come in for breakfast. Need to get the smoker going and put that brisket on Romeo. We have guests coming, so everyone can pitch in.”

Noah just grinned and pounded his chest, letting out an “Argh argh ugh” which in turn, had the boys smiling and following suit.

“
Ugh, boys are so lame.”

“
As you see there, it doesn’t get much better even when they’re 30 years old.”

They walked back up to the house, arm in arm, laughing while the guys kept their grunting chant going.

The morning went by quickly. The kids made their beds after breakfast and got dressed. Friends were called and given directions to the house and Dakota offered to pick up the twins friends since they didn’t have a ride. Miki gave him her van keys and kissed his cheek, tucking a twenty in his hand, asking him to pick up some bags of ice before he came home. Dom left with him after they finished setting up the chairs and picnic tables outside. Lilah stayed home to finish helping get the food ready. Miki’s sisters and brothers started showing up a half hour early, eager to meet the kids, and introduce them to their cousins. At that point Miki shooed Lilah outside with all the kids to run off some energy. She wanted her to have fun, not feel like she had to stay in and work. Not long after that, her best friend Gina and Noah’s family showed up, his parents and siblings along with their spouses and kids. Ever so thankful the weather was nice outside, since the house was so cramped and they had so many relatives, Miki said out loud. “Next get together will be so much easier! We’ll be in the new house and have so much more room. I didn’t realize how tiny this kitchen was until we started making pies and cookies yesterday for today.”

“
Sweetheart even in that old plantation house, once all this family files in, it gets cramped. We just keep growing and growing. Before you know it I’ll have to knock a wall down and put an extra room off the dining room for another table!” Vivi said, pulling Miki into a hug and kissing her cheeks. “Where are my new grandbabies at?” Miki pointed out the kitchen window. “Delilah is outside with her cousins, Dominic and Dakota went to get the twins friends from town. I figured it might help them feel more comfortable if they each had a friend around. Let me dry my hands and I’ll take you out to introduce you.”

Grabbing a hand towel from the drawer, Miki dried off, and hung the towel on the hook by the sink. “Ok, let’s go outside ladies.” She led her sisters and mother in law outside. Her father in law was already hugging a brightly smiling Lilah. Noah was the spitting image of his father Matthias. It would be easy for the kids to take to him because he was merely an older image of Noah. “Lilah honey this is Vivi, Noah’s Momma.” They hugged and Vivi told her to call them Gigi and Poppa like the rest of the grandkids if she wanted to. Lilah hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. “I never had Grandparents before.” Vivi cupped her cheeks in her hands and kissed her forehead. “Well you do now darlin’ girl.”

Car doors slammed, and Miki looked around the side of the house to see Tank and 3 kids, so she waved at them smiling and called out. “Come on back here y’all.” Gina was standing next to her and made a squeaking sound. "Oh lordy be, who is that tall, dark, and handsome hunk of man?"

Miki busted out laughing and told her quickly who he was, and introduced them soon as Tank joined them. "Tank this is my best friend Gina, Gina this is Dakota's friend and track coach, Tank. Those are his brothers and sisters Gina."

"Well hello there handsome. Boy they don't make men like you often, but I do declare I'm glad to see you don't have a ring on your finger."

"Gina!!!" Miki was mortified but still laughing because in a matter of minutes Gina had reduced this big, strong man into putty in her palm. Tank took Gina's hand and kissed it, giving her a wink.

"I admit sweet Gina, I'm pretty damn glad myself to see you don't have a ring on your finger either darlin'." Tank was giving her an amazing smile and it was clear to Miki she didn't need to hang around to see anything more.

Dakota pulled up then with the kids and it looked like everyone was there. Noah quieted everyone down long enough to do introductions and say a prayer before lunch. Miki and her sisters brought all the food out, setting up a buffet for everyone to fill their plates and grab drinks from the ice chests. Miki looked around at her family and felt emotion well up in her. Some of her biggest wishes growing up included having a family life, her prince charming, children, and happy get together’s with good food and lots of laughter…and love, lots and lots of love. Back then she thought her wishes were too grand, unattainable, that they were goals she would never reach, yet here she was surrounded with it. Miki sat her plate down next to Vivi’s and excused herself, nearly running into the house, to the bathroom and shutting the door before the happy tears that had built up to overwhelming burst forth.

A knock at the door surprised her and she hiccupped and tried to quiet her crying. “Babydoll, are you ok honey?” She opened the door and wiped her eyes. “I’m…
hic
…fine, I just…
hic
…got overwhelmed and…
hic
…I didn’t want to cry in fro...
hic
…front of everybody.” He gathered her against his chest and dug his fingers through her hair loving on her. “Why are you crying baby?” Her little sniffle hiccup made him smile. Even crying she was adorable and beautiful. “I just…this is what I always wished for…and when I realized it…
hic
…it just, floored me and the tears started and…
hic
….I had to get away for a min…
hic
…minute.” She pulled away and grabbed a wad of toilet paper, blowing her nose. He grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and ran it under cold water, ringing it out and wiping her face gently.

“
I understand babydoll. I felt that too. We’ve been through so much and had so many ups and downs. This is definitely one of the high points. Right up there with putting a ring on your finger and making you mine.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed him, her hands stroking his cheeks. “Thank you for coming to check on me baby. I love you.” He swiped the cool cloth over her face again and kissed her once more. “I love you kitten. Are you ready to get back out there with our family?’ She nodded and looked in the mirror, wincing at her red nose. “Don’t worry about that, you’re still stunning kitten. Come on.”

They rejoined the others and spent the rest of the afternoon eating and telling stories about growing up together. The twins and Dakota shared some stories as well and showed the few pictures they had of their Mom and Dad. It seemed to make them feel more comfortable, knowing they were free to talk about it. As far as Miki was concerned, that was part of the healing process. It made her feel good knowing that their birth parents had been so good to them. They deserved to relish their happy memories.