Sunk (13 page)
Authors: Renea Porter
RAINE
One Year Later
The weather is perfect and everyone is gathered in the backyard for Aaron’s first birthday. He seems to be fascinated with animals, so we got him an animal shaped cake and I have him dressed in an “It’s My Birthday” shirt and pants.
His hair has little curls in it, and he has the most infectious smile I’ve ever seen. Sly has been a wonderful dad and has been there every single step of the way. I’ve managed to get back to my pre-baby weight, thanks to the treadmill.
The decorations are up, and I wait for the guests to arrive before waking Aaron up from his nap. As if right on cue, his grandparents are the first ones there. Opening up the door, I greet them with hugs and kisses. The men go find Sly in the back yard.
“Where’s my birthday boy?” Anne asks.
“He’s out back with his dad. Those two are attached at the hip,” I tell her, grinning. “Oh, and look how big you are getting,” I tell my sister of her now pregnant belly.
“Yeah, I’m due any minute now.” She rubs her stomach.
I’m so excited for her, especially because this is her first child and I can answer any question she has. She’ll be a wonderful mom, because she’s an amazing aunt. While Anne and Grams go out back, I pull my sister aside in the kitchen.
“Sly and I wanted to ask you something,” I tell her nervously.
She leans against the counter. “Sure, anything.”
“We wanted to know if anything were to happen to us, if you would look after Aaron. We just want to be prepared if anything should happen.”
“Of course, you know I’d be there for him,” she says nonchalantly.
I reach over and hug her, feeling grateful. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now let’s go celebrate that little guy’s birthday,” she says.
Outside, the summer air is not too humid, but perfect. Aaron is sitting on his dad’s lap while Anne coos over him. Summer goes over and loves on him, and he giggles at the attention. I lean against the sliding glass door frame and watch everyone interact. Of course I think of Ava, because I see a lot of her in Aaron’s features. The more he grows, the more I see her. Plus, he has a love of animals like she did. He even loves the stuffed horse that was her favorite.
I move back inside the kitchen and light the candle on the cake. Walking it outside, everyone starts to sing as Aaron bounces on Sly’s leg, clapping his hands. Setting the cake down in front of him, we tell him to blow it out and we help him.
Two years ago, I’d never have expected I would be living the life I have now. I have a beautiful little boy who has become my world, I have a gorgeous home that I share with the man I love, and I have family who is there for me no matter what, including Sly’s family who have welcomed me with open arms.
Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. How did this gorgeous man pull me from my darkness? I let him in because I desperately needed the distraction. That distraction grew into something more, something I wasn’t expecting. Love. We’ve been through a lot, and our family is not picture perfect, but we don’t pretend to be. I think there is beauty in that.
Cutting the cake, Sly passes Aaron off to Anne, who is holding her arms out to him. Sly sneaks up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck.
“Not in front of everyone,” I tell him about his public display of affection.
“I just have one question,” he says, keeping my waist in his grips.
I twist my neck to look at his face. “What’s that?”
“When can we make another baby?” He chuckles.
“Well, I guess we can start practicing tonight,” I tell him.
Acknowledgments
Readers, thank you so much for choosing me. I really hope you enjoy this book.
Thank you to my husband for putting up with me in the process of writing this book. Thanks for listening to me rant about the characters and being my sound board.
Thanks to my BETA’s as well, loved hearing your feedback on this one.
Thanks to Niquel for answering all my pregnancy questions.
About The Author
Renea has always had her nose inside of a book ever since she could remember. She has written ever since she was young enough to write, never showing anyone what she was writing. Initially she started writing Coming Back to You without intending to publish, but her hubby of 15 years encouraged her to publish it. And she did. She couldn't imagine never writing. It’s in her blood.
Be sure to check out these books
by Renea
Coming Back to You
(a contemporary romance)
Bare Hearts
(a contemporary romance)
Driving Layne
-Unspoken Truth Book One (A new adult romance)
Switching Lanes-Unspoken Truth Book Two
(A new adult romance)
Outbound Lane-Unspoken Truth Novella
(A new adult romance)
Undefinable
(A new adult romance)
Mirror Mirror
(A M/M country music romance)
