While Ryan was busy bathing Phoebe Alex took the time to wrap the gift she got him, silently hoping that he would like it. She had run out of ideas on what to buy him and opted for a custom made toolbox she saw online. On the lid were the words : "Dada's toolbox" engraved. Inside she placed a brand new 24-piece set of tools she knew for a fact he didn't have yet, since she had done some research on the contents of his toolbox and with some help from his best friend they came up with getting the new tools.
Together with a birthday card that read:
Ryan Booth – the perfect specimen of a man. I am blessed with such a fine husband (although if Leonardo DiCaprio asks me to marry him I would probably say yes; but since that will never happen I'm stuck with you.) BUT you are 500 times better than Leo in more ways than one if you know what I mean. Without you my glass was empty but then you came along and filled it to the brim – and then Phoebe and Asher came along and made a mess by spilling the contents all over the place, resulting in cleaning up after them 24/7. This is the most unconventional birthday not ever. But only a few more years then they are off to college and we have the whole house to ourselves.
I love you so much and I really want you to know that we love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you for being the man and father that you are.
All our love
Alex, Phoebe & Asher
xx.
She left the note on the table with the box and finished decorating the cake before checking in on the Ryan and Phoebe, nursing Asher one last time before bed, before putting him in the crib and going off the bed herself. Excited for the surprise birthday she has planned tomorrow, hoping her husband would enjoy it.
The next morning she woke up grateful that Ryan was still asleep because it gave her time to make some breakfast, other than bacon and eggs. She stepped into the bathroom first before checking up on the kids and then made her way to starting on waffles, fresh cream and some golden syrup. She was so occupied with making breakfast that she had no idea Ryan had sneaked up on her from behind, and the kiss to the side of her head startled her.
"What are you doing up?" She asked turning around to face him, kind of sad that he woke up because she wanted to surprise him with breakfast in bed.
"I smelled food." He answered simply getting him a cup of coffee before sitting down on the counter.
"Happy birthday." She smiled walking over to him, sliding the present in his direction while she continued with breakfast. "I hope you like it, I ran out of ideas on what to get you." She said keeping an eye on him while he opened the gift, seeing his smile widen as he read the inscription on the box, lifting the lid to see the contents
"This is so awesome. Wait, how did you know which tools to get?" He asked skeptical knowing his wife had no idea about things like this.
"I've had some help from your friends ." She admitted.
"And the birthday card is very original." He laughed closing it as he read it. "Come over here so I can thank you properly." He said walking over to her where she stood at the stove, he took her face in his hands kissing her gently.
"This has to continue tonight, the kids are in the other room." She said pulling away trying to catch her breath.
"But they're asleep right now…" Ryan tried, but his words weren't even cold when a small voice was calling from the side of the door.
"Or not." Alex laughed looking at her daughter who smiled at her from the doorway.
"Mama. Ashie hungwy." She said all dramatic her parents knowing all too well that she was the hungry one. "Dada pwesents!" She noticed and pointed towards the gift wrap on the counter.
"Yeah, it's dada's birthday today." Alex said and Phoebe looked at her mother before running over to her father.
"Dada bifday happy!" The words came out all wrong but it was the smile she had on her face that made it all worth it.
"Thank you Pheebs." Ryan laughed kissing her, feeding her some of his waffle in between bites of his own while Alex went to go check up on Asher.
Alex still had a few things to do, and pushed her luck to see if her husband would be willing to take her to the store, or some market place they had out in the country to prepare dinner for the guests he didn't know were coming. Allowing Phoebe and Ryan to go out to the lake while she gets ready before they take on their late morning shopping.
Alex slipped her hand into her husband's, squeezing tightly they exchanged a quick smile as they strode down the uneven row of market stalls. Phoebe remained a few paces ahead, flitting between the stalls and peeping intently at anything that sparked her curiosity. The toddler understood she wasn't to touch anything and it was such a small town that her parents weren't at all concerned to let her go at her own, fast, pace.
After playing in the lake for most of the morning they had gone to the effort of getting dressed. It seemed only reasonable then that they ventured out of the cabin, driving in to the nearest town and stumbling across bustling farmer's markets. Alex had planned meals for their entire stay but didn't mind changing things up, especially with pristine produce picked that morning. They had already purchased half a huge celery and a jar of homemade peanut butter, Alex carrying them in the simple cloth bag they had been gifted at a different stall.
"BERRIES!" Phoebe announced to what seemed like the entire population of the town. The majority of onlookers smiled at the toddler's exuberant outburst and the stall holder appeared particularly pleased.
"Strawberries" The older man supplied, moving out of the shade to greet the small patron.
"Strawberries" Phoebe repeated, looking over her shoulder to ensure that her parents shared in her excitement.
Alex nodded in acknowledgement, watching as the stereotypical farmer figure approached her daughter. The old man wore a plain mustard coloured t-shirt, navy coveralls, heavy leather boots and a straw hat with a feather tucked into the loose weave.
"Would you like to try one Miss?" He questioned as he neared the toddler.
"I no Miss, I Phoebe" The toddler corrected frankly.
"Well hello Miss Phoebe, I'm Wayne" The man greeted without pause, clearly unperturbed by the toddler's attitude.
"Miss Wayne?"
"Mister Wayne" He corrected, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You da strawberry-man Mister Wayne?" Phoebe demanded, wanting to be sure he was in charge
"I grow these strawberries, in my little strawberry patch" Wayne replied with a nod, picking up a small, dark red strawberry, inspecting it and then tossing it over his shoulder. Immediately a plump black bird swooped down out of the tree and collected the overripe strawberry in its beak.
"Patch?" Phoebe repeated, watching intently as the bird carried the strawberry back up into the tree.
"That's right, it's part of my garden, where the fairies live" He explained, raising an eyebrow in anticipation of the toddler's reaction.
"I knows fairies" She accepted confidently.
"Nice folk aren't they?" Wayne persisted, for a little girl that had introduced herself so bluntly he had almost expected her to dispute the existence of fairies.
"Are they fairies eat you strawberries?" Phoebe enquired after a moment in thought, she had never really considered what fairies ate.
"No, no. They don't eat 'em, they help 'em grow" He assured, bending down to retrieve an empty plastic punnet. Wayne turned it over, showing the toddler the label, a silhouetted fairy watering a strawberry plant half her size.
"Why?" Phoebe questioned curiously, she had only ever seen fairies dancing in the special big garden.
"Because that's their job" Wayne answered simply.
"My job take care Mama and Ashie" Phoebe informed seriously, looking around to see that her parents had stopped at a nearby stall. Her father glanced over and smiled at her while her mother continued to look at the funny smelling blocks of soap. Her father approaching her while pushing Asher's stroller.
"That's an important job too isn't it" Wayne confirmed, following the little girls gaze he concluded they were her parents.
"Very 'portant" Phoebe nodded.
"Now how would you like to try this one?" Wayne asked, capturing the toddler's attention again as he selected a particularly large strawberry from the basket and extended it towards her.
"That thebiggly-est strawberry ever!" The toddler exclaimed, it looked more like several strawberries stuck together than just one.
"The fairies grew this one nice and big, just for you Miss Phoebe."
"For me?" Phoebe questioned, again looking to her parents. Something didn't feel quite right about taking such a special strawberry, even if he said it was meant for her.
"Yes, just for you" He insisted, nodding encouragingly as he pressed the strawberry into her hand.
For a moment the toddler forgot everything, marvelling at the enormous strawberry, in awe of the shiny, red fruit heavy in her hand. Then that feeling of uncertainty returned and she considered handing it back.
"Do big strawberries taste better?" Ryan questioned as he approached his daughter. Bored of hearing about the benefits of goat's milk soap and recognising the toddler's discomfort he had decided to interject.
"Uh…" Phoebe murmured, hesitating until she saw the same encouraging look appear on her father's face. With both men watching intently she took a big bite, barely a third of the giant strawberry. "Yum!" She declared through her mouthful, chewing and swallowing quickly so that she could take another bite.
"That good huh?"
"You gots ta try Daddy" The toddler insisted, holding the half eaten strawberry out to him as juice trickled down her arm.
"How 'bout we buy some and take them home? Then Mama can have some too" He suggested, shaking his head to turn down her offer.
"Yes please!" She agreed happily, slurping the line of juice from her wrist before taking another bite. "My Daddy gonna pay fa all you strawberries Mister Wayne" Phoebe told the old gentleman before throwing the green leafy top of the strawberry. Ryan was on the verge of scolding the toddler when he saw the bird swoop down and retrieve the food scrap.
"Well maybe not all of them" He managed to say as they all watched the bird, the stall holder tossing over a small dark strawberry when the bird trilled at him after finishing the stem.
"Daddy pay for a lakes and a cabins too ya know, so we can has holiday week-ind" Phoebe explained, the same way that most small children overshare with relative strangers.
"Well aren't you lucky" Wayne acknowledge as he carefully selected a prepacked punnet and set it down on the table in from of Ryan. He could immediately see that it contained more of the almost unnaturally large strawberries.
"Yeah" The toddler confirmed, as if that was obvious.
"Two please" Ryan said, stacking a punnet of smaller strawberries on top of the first before handing over a ten dollar note.
"Certainly" Wayne replied, packing the punnets into a bag before fishing around in his pocket for change. Ryan was quick to dismiss the coins offered, feeling it was only fair to pay for the strawberry Phoebe had sampled and the friendliness he had shown the curious toddler. "Now are you going to carry these Miss Phoebe?"
"Daddy, you carry da rests?" Phoebe pondered as she accepted the bag.
"We have to leave some for everyone else" Ryan explained, a confused and mildly disappointed look overtaking the toddler's face for a brief moment.
"Umkay" The toddler accepted reluctantly, deciding it was only fair that other people should have the chance to enjoy the delicious strawberries. "Thank you Mister Wayne" Phoebe added as her father took her hand, ready to keep going.
"Not there" Phoebe argued, tugging at the picnic blanket her father had just set down.
"Phoebe, it needs to be in the shade" Alex countered, stepping on the corner nearest her to stop the toddler moving it any further.
"Why?" She demanded crossly, refusing to let go of the blanket.
"Because we spent a lot of time in the sun this morning" Alex reasoned calmly, quite certain she would outlast Phoebe if that was what it came to.
"But that grasses are not soft" Phoebe complained, pointing to the considerably thicker grass in the full sun.
"Why don't we put it over there, there's nice grass and it's shady" Ryan suggested, pointing to the opposite side of the tree where both criteria would be met. The only reason he hadn't put it there to begin with was that it didn't have a nice view across the lake.
"Umkay" Phoebe agreed simply. Alex hesitated in lifting her foot for a few beats, pulling a face at her husband. That was why he hadn't wanted to get involved, they were both so strong willed. His broad smile won her over and she stepped out of the way, allowing Phoebe to drag the picnic blanket around the tree.
"You know you can say no to her" Alex informed her husband quietly as the followed their daughter.
"Mm, but why would I when she's right?" He challenged with a smirk, taking the bags of food from her hands and setting them in the middle of the blanket. He turned back in time to see her sigh and shake her head, helping her remove Asher from the baby carrier he set the baby down next to the food on his blanket.
Phoebe had smoothed all of the wrinkles from the picnic blanket and positioned herself in the corner right at the edge of the shade. Asher laid on his back kicking his legs while looking up at the sky, twisting his hands together and making the cutest noises. Alex reached into the bag which held the turkey, yam and cranberry wraps they had purchased for lunch. She peeled back the wrappings on one and handed it to Phoebe before repeating the process for her husband. Before starting hers she set out the strawberries, celery and peanut butter they had bought as well.
They ate in peace for a few moments before Asher upended a punnet of strawberries which in turn unsettled Phoebe. Not long later Phoebe began complaining that she was too full to finish her wrap, surrendering it to her father to finish but then instantly digging in to the strawberries.
"Strawberries da yum-est" Phoebe declared after finishing her first bite, speaking on behalf of her little sister.
"The yummiest? I don't think so" Alex disagreed, snapping off a stalk of celery and dipping it into the peanut butter, making a show of taking a big bite and crunching away.
"Well there're three of us" Ryan interjected, reaching into the bag to select a strawberry. Unlike the toddler he really was full, having eaten his own wrap and finished Phoebe's he didn't even feel like trying a strawberry. He knew it would be delicious and enjoyed challenging his wife.
"That just means I don't have to share" She reasoned with a victorious smile. Ryan couldn't argue with that, instead changing the topic by asking if she had baby wipes to clean most of Phoebe's sticky hands.
They enjoyed their afternoon of lounging around outside. Ryan cleaning up Phoebe's sticky hands and face as best as he could when Phoebe started crying a few minutes later. Her brother had unknowingly caused the upset by swatting his sister's face a little more sharply than usual. Alex apologised for the baby, guiding Asher to kiss Phoebe's sore cheek better.
Ryan took Phoebe to look out at the lake, pointing out a large rock on a sandy peninsula. They could see the other side of it from the cabin. The toddler explained that the rock was actually an elephant that had been frozen by its grumpy sister.
Alex knew she shouldn't have kept eating, since she wasn't hungry, but found it hard to resist the peanut butter. Eventually she packed it away, folding the picnic blanket and placing the bags on top. She had decided it was time to get back to the cabin even before Asher started wailing, his mother scooping him up off the grass where he had laid around apparently too much for the baby. As tiredness got the better of him.
Phoebe immediately recognised the sound of her brother crying and demanded they go and see what was wrong. Alex fastened the unhappy baby into his car seat and left Phoebe to try and settle him while she helped her husband pack everything into the back of the car. Asher had quieted by the time they got in, sucking on his hands he was definitely ready for a nap.
"You think we'll retire some place like this" Ryan mused softly, rocking the porch swing slowly and tracing patterns on his wife's arm as they looked out at the lake. When they returned to the cabin their children had both been on the verge of sleep, after settling them in the front bedroom for a nap Alex and Ryan had no choice but to relax.
"Uh... I don't know" Alex answered honestly, she had never considered retirement before, growing up she hadn't thought she would live that long.
"Do you think we could leave home?" He pressed, not sure where the mental image had come from. A porch swing instead of rocking chairs. Them, old and happy.
"I suppose, it would depend on the kids" She shrugged, unwilling to put much thought into something that was so distant and uncertain.
"Yeah" He agreed with a nod, watching a small boat speed across the lake. It was well beyond their little bay, so far away that no sound reached them.
"But I mean that's the future, we don't know what's going to happen between now and then" She reasoned, regretting voicing an opinion before she had really considered it. "No matter where we end up we'll be together" She asserted, that was what really mattered.
"That's the most important thing" Ryan affirmed, using the arm around her shoulders to pull her into his side he kissed her hair.
"But babe" She started, pulling away from him slightly so that she could look him in the eye.
"Yeah?"
"Don't worry about it, just try to enjoy this moment" She implored, staring deeply into his eyes for a moment before moving to kiss him, the swing shifting unpredictably beneath her such that she nearly missed his lips.
"I am" He assured seriously, planting his feet to steady them as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"Good" She replied with a soft sigh, nuzzling against his neck as she ran her fingertips up and down his chest. A few quiet moments passed as they both actively focused on staying in the moment, but before long they couldn't help but let their minds wander.
"Yesterday morning was exactly why I wanted to come here" Ryan stated, again the first to openly admit that his thoughts had travelled; this time into the recent past instead of the distant future.
"So we could swim in our pyjamas?" Alex questioned cheekily, smiling as she remembered the rush she had felt when her restraint had fallen away.
"No, that was you being crazy" He answered, speaking as if he was reminding her of something she shouldn't have forgotten. She pulled a face of mock outrage before smiling broadly. Unable to resist the twinkle in her eyes Ryan quickly kissed the tip of her nose.
"Well sometimes you've just got to be spontaneous and not think everything through" She justified seriously, though she knew he had just been teasing. It was as much a lesson she wanted to reiterate to herself as something she wanted him to embrace. "It was fun" She reflected, scanning sand at the shoreline in search of the footprints they had left.
"Yeah it was, just spending time as a family" Ryan granted. Though he clearly hadn't felt the same compulsion to immerse himself while clothed, he couldn't argue that it wasn't fun.
"Thank you Alex, for organising this. I really appreciate it" He told her, meeting his grey-blue eyes to ensure the depth of her appreciation was conveyed adequately.
"You deserve it" She replied, almost too quickly. Alex couldn't find the words to express her gratitude any more sincerely so she merely continued to gaze directly into him for as long as he would allow. Too soon though Ryan guided her head back down to his shoulder, rubbing at her arm as he pushed off to increase the arc of the swing.
Alex contemplated his response then, searching for some way to answer and extend their conversation. She played out a few scenarios mentally, beginning with the innate urge to disagree and put herself down. Surely she didn't actually deserve any of what they had. That would never work with him. And if she was honest with herself she knew it was the easiest option, accepting that she was being rewarded for hard work was much more difficult.
In the end she concluded that she had taken too long thinking to reply verbally, actions spoke louder than words. Lifting her head she had a few seconds to observe his profile before he turned and gave her a questioning look. They shared a smile then an intensely passionate kiss as she leaned into him and captured his lips. Ryan responded instantly, returning her fervour then, when the kiss broke he found her waist and lifted her onto his lap.
"Babe" She cautioned, pulling her dress from where it had bunched beneath her shins as she tried to get comfortable astride him.
"You're a better view than that any day" He insisted, stroking gently at her cheek with the pad of his thumb while his eyes did the rest of the convincing.
"Spontaneous" She murmured softly before his thumb found her bottom lip, tracing so slowly and lightly that it tingled. It quickly became unbearable so she pushed his hand away and pressed her mouth firmly against his, the pressure offering immediate relief. He nudged her lips apart with his tongue and readily accepted her soft moan.
Alex's hands travelled to the back of his neck, massaging fingertips venturing into his short clipped hair. Each time their mouths separated she would let out an involuntary whimper, eliciting a groan as she tried to get closer, grinding her pelvis against him. It was so good, addictive, he was soon pulling away mid-kiss just to make her move over him. Before long he was so hard it shifted from pleasure to pain, each parting torturous.
She tried to rise onto her knees, reaching down into the space between them to release him but he wasn't concentrating on keeping the swing steady. For the longest second she thought she was falling, surprised when his hands gripped her hips and lifted her enough that her feet could find the ground. As she stood there overcoming the shock he freed himself, pants pooling around his feet.
Alex briefly considered dropping to her knees and taking him in her mouth, but before she could he was reaching for her. Hands disappearing beneath her dress, he caressed the inside of her thighs fleetingly before tugging her panties off. He barely resisted the temptation to dip his head beneath the floral fabric and taste her. The opportunity was lost when she stepped closer, leaving the panties behind, running her fingers through his hair.
The way she massaged at his scalp never failed to send a shiver down his spine, resting his forehead against her stomach as the sensation coursed through him. Ryan inhaled deeply, he could smell her, feel the heat radiating from her. He needed her. Running his hands up the back of her legs he could feel how unsteady they were, pulling her back down onto his lap.
Alex grabbed the rope supporting the seat to steady herself, her husband trying to control the swing while focused primarily on guiding himself into her. Her free hand gripped his shoulder, lust-filled blue eyes darting up to look at her. She let out a short, shaky laugh, smiling for a second as she fought to control herself.
The movement of her tongue, running along her teeth, caught his attention. Watching closely when she then bit her bottom lip, moaning as she began to lower herself slowly. He had to look away, swallowing hard before looking back at her. Alex pulled her bottom lip through her teeth, making an audible pop as she released it. He growled, knowing he couldn't thrust into her and also keep the seat steady.
For a moment he thought about standing up, carrying her to the table and having his way with her there. He understood what she was doing though, and knew it was worth it. Still her panting breaths as she gradually took another inch had him twitching impatiently. When she was halfway down his length their eyes met and he couldn't resist the urge to kiss her.
As soon as he pulled away to take a breath she rose up slightly, shaking her head, anger and disappointment overtaking his features. She let him glower for a long moment before unexpectedly sinking down, moaning into his ear as he filled her completely. She stole his grin with a kiss before starting to rock her hips in a rough rhythm.
Ryan groaned as his wife nipped at his jaw, tangling his fingers in her hair he forced her to stop. They held eye contact for a long moment, Alex panting in time with the urgent movement of her hips. A grunt of exertion slipped from her parted lips and Ryan couldn't help but meet her with rapid thrusts.
Somehow he still thought to minimise the swing of the seat beneath them, keeping his feet planted which in turn let him plunge into her more forcefully. He could feel her begin to shudder and dropped his forehead to her chest, pressing a kiss to her exposed skin as her fingers dug into his shoulders almost painfully. His face was buried between her breasts when she arched into him, gasping as she quivered and clenched around him. A low grunt emanated from deep in his chest seconds later.
As their senses returned a sound in the distance demanded their attention, the rumble of an engine nearing was followed quickly by the crunch of tyres on gravel. Whoever had just pulled up out the front of the cabin had a terrible sense of timing.
