The next months, Lark was weak and in pain. We moved into my parents’ house and hired a baby nurse. My girl was smart enough to take advantage of the help. She rested when tired and bonded with the babies when she had the energy. Even though the doctors were forced to perform a hysterectomy to save her life, Lark never allowed this news to dampen her good mood.
My muse’s name was Lark and she faced death and won.
Epilogue - Lark
By the time the twins were three, Sundays at the Johansson property was a regular event. Farah, Maddy, and I helped Jodi cook while the men and Tawny watched the kids played. During the summers, we’d swim late into the evening.
Sitting with our feet in the pool, Farah and I smiled at Judd. The enforcer rested on a lounge chair with Tawny and three month old Gunnar asleep against him. Even exhausted, he grinned back at us.
Listening to our kids laughing nearby, Farah ran her finger over my pink cobra tattoo. I remembered how it was my roller derby captain Sarah who suggested instead of making my worm a sissy butterfly that I get a cobra like my man. As soon as I was back in fighting shape, I was back skating for the team and sitting for Aaron’s artistic touch.
Nearby, Aaron held Phoebe and talked to Cooper who cradled a sleepy Lily. My little girl had her dark curls pulled back into a ponytail as she traced her daddy’s tats. She especially liked the heart with her and Leo’s names inside. Mine was above theirs and space remained for more possible children. Every time I looked at that heart, I remembered how empty it once seemed. Now, it was filled with the names of those Aaron loved.
Sawyer ran past her mother with a blonde Scarlet and little Leo chasing right behind her. Holding a dozing Miranda in her lap, Jodi told her daughter to keep the noise down. Sawyer muttered something before disappearing into the yard to roughhouse with the dogs.
Watching my little guy work to keep up with his older buddies, I felt pride at creating such beauty. Aaron worked magic with his art. Together, we’d created two works of art.
“Is Aaron looking to shave off Leo’s curls yet?” Farah asked, sliding into the pool.
I followed her lead and sighed at the warm water on my skin. Glancing at Aaron, I shook my head. “He hasn’t even hinted. I think he knows how much I love those curls. It’ll be Leo who asks one day to have them cut off, so he can look like his daddy. Until he begs me, I’m going to enjoy my boy’s curls.”
Farah dunked her hair into the water then smiled at a grinning Cooper. “I’ll be happy to finish school. I’m ready to get in the classroom as a teacher.”
“It won’t be long,” I said, wrapping a pink lock of hair behind my ear. “I still hate school, but the business and accounting classes are helpful. I wouldn’t get a degree in them though.”
In a few months, Jade and Tony planned to move to Lexington and open Aaron’s second shop. As a result of the expansion, I was handling the business’s finances. With the twins getting older and enjoying their time at Aunt Maddy’s, I wanted to help Aaron more. He was even teaching me to do flash tattoos, so I could take on clients one day.
Our life was perfect and I wouldn’t have changed anything. Even though the twins would be the last babies I carried, we’d grow our family in a few years. Once the new business was settled, we would find a bigger house that suited our eclectic tastes along with space for Aaron’s studio. We weren’t in any hurry though. If nothing ever changed, our lives were perfect.
As perfect as the smile Aaron gave me as he talked with Cooper and held our little girl.
When I was a kid, I believed I would never find a place I fit. After losing Phoenix, I gave up on being a mom. I thought a job or dress code would give me value and I could be happy alone.
Instead, I became someone I never dreamed. These days, I was never really alone either. Whether relaxing at home, taking classes, or skating with the Storm Babes, I was always part of something amazing and I never had to smile when my heart was broken.
His name was Aaron and he was the answer to all my prayers.