Alex POV
How amazing it is that children grow up in a blink of an eye. Three years have passed and Bella, at this age has become more curious as she try so hard to make sense of the world. You can hear it, if you listen to her questions. Millions of questions.
As adults we may tend to ridicule or brush aside most of the things children say, apart from some clear signs of pain or hunger, yet if one takes a minute to sit back and think about the words coming out of a little one's mouth or their actions, it is difficult to be not amazed. Its amazing to even think about how much or what is going in the minds of small children.
One time I was sick so I stayed in bed all day. I haven't eaten because it's hard to keep things down. My daughter burst in the door of our bedroom excitedly.
"Mommy! Mommy! We made soup!". She yelled proudly and climb in bed with me.
"Bella what did I tell you?" Piper said following behind her. "Be gentle with mommy, she's sick".
"That's fine, babe". I murmured.
"We made you some chicken soup, I hope this helps you feel better". Piper said as she place the tray beside me.
"How are you feeling?".
"Disgusting, nauseous". I said and sit up.
Bella scoot closer beside me. "Mommy, it's really yummy". My daughter whispered and pointed at the soup.
"Did you helped Mama made this?". She nod her head vigorously.
The soup was actually really delicious that I finished the whole thing. Bella was really happy watching me eat the food she help made.
A few weeks prior to that Piper asked me what I want to eat for dinner and I said chicken soup. My daughter in the other room heard our conversation and she came to the kitchen with a worried look on her face.
"Mommy, are you sick again?".
"No love, why did you ask?".
"Because you said you want chicken soup".
Yes, those tiny little minds are incredible and almost at times unbelievably active.
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We are staying in New York for two weeks visiting Piper's family. Right now the three of us are going to the restaurant to have some lunch before heading out to Piper's parents. I really miss New York, but I hate the traffic here.
"Mommy what's over there? Is that a candy store?".
Bella is in the back, strapped in her car seat.
I crane my neck trying to see around the car next to us.
"I think it is, honey".
"Can we go?".
"You'll have to ask your mom".
Piper is sitting in the passenger side and doing some stuff in her laptop. Probably getting things done at work. I'm pretty sure she didn't even hear what Bella said.
"Mama?".
"Yes, sweetie?". Piper answered back.
"Can we go to the candy store later?".
"Maybe after we all have lunch together. Is that okay?".
My daughter trying to contemplate about it for a few seconds.
"I guess that's okay," she said.
Even though she's still little, but her vocabulary is pretty impressive. Sometimes the way she talked made it easy to think of her as an adult.
"Mommy, do you think they have eggs there?"
"Yes, I'm sure they have". I answered back.
Eggs is the term she use for her favorite chocolate. Kinder Joy. They come in a plastic egg-shape packaging that is comprised of two separately sealed halves.
I always wonder why she likes them, I find it too expensive. The quantity of chocolate was less and the small toy is useless as it's not worth playing.
But maybe she likes the surprise that comes with it and she enjoys assembling the toys. I have noticed that these toys, even if it's very simple, makes you use your imagination a lot. I am all for creative play, so I still keep buying it for her.
Bella wanted to go to the best pizza place in town for our lunch, which according to her is Chuck E. Chesse's. We don't usually take her to this place, but this is the closest thing Piper can get for a "mom break". She put her phone and laptop away and just have fun following our daughter around while I enjoy watching them together having a good time.
The buttons are fun for toddlers to push and our daughter also likes to get on and off the rides. When she was younger she has no idea yet that they move or do anything, so we're trying to keep her in the dark about that. But not anymore, because now she likes to ride every single one of them and not just once.
They also have parent- friendly menu, including gluten free pizza. After having 2 slices of pizza our daughter burst into tears saying, "my mouth wants to eat more, but my tummy couldn't!".
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After we had our lunch, we went to the candy store and Bella, grab a few more chocolates. She said she wants to give some to her cousin and her grandparents. She was very excited to see them.
After a few more hours we arrived at her grandparents house. Piper was unbuckling Bella in her car seat when I saw Bill open the front door and stepped onto the porch. I went and helped Piper carry the bags.
"Pop-pops!"
"Bella!"
Bella was already out of the car and running at full speed towards her grandfather and jump in his arms. Despite physical distance, our daughter has an incredibly good relationship with her grandparents.
"You've gotten so big".
Bill, hugged Bella tight before putting her down. "And look at your hair. They've grown too".
He stroked her hair and Bella brushed the hair back over her shoulders.
"We went to the candy store!". She announced excitedly.
"You did? That's awesome!".
"Yes! And I've got you some chocolates".
"I can't wait to try them".
"Mama said we can't have them yet, not after dinner".
"Oh yes, that's right. I'm glad you're here, pumpkin".
Me and Piper slowly making our way toward them. Bill watched Bella jogged off inside the house before turning to see us approaching.
"Hey Dad. I've missed you". Piper murmured and hug her dad.
"I've missed you too, Piper".
Piper, was the first one to let go and Bill turn his attention to me.
"Alex, I'm glad you guys are here".
I lean in to give him a brief hug, but he engulf me in his embrace.
"I am too, Bill". He let go of me and gave me a stern look.
"Maybe it's time that you call me Dad".
"I'll work on that". I said and he chuckled.
"Alright, let's all go inside. Mom is preparing dinner."
I didn't have a good relationship with Piper's family in the beginning, especially with her dad. Bill is a tough man. But as years went by he started to open up and accept our relationship and ultimately me. I don't blame them because after all I was the one who sent their daughter to jail.
We all went inside the house but Bella is nowhere in sight. We found Carol in the kitchen peeling some potatoes.
"Hey, mom!". Piper called and she look up from the counter.
"Piper! Alex! Come here!" She hugged us both and when she let go, she examined us closely. "You guys look famished".
"Oh stop it Carol, they look lovely". Bill countered behind us.
"Where's Bella?". Carol crane her neck looking behind us for her granddaughter.
"She didn't come here?". Piper asked. "Where did that kid go?".
"That's alright, she's probably playing with the cat".
I would bet she is. Piper has a family cat and Bella was begging us to have a pet too. But I don't think she's old enough to own one just yet.
I busy myself in the kitchen helping Carol make dinner and I can see from the kitchen window my wife and Bella playing in the yard. I love hearing Bella's giggle while Piper is chasing her around and I can't help and smile at them.
"I never thought I would live to see this day". Carol said and I gaze at her, I didn't realize she was also looking at the window and watching my family. Piper is now kneeling on the ground and tickling Bella.
"Never see what day?".
"My daughter having her own family and especially seeing her become a mother. I've never seen her looked so contented and happy. I know you are a big part of it and I'm really grateful for that". Carol said and she place her hand on my arm and squeeze it gently.
"Piper has changed so much and she became a more better person".
"You raised a good daughter".
"No Alex, you are the reason why she wanted to become a good person and me and my husband are forever grateful to you".
Hearing those words coming from my mother-in-law, I can't help and feel very emotional. There was a time that I wasn't sure that we would get along. But as we grew to know each other, our respect for one another deepened.
Carol might not know, but she raised a woman who is independent and responsible. A woman who loves with an open heart and a woman who held me as I cried. She held my hand through heartbreak and joy, she's never ashamed to make silly faces to our daughter no matter who might be watching. She raised the kind of woman who has shown me her unshakable strength in the moments when I needed it most.
I don't want to cry infront of Carol so I turn my attention back to my family and I am now watching Piper got to her feet, brushed the dirt off her jeans and started chasing Bella again.
"You've succeeded in raising an amazing person". I said after a moment and I notice a smile spread across Carol's face.
"Piper wouldn't be who she is today without you. You may not have realized it, but you raised your little girl into the woman of my dreams".
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Piper's POV
Spending quality time with family is really important to Alex and I'm trying so hard not to talk about work or even think about it. But sometimes it is difficult to keep my brain from thinking about the incomplete task I have left at work.
"Mama?".
Lost in thought, I hadn't seen Bella approaching. Her face was shiny with sweat and some grass stains sticking to her clothes that I'm sure would never come out.
"Yeah, baby?".
"Can I have some chocolates now? Just one for me and one for Goodall?".
"I'm sorry baby, but you can't. It's almost dinner time".
"I know. Not even a little bit?".
"Later I promise, okay?".
Bella nodded.
"You guys looked like you were having fun".
"We was". She replied and I smiled at her words.
Just then, Alex came walking towards us with a towel in her hand. Even after years of being with her I can still feel the thrill and butterflies in my stomach whenever she walk in the room.
"Hey, babe". She greeted me.
"Hi, how's dinner going?".
"It's almost done, Cal is there helping your mom".
She walk closer to Bella and started to wipe her face with the towel.
"Oh my goodness, You are soaking wet. We have to change your clothes before eating dinner".
I've been told multiple times how "lucky" I am to have Alex as my partner. I don't think she is the way she is because of luck. And I didn't somehow win the wife lottery because I got a good one. We've worked hard for a good relationship. When we met she wasn't exactly the same woman she is today. She was, just like I was, a work in progress. As time went by, we've learned so much from each other. We've learned to be supportive, to share parenting work load and to give each other time for the things that mattered to us.
She's become a better woman because she's worked hard for it, and it wasn't always fun and easy.
So for me, having a good wife has nothing to do with luck. I am beyond blessed to have Alex.