Next to Forever (Never Letting Go) (27 page)

“I’m ready for forever with you.”

The minister greets everyone and talks about the power of love and faith. I can’t stop thinking of Connor and how this is it. We’re about to be husband and wife, forever.

* * * * *

“What are you thinking about, Mrs. Simpson?” 

I snuggle closer to Connor as we dance to
‘God Gave Me You’ by Blake Shelton. Our first dance as man and wife. I look up and see Connor smiling down on me. “Life. Everything is going so well.”

Connor spins me around and dips me. Everyone starts cheering and clink their spoons to their glasses. His lips touch mine and it’s like the first kiss all over again.

I’m in his arms again and just when the song is almost over, I lean in and whisper in his ear, “I’m pregnant.”

The look in Connor’s eyes tells me everything I need to know. He’s happy and we’re going to have a baby. When I took the test this morning, I couldn’t hold it in
, and I knew this was the perfect time to tell him.

“I love you so much
, baby.”

“I love you
, too.”

Finding out we’re pregnant again means the world to us. Connor and I are going to be taking it slow, day by day but it’s a miracle and it keeps on getting better.

We spend the night dancing with our family and friends and enjoying the night with everyone. By one in the morning, we all start leaving and we head to the hotel room.

Connor leans over and kisses my stomach.
“Hi, baby,” he starts to say. “This is daddy. Just wanted to have you hear my voice and let you know how much we love you.” A tear falls from my eye. I love how much he loves our baby and how everything is going. “You’re my next to forever, baby. You and our baby are my world. I hope you know that.”

“Of course we do, Connor. You mean so much to us and we love you.” Connor’s lips meet mine and I let out a soft moan.

“I think it’s time I show my wife how much I love her.”

“Mmmmm, please do.” Connor lifts me up in his arms and walks over to the bed.

This is our life… our next to forever.

Sophia

Five Years Later

Adam’s playing with Nathan in the backyard with our family. Today is our little miracle’s fifth birthday. It’s amazing how much life changes after you give birth and standing next to your son, watching him fight for his life.

One hundred and ten days in the hospital before we brought him home. The day we brought Nathan home was the best day of our lives. His smile and laugh filled our home and we watched him grow into a beautiful little boy. He’s a fighter like his mommy and daddy. He defied the odds and surprised the doctors. Nathan was a healthy boy, and we didn’t have to worry about any complications or disabilities.

I love my little family
and the memories we’re creating. We’ve been through so much over the past five years, but we come out stronger in the end.

I turn around and there’s a picture of my dad over the fireplace
. “I miss you, daddy. So much. I hope that you’re watching us from Heaven.” It breaks my heart knowing that Nathan and Rachael will never get to know my parents. “Say hi to mom for me.” I close my eyes and say a prayer for my parents.

“Mama?” Her little, beautiful voice takes me out of my thoughts.

“Hi, baby girl.” I pick up my angel and we sit down on the couch. “Why aren’t you outside playing?”

“Daddy pointed in the living room and told me to come inside and give you a hug to make you smile.”

Oh Adam, always my hero.

“Thank you
, sweetie. Mama’s better now.” I give her a kiss on her cheek and we hug.

“Soph! Come outside! It’s time to blow out Nathan’s cake!”

“Come on, sweetie, let’s go outside.” Rachael and I walk through the house and through the screen door. Our family and friends are gathered around Adam and Nathan, waiting to sing happy birthday.

“Happy birthday to you!” Nathan blows out the candles and we all cheer for him.. We never thought we’d see this day but we’re blessed with him
, and thank God every day for how wonderful Nathan is.

“Mama!” I look down and see Adam
pick up our princess, Rachael. Adam comes over and kisses me on the lips.

“Hi
, beautiful.” I start blushing. Even after all these years, he still can make me weak and make my heart race.

We stand next to Nathan and pose for a family picture.

“Smile!” Erin says, taking a million pictures.

“Are you done yet?” Nathan asks, looking frustrated and ready to leave.

“Nathan Adam Simpson!” Adam says. “That’s rude. Apologize to Erin, please”

He rolls his eyes and I can’t help but laugh. Oh my son. My Nathan.

“Sorry for being rude, Aunt Erin.”

Erin and I try to hold back our laugh, “It’s okay
, buddy!”

“Nathan, come on let’s go play!” Erin and Connor’s daughter, Emily, comes over and grabs his hand. I look at Erin and smile. These two have been inseparable since the day she was born. We all joke around that Nathan loves Emily but Connor doesn’t like that too much.

“Looks like someone wants to play,” I say, nudging Connor’s arm.

“Shut up.
You need to keep your spawn away from my Princess, understand” I nearly die from laughing so hard.

“
Really, Connor? You want
me
to keep
Adam’s
son away from Emily?” I tap him on the shoulder. “Right, that’ll happen.” Connor throws his head back and runs toward Emily.

Erin and I start laughing and
begin cutting the cake and passing a piece to everyone.

The rest of the party goes by fast and it’s nice to watch Nathan and Rachael around family and friends.
We spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool and watch our kids play.

“This is the life, huh?” Erin asks.

“Definitely.” I take Erin’s hand and we lay back in our chairs, drinking our wine and enjoying life.

By the time everyone leaves
, and the house is clean, it’s nearly ten in the evening and the kids are fighting to stay up longer.

“Bed time!” Adam says to Nathan and Rachael.

“Daddy, I want to stay up and watch my Princess movies. I can do that, right?” She bats her eyes at Adam and I see him crumbling. She has him wrapped around her finger and I fear only the worst when it comes to her.

“Come on, Rachael. Bed time.” I go over and pick her up, winking at Adam. Nathan follows me upstairs as we start putting the kids to bed.

Adam and I say good night to Rachael first. We both give her a kiss on her cheek, “Sweet dreams angel.”

“Good night mama. Good night daddy,” she yawns, slowly closing her eyes.

Adam takes my hand and we walk to Nathan’s room. He’s already in bed, lying on his side. “Good night, Nathan. Sweet dreams.”

He slightly lifts his head and smiles at Adam and I. “Good night mama. Good night dad. Thanks for throwing me my birthday party. I had a lot of fun and appreciate you both.”

My heart warms at how gentle and kind Nathan is. “You’re welcome, son.” Adam replies. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

Adam closes Nathan’s door and we go back downstairs to
sit by the pool, under the stars.

It still surprises me how I feel about Adam. We have our bad days and good days like every couple but Adam never gives up, regardless of the fight.
He’s my soul mate. My best friend. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

“What are you thinking, pretty girl?”

“You. Us. Our family.”

Adam brings me closer, kissing me on the side of my head. “We do have a good life don’t we.”

“A perfect life.”

As I lay on Adam, watching the stars in the calm night sky, I realize how lucky I am to have this life. Every day that passes with Adam and our kids is a dream come true.

Erin

Connor watches our daughter, Emily, playing with Nathan in the yard. I can’t help but laugh every time they play. The look on his face is priceless and I can’t get over how protective he is
of her. My mind goes back to the day she came into our world.

I was sitting on my yoga ball, watching 'Something Borrowed' when suddenly I felt strange.

“Oh my God! Connor! My water broke!” I screamed, walking toward the front door. “Come on, Simpson. Breathe, girl.”

Connor came running down the stairs with my suitcase. His face was priceless. Eyes wide and a huge smile on his pale face. “Come on, girl, let’s go have our baby!”

Connor held my hand as we walked to the car. Everything was calm, and we were ready for this.

When we got to the hospital, all the calmness went away and my contractions started. I grabbed the collar of Connor’s polo and brought his face to mine, “You son of a bitch! You did this to me! Oh my God
, if you ever bring your dick near me, I’m going to bite it off!” I keel over in pain. Fuck. These contractions were going to kill me.

“Erin, stop. Come on
, be happy.”

“YOU TRY GOING THROUGH THIS
, CONNOR!” I cried causing people in the hospital to stare.

A nurse came over, put me in a wheelchair, and was trying to calm me down
, but nothing was working. I hated feeling like a demon bitch. Finally, we were settled in, and every time I screamed, Connor freaked out, and it was pissing me off. Why was he freaking out? He wasn’t the one in pain!

I needed Connor. “Connor,” I was sobbing and couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry
, babe. So sorry. I love you so much, and I can’t wait to have our baby.”

“There’s my girl. You got me scared
, baby,” he laughed, holding my hand.

Things were quiet
, and I lay on my back but then another contraction hits me, and I squeeze Connor’s hand, screaming how much I hated him and that I wanted to stab him in the eye with a dull fork.

“HOW MUCH FUCKING LONGER?”

The nurse came in and checked on me. Her smile and ‘I’m in such a happy mood’ was killing me. I knew I should’ve asked for that damn epidural.

“Looking good
, Mrs. Simpson.”

“Can I please push?”

“Not yet, honey. Soon, okay?”

“
Please let me push. My husband’s a millionaire. I will write you a check for five million, if you let me push!”

“Erin! What the fuck? You can’t bribe someone!”

“Oh my God! Please just kill me.” I couldn’t stop crying and my hate for Connor was growing with each second. This was his fault. “Connor, don’t come near me. Just stay far, far away.”

Each contraction took some of me away. Finally, after almost two hours, that sweet and smiling nurse came back and
said the most amazing words ever. “Alright, honey, you’re at ten.”

Connor looked so scared
, and I just smiled looking at him. He slowly came toward me and took my hand. I felt like a bitch for the way I was acting. I hope he still loved me. “I love you, Connor.”

“Always, baby.”

The doctor came in, rubbing his hands. “Alright, let’s have a baby.”

I held onto Connor’s hand and looked up at him. We’re about to meet our baby
, and I couldn’t be happier. All the pain was worth it. I wanted to savor this moment forever and never forget how I felt.

“Push! Come on
, Mrs. Simpson. Keep pushing!” I heard the doctor’s voice and just did what he wanted.

With one last push, our baby girl’s cries filled the room.

Connor wraps his arm around my middle and kisses my cheek. “What’s the smile for?”

“Emily.” I love saying her name and having her in our lives.

“She’s the best but her playing with Nathan needs to stop.”

“Stop worrying! They’re just playing.”

“Yeah
, but he’s Adam’s kid,” he starts to say, eating some of the cake. “You remember how Adam got Sophia. The guy never gave up.”

“He’s five years old
, Connor. Stop being so dramatic.” He looks at me, and smiles.

“You look beautiful today, you know that?” I start blushing and look away. “Don’t do that.” He places his finger under my chin and tilts it
toward him. “I love you, Erin.”

“I love you too, Connor.” We share a kiss, so passionate and earth shattering. Our tongues move along with one another as he grasps my waist and pulls me closer to him. After all of these years, I fall in love with him even more.

Nathan’s birthday party ends and we drive back home. It’s almost ten but Emily’s in the back seat singing her heart out. Connor looks at me and takes my hand to his lips. “Thank you for giving me this fantastic life. I couldn’t ask for more.” I smile and rest my head against the head cushion.