Epilogue - Six Years Later
Bill rolled over to me, "Good morning!" He kissed my cheek and put his arm around me and rubbed my belly.
"Mommy, Mommy!" In ran Matthew and Christopher. "Wake up!" they jumped onto the bed.
Matthew said, "Is today the day Uncle Michael's coming, is it?" He had climbed onto Bills belly and bounced up and down.
"Oh! Your getting too big for this, I'm not strong enough!" Bill said as he lifted Matthew into the air and over his head, flying him around like an airplane. "Yes, today you get to see Uncle Michael!"
"Daddy, I'm five now, I have been big for a long time, besides, you can never stop flying me!"
Bill laughed, "Ok, if you say so!"
"Me Daddy, me too!" shouted Christopher, who was nearly four now.
"Ok boys, come on! You need to go straighten up your rooms before Uncle Micaheal, Grandma and Grandpa get here, hurry and go get started. I will be in shortly," I said.
Downstairs, Bill had started breakfast with the boys. "Mommy, what do you think Uncle Micheal brought us this time, huh? Maybe a horse!"
I laughed, "He does spoil you, but I don't think your getting a horse Matthew. Not until you can take care of it by yourself."
"A puppy!" Christopher shouted.
"He's here! He's here! I see his truck!" They ran off to meet him.
"I bet I beat you!" Bill said as he ran out faster, just like one of the boys.
I watched through the window as I cleared the table. Michael flew out of the car, "Hey! there's my boys! Oh, did I miss you guys." He swooped them both up easily and carried them up to the house. Bill leaned over and made it a group hug for the four of them.
"Kid, you look good!"
"Yeah, I know how Ma hates to see me scruffy. I cleaned up."
"Did you bring us something Uncle Michael? Did you bring us a surprise?" the boys shouted.
"Of course I did! Let's go see your mom first." Michael said.
"Lisa!" He put the boys down and walked over to me. "Hey!" he hugged me and kissed the top of my head.
"Michael!" I squeezed him back.
"The house looks great, I see you finished off the porch since the last time I was here."
"Yes." Bill said. "There's never a dull moment around here, that's for sure! In fact, I was hoping you'd give me a hand later this week with the tractor."
"Sure, no problem."
"How long can you stay Michael?" I asked.
"Probably about a month, this time. I'm going to go and look at one of those condos in the building you used to live in Bill. It's time I get a place of my own for when I'm back and forth."
"That's great news Michael," I said.
"We have great news of our own," Bill said.
"What's up?"
Christopher ran into the kitchen crying, "Mommy, Matthew pushed me down!"
"Matthew Michael Bowen! Come here!" I used his full name when I was angry with him. He walked in with his head hanging down, knowing he was in trouble. I bent down, "You tell your little brother, your sorry, right now!"
"Sorry, Christopher."
"Give him a hug," I scolded. "I want you to both go play outside with Callie, while you wait for Daddy and Uncle Michael. Matthew, any more trouble and you'll be staying inside with me while everyone else goes fishing today." I held his chin between my fingers, and then kissed the top of his head, "Go on!"
"Your such a great Mom, Lisa," Michael said.
I walked over to him, took his hand and placed it on my belly, "We're hoping, this one's a girl!"
"Are you serious! Another!" He rubbed my belly and gave me another hug, "I'm so happy for you."
"We haven't told Mom or Dad yet, or even the boys. We figured we'd announce it at dinner tonight," Bill said.
Michael went and hugged him too, "Bro, your living the dream!"
"Uncle Michael! Are you ready to give us our prize yet?" the boys shouted from outside impatiently.
"I got them new fishing poles!" he said to me as he headed back out to the truck. "Your getting bigger and bigger every time I see you Matthew!" he swooped him up again. "Let me see those muscles buddy." Matthew held his arm up with pride. "You eating your vegetables?"
"Yeah, mommy makes me," he said and made a face. "I want to be big and strong, just like you Uncle Michael," he felt Michaels arms for muscle.
I watched on the porch as they all headed over to the truck for prizes.
"Mommy says your just like Superman, Uncle Michael. She said you save people all the time."
"Is that what Mommy said? Well she must be right then!" He tickled his belly, and then looked over at me, winked and smiled.
"Look Daddy! Look what I got!" Christopher shouted.
"Can we go now? Can we!"
"We have to wait for grandpa to get here," Bill said.
Within minutes they pulled up too. We saw them weekly, but you'd never have guessed by how excited the boys got to see them each and every time.
"There's my babies!" Jane shouted as she held her arms out for the boys. She kissed each one about a dozen times before letting go and then moved on to Michael and did the same.
"Michael! You look good!" she touched his shaven face.
"Hi Ma!"
"Lisa! Hi!" She waved and then began pulling things out of the car.,"Here Bill, bring this into the kitchen."
"Hi Dad," he hugged him tight.
"Who's ready to go fishing!" Tom shouted.
"Me!"
"Me!" They jumped up and down. "Look grandpa, look what we got!"
Later that evening we all sat around the table eating dinner, in my beautiful house, with my beautiful family. I couldn't have asked for a more normal, happy life. I had everything I ever wanted, I rubbed by belly and smiled to myself.
"You ready to tell them?" Bill whispered as he put his arm around me.
"Yes."
After dinner Bill took the boys up to get in their pajamas, Jane helped clean up the kitchen.
Tom asked, "Can I put the news on Lisa?"
"Sure, Tom go ahead."
"I don't want to hear another word about it, all he wants is to keep listening over and over to that horrible story, the poor girl. Everyone just needs to leave that family alone and let them have some privacy. It's a sin the way the news camps out at that families house, waiting for a photo opportunity," Jane went on.
"It will die down Ma, once there's another story to take its place," Michael said.
"I just thank God she got home safe."
I grabbed the garbage and headed out the back door.
"Here let me do it Lisa," Michael said.
"Thanks, I'll show you where we moved the trash too. The racoons kept coming too close to the house after it."
We walked a short distance, "Lisa, you know the story, on the news right now, the girl…."
"Yeah, I've been following it too," I had to admit.
"It was me," Michael said.
"You were on that case Michael?"
"Yeah, don't tell Ma or Dad, I don't like them to worry any more than they already do."
"I won't ...Wow, Michael, I had no idea. That's incredible, really. She was so young, it's so sad and ...thanks to you, wow! What a difference you've made for another family, Michael."
"I guess so. A few assholes at a time, right?" he smiled.
"I'm so proud of you," I said.
"I'm so glad your happy." He touched my belly again and said, "I hope this one's a girl too, I'd like a niece to spoil," we smiled at each other.
That night I laid in bed with Bill, the boys were wiped out and fast asleep, Callie laid at the front door, the house was quiet, for now. I rolled over to Bill, and put my hand across his cheek, "Do you know how happy you make me Mr. Bowen."
"I think I might have the energy to make you just slightly more happy, right now," he grinned as he slid his hand between my legs and kissed me. "Mrs. Bowen, you are the one who has made all of my dreams come true."
We made love. Oh, the things this man can still do to me, I thought to myself.