Chapter 28

Five Years Later

"Granddaddy!" Carson happily yelled, rushing toward Charles. He swooped the little girl up into his arms and she quickly kissed his cheek. "We're here!"

Charles chuckled, "We are my sweet girl. Were you good for your mummy and daddy on the ride?"

"Yes!" Carson exclaimed. Anna and John came a few paces behind Carson with bright smiles on their faces.

"She was very good," Anna agreed. At that Carson grinned.

"See, I told you!"

"You did," Charles agreed. They walked inside the summer condo, where Elsie had already set out some biscuits on the kitchen table. Carson wiggled out of Charles' arms and went straight to the delicious treats.

"Only one," Anna told Carson. The small girl looked up at her mother and smiled, her bright blue eyes shimmering. She looked a lot like her mother, same facial features and same eyes. Her hair was thicker and a beautiful dark auburn color, which Anna had braided into twin plaits.

"So, how are you feeling?" Elsie questioned her daughter, coming over and gently placing her hands on her belly.

Anna let out a sigh. She was thirty-one weeks pregnant and feeling like a whale. Next to her, John's hand landed on the small of her back, giving her a supportive rub.

"Just tired," Anna honestly answered. "This little boy is constantly moving."

"Ah, well rest as much as you'd like. We'll watch Carson," Elsie said.

"Can we go to the beach now?" Carson asked, bouncing out of the chair and skipping over to the three of them. Anna twisted her lips, not sure she was up to the beach today after the long car ride.

"Absolutely," John answered, bending down and tapping her nose. "You and I will head down after I bring in our things, okay?" Carson's lips curled up into a bright smile.

"Okay, Daddy! Can I help you?"

"Of course, my little darling," John told her.

"Mummy, I'm going to go and help daddy, go rest up! I know Sam won't let you sleep." Carson commanded. She walked over to Anna and pressed a kiss against her belly. "Now, Sammy, let Mummy rest!" All four adults chuckled. Anna ran her hand down one of Carson's braids and then twiddled with the ends.

"Thank you, Miss Carson," Anna said to her.

Carson took John's hand and went outside to help grab their few bags for the week. Anna watched with joy. She loved their relationship. The two were like two peas in a pod.

"Go rest up," Elsie reminded Anna. "We have dinner tonight."

"Okay, Mum."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The week was a great break from their everyday lives. Anna had just finished her second year as a primary school teacher. She loved every minute of it. Going back to school had been one of her best decisions she had made.

Tonight, she and John had gone out to dinner alone. They got a decent amount of date nights with the grandparents living near them, but this was different, in a different location, in the location where this had all started.

"Dessert?" John asked Anna. Anna smiled.

"You know me well, Mr. Bates," Anna responded. John's eye twinkled, wrinkling up the skin next to his eye.

"What would you like, my darling?"

"Oh, I don't know. It all sounds good," Anna answered, her eyes glancing over the dessert menu.

"We'll take one of everything," John told the waiter, handing over his menu. Anna glanced up over the paper and met John's eyes.

"Are you trying to fatten me up?" Anna jokingly questioned.

"I just want to make you happy," John honestly replied.

"I am happy, so very happy," she said, her hand coming across the table to take John's in her own. "We have Carson and soon we'll have Sam. I have you."

"And I have you."

Anna's free hand fell to her belly and a wince swept over her face. John sat up, worried.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," Anna nodded. "Your son has just decided to kick me right in the ribs."

"How is he my son when he hurts you and your son when he's being a perfect angel?" John teased.

Anna just laughed.

"I love you," she said, between laughs.

"I love you."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

When they got back from dinner, they found Charles asleep on the sofa with Carson sitting right next to him watching a cartoon. As the door closed, Carson sat up and gave the two of them a sheepish smile. Charles shifted, fluttered his eyes opened, and then jumped up at the sight of his daughter and John.

"She was just about to go to bed," he quickly told them. Carson climbed into Charles' lap and rested her head against his chest. He brought his hand up around her to hold her close.

"We were just watching my movie one more time because I was a good girl," Carson explained. "But I'll go to sleep now." Carson closed her eyes, before opening one to see her parents' reaction. They just giggled.

"Alright, Carson Rose, tell your granddaddy goodnight and come on with me," John said to the little girl. Carson perched herself up and kissed Charles' cheek.

"Goodnight! I'll see you in the morning." Then she slid off Charles' lap and followed her father down the hallway to her bedroom.

"Where's Mum?" Anna questioned her father.

"She went to bed about an hour ago," Charles answered. "She told me to put Carson to bed before you got home, but I have a hard time telling that little one no."

"Oh don't I know it," Anna chuckled. She walked over, bent down, and kissed the top of her dad's head. "Goodnight, Dad. Thank you for watching her. We'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Later that night, when Anna couldn't sleep, she went and sat on the back porch. The soothing waves calmed her and she enjoyed the smell of the sea.

"Hey," John whispered, from the door. Anna turned and smiled.

"Sorry I woke you," Anna murmured. John's head shook. He stepped onto the porch and sat down next to Anna, pulling her close to his chest.

"Is Sam keeping you awake?" John asked. Anna nodded against him. "I'm sorry, my darling."

"It's okay. He seems to like the sounds of the waves. He's sleeping now," she answered.

"Then why don't we go back to bed," John offered.

"Just a minute," Anna said. "I want to listen to the sounds of the beach. It's so soothing."

"We could open our windows in our room," John reminded her.

"I know," Anna answered, "Just a few more minutes."

"Okay, whatever you wish, my darling," John said, kissing her crown.

Anna took in a deep breath, smelling the salt air. She thought of how she had spent every summer at this beach and how this place was what brought her and John together finally. And now they were happy, married, and parents. A happy sigh passed through her lips.

"Alright, let's go to bed," Anna finally said. She stood up, wrapping her hand into his. John stood next to her and smiled.

"Okay, my darling. Let's go to bed."

THE END

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