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Tim is currently outside with both Isla and Owen while Lucy is at work. He has paper and paint laid out to make special Mother’s Day cards for Lucy. “Okay, we are going to do something special for your mama.” Isla is two, almost three, and Owen just turned one. They really are growing up too fast.
“Paint dada!” Isla is excited. Owen is much more reserved than his sister. Both Tim and Lucy love watching their personalities grow. He retired shortly after Owen was born and he adores being a stay at home dad to their kids.
“Yes, we are going to paint.” He remembers when he tried this with Kojo once and it did not end well. “We will make mama a card.” Isla nods and she scribbles on a piece of paper.
“I’m going to do Owen’s first and then I’ll do yours.” Isla smiles widely and goes back to scribbling. She's eating a snack and conveniently sharing it with Kojo. Tim shakes his head and holds Owen in his arms.
He holds Owen’s hand in his but it’s hard when he keeps squirming. He takes the blue paint and manages to get Owen’s hand painted and quickly places it on the paper. “No.” Owen says and Tim knew this wouldn’t be easy.
“I’m almost done, I promise.” Tim keeps his hands pressed down for a minute and has to give up. “Okay daddy’s done.” Owen has tears streaming down his face and he never expected his son to be so upset. “We’re just doing something nice for your mama.”
Owen looks at him with his brown eyes and sniffles. “Mama.”
“She’ll be home soon.” It’s close to their nap time and he wants their handprints to dry while they sleep. Thankfully, Isla’s hand print is a lot easier to get done. He cleans both kids up, feeds them lunch, and then he gets them both down for a nap.
Tim blows out a breath once he shuts Owen’s door and he walks downstairs to clean up. He writes their names on the paper and then hides them where Lucy won’t find them. He has a special day planned and really can’t wait to spend it with Lucy. She deserves to be spoiled. She is truly the greatest mother in this entire world and he loves to spoil her.
The next few days fly by and Mother’s Day is finally here. Tim slips out of bed and grabs the monitor before heading downstairs. “Dada.” Tim is in the kitchen, having just started coffee for both himself and Lucy.
“Hi baby.” He picks Isla up and she lays her head against his chest. “How did you sleep?”
She smiles widely at him. “Good!” She giggles. “It’s mama’s day.”
Tim kisses her forehead and sits her on the counter. “Yes, it’s Mother’s Day and we are going to give your mama the best day.”
Isla claps excitedly and Tim looks at the baby monitor to make sure Owen is still asleep, which he is. “What should we make for breakfast?”
“Waffles!” Isla loves to help in her own way. She’s so smart and the absolute light of their lives.
“How about some bacon too?” She nods her head and Tim grabs the ingredients out to make breakfast. Before cooking anything, he cuts up strawberries and bananas as well. Isla grabs a few banana slices and when Tim gives her a look, she starts giggling. “Yummy dada!”
“That’s your favorite, isn’t it?” He kisses her head and gives her a spoon to have her help stir the waffle batter.
It takes just about an hour to get everything situated with breakfast and he finally hears Owen stirring on the monitor. “Breakfast is all done but we need to get your brother and then wake mama up.”
Isla runs over to the stairs and starts to climb upstairs. Tim is right behind her and they quickly get upstairs. Owen is standing in his crib and he smiles brightly when he sees both Tim and Isla. “Is!” He screeches and Tim picks him up. He bends down so that Isla can give her brother a hug. Watching his kids grow up together is one of his favorite things of all.
“You’re such a good big sister, Isla.” Tim changes Owen’s diaper and they head to wake Lucy up. He’s tried breakfast in bed before and it has not ended up well for them.
“Mama!” Isla runs to the bed and jumps on her mom.
“Be careful Isla.” Tim tells Isla, sternly. She looks at him sheepishly.
“Oof.” Lucy pulls both kids into her arms. “I love waking up to my babies.”
Tim sits on the edge of the bed and kisses Lucy’s forehead. When he goes to pull away, Lucy tugs his hand and pulls him towards her. He gives her a kiss on the lips. “Morning, beautiful.” She chuckles. “And happy Mother’s Day to the absolute best mom in this world. We love you so much.”
“Thanks babe.” Lucy squeezes his hand.
“Mama’s day!” Isla gives her mom a kiss and Lucy holds them for a moment longer.
“I have breakfast all cooked and ready to go, downstairs. We all remember and know what happened last year.” He shudders and remembers how breakfast spilled all over the stairs. It was a mess and he felt horrible about it. Owen was only a few weeks old and they had been trying to get into a routine.
Lucy starts laughing. “I think breakfast downstairs is the best idea.”
Tim smiles softly. “And then you can get dressed while I wrangle the kids. Then we have plans for the day.” She grins, excited to spend a day with her family. “We have gifts for you when we get home.”
“I can’t wait.” They go downstairs to eat breakfast. Tim insists on cleaning everything up and while the kids are distracted, he pulls her in for a kiss.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all morning.” Tim murmurs into her ear.
“Mm, well, I promise you will have me as soon as they’re in bed, if you’ll have me.” Lucy teases him.
Tim groans and knows he needs to step back before he does something reckless. “You may just kill me one day.” Lucy shrugs. “Wear something comfortable today. It’ll be fun.”
That’s all he gives her and doesn’t give more about where they are going. Tim cleans up and then manages to get both kids dressed and ready to go. He packs the diaper bag and slips one of Lucy’s gifts into one of the pockets. He hears a noise on the stairs and sees Lucy ready to go. Every time he looks at her, his breath is taken away. He will never get enough of her. “You are stunning.”
Lucy blushes and Tim takes her hands in his own. “You always make me feel beautiful, even on the hard days.”
Tim wraps his arms around her back and places a chaste kiss on her lips. “You are beautiful and I love you.” She shivers and still can’t believe they are here. “Now let’s go enjoy this absolutely gorgeous day.”
Tim grabs Isla and the diaper bag while Lucy grabs Owen. They’re even bringing Kojo because Tim planned everything at dog friendly places.
Tim drives them to their first destination. Both kids fall asleep on the way there and for that they are grateful. They will be happy once they wake up and enjoy the day that’s planned. When Tim parks the car, Isla is awake. Owen is starting to slightly wake up and he immediately smiles at Isla. “Well, they woke up feeling better.”
“Yes, they did.” Kojo licks Owen’s hand and he giggles. Lucy grabs Isla and Tim grabs Owen out of the car.
They came to one of their favorite spots, a quiet beach a bit further away that not many people usually go to. It’s peaceful and quiet. “I figured we could just take a walk and let the kids play.”
“That sounds amazing.” Lucy loves it here. There’s only a few people here and they’re further away. They walk to the beach with Isla running around them. Owen is still wobbly on his feet, but Kojo is by his side to make sure that he’s okay. Lucy loops her arm through Tim’s and watches the kids.
“This is perfect, Tim.” She says quietly. “This moment right here, is perfect.”
He smiles down at her and then looks at both the kids. Kojo is being chased by them and he can’t stop the smile that forms. “It really is. Sometimes I close my eyes and etch these memories into my head. I don’t want to forget the kids at this age and just going through life with you by my side.”
“I really love you. You are the best husband and daddy. I’m so lucky to have you by my side and the kids have such a wonderful role model.” Tim can hear the emotions in Lucy’s voice.
“You’ve brought the light into my life and shown how beautiful things can be when I thought the world was this dark place.” He brings Lucy in for a kiss, their eyes never leaving the kids who are having the best time. “You’ve healed me in places that I never knew were broken and make me feel loved in ways that I never felt I deserved.” He wipes a few tears from her eyes.
“You aren’t supposed to make me cry.” She says with a wet laugh. “I think you came into my life exactly when you were supposed to.” She relaxes into his embrace. “And I wouldn’t change anything about our journey. Look at where we are now.”
Tim hums in agreement and kisses the side of her head. “I love you, Lucy Bradford, and I love the life we have built.” He takes a quick peak at the kids and Kojo. They’re building a sandcastle together and trying to throw sand. “Owen, don’t eat the sand.” He giggles and Lucy has to stifle back a laugh.
“Isla, you can't try to bury Kojo in the sand either.” Lucy says and she stops what she’s doing. Tim quickly turns back to his wife once he knows the kids are all set.
“You deserve the world and I promise to always make sure that you are given everything that you truly deserve. I’m in awe of you every day and I’m so proud of you. Thank you for our two incredible children and being the best mother while kicking ass at work and always being there for me.”
“You do so much for this family Tim and we are so lucky to have you. Our kids have the best dad and you are the greatest husband in this entire world.” She has a teasing glint in her eyes.
“I would marry you over and over again if I could.” He pulls the box out and Lucy raises his eyebrows at him. “The ring I originally bought for you is always going to be special, but then I found this. It had a story behind it and when I heard it, I knew this was yours.”
“Tell me.” Owen is tugging at her legs and she picks him up. He lays his head on her shoulder. Lucy looks at him, waiting for her to continue.
“Okay, I’m going.” He sees Isla and Kojo still having a blast. “The couple who had it started out as friends for many years before they realized that they were in love. There were struggles and obstacles that threatened to tear them apart, but they overcame all of those and were together for over fifty years
“Wow.” Lucy gasps. “It’s perfect and it’s us.”
Tim takes her old ring off and slips the new one on. “I have a necklace for this one if you’d like it.”
“That’s perfect.” Isla runs over and Tim picks her up. He wraps the three of them in a hug and listens to the waves crashing. “Here’s to forever together.”
Tim smiles softly at Lucy and cups her cheek. “Forever babe.”