"No. Absolutely not. Put it away," I say, James pouting.
"But mommy, I really want it," he starts to whine. I shake my head and put the scooter away. He's only three and too little for scooters. He's going to wipe out and hurt himself. Maybe in a year or two.
"No, baby. Let's look at something else," I say, his hand taking mine. He targets the footballs and I sigh, telling him he can get one. He cheers and I feel a hand on my shoulder, my body turning around. The sight has me ready to laugh.
A few months after the accident, we got pregnant again. But this time, it was completely different. The pregnancy was harder because there was more pain on my hip. But the outcome was perfect and I couldn't have been happier.
Because right now, Harry's got our little girl strapped onto his chest and he looks like a complete dad. I've never been so in love.
"Look what mommy's getting me," James grins, showing Harry the football.
"Would you look at that! How cool, buddy," he grins, my little girl giggling as I kiss her cheeks.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" I ask, Harry shaking his head.
"They were sold out," he grins, his book hitting the charts huge. I'm so proud of him.
"That's awesome," I smile, James taking my hand. We walk to the registers and I maneuver Theresa out of the carrier. She curls onto my chest and Harry pays for the football James wants.
We all get to the car and Harry puts James in while I put Theresa in. The little girl giggles and I'm unable to stop smiling whenever I'm around these three. My family is amazing.
I drive us home and Harry takes James inside, my arms lifting Theresa out of the seat. She's fast asleep and I kiss her hair, taking her inside and laying her in the baby carrier in the living room. Then two arms wrap around my leg and I brush through James' curls, asking him what's up.
"I want to go and play," he says, my head nodding.
"Let's go bud," Harry says, walking out of his office. James runs to him and I walk into the kitchen to start dinner. I'm occasionally watching outside as Harry 'tackles' James, lifting him up and tickling him. The two of them are the same person; so beautiful and so pure.
And James stays that way as he grows up, Theresa following in his footsteps. Expect James is so protective over her, it's almost unbelievable. We raised them to be friends with each other, but Harry told James he has to look out for Theresa, just as he looked out for Harper.
But James took it to a whole new level. Being called into the principal's office just because my son decided to hit anyone who hurt Theresa was not my favorite pastime of his.
So Harry signed him up for football and it's taking some of his problems away. He made varsity football as a freshman and that makes me proud of him, but my poor Theresa doesn't understand how he was just looking out for her. She doesn't think anyone wants to be her friend but that's not it. They're afraid if anyone hurts her, they'll have James to deal with.
"Hi, this is Mary Ann, the secretary at Xavier high school. Is there a possibility you would be able to pick up James from school?" she says, my eyes closing.
"I'll be there soon," I sigh, Harry looking over at me.
"Oh no," he says, my hands lifting.
"I've got it this time," I say, his hand running through his hair. I grab my keys and drive down to school, walking into the office. And I just about have a heart attack at the sight of my son.
