Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (136 page)
Read Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set Online
Authors: Martha Sweeney
I’ve known since the morning after Maggie’s and Henry’s wedding that she wanted more than just sex, but I deliberately never called her out on it. Emma, with all that she’s been through and the type of person she is, needs to let her walls down on her own — she can’t be forced — coaxed, yes, but not forced. It has to seem like it’s her idea. I’ve never cared how long it would take her. She was and is the one, and to me, helping her come to those realizations was just as much fun.
“You don’t mind being stuck with me?” she questions jokingly.
“I’m not stuck with you, beautiful,” I return.
“I know, I know,” she muses.
“I chose you . . . and thankfully, you chose me too,” I state. “And . . . he chose us.” Our eyes fall upon our son. “If anything, you’re stuck with us and I don’t plan on going anywhere, Emma. My beautiful wife.”
She blushes slightly and moves closer, offering her lips to me. I take them without hesitation, keeping them connected until Emma laughs. Joe Jr. had tried to kiss his mommy, but ended up licking her cheek — he’s in the licking-kiss phase. Emma gives him a kiss and I’m quick to follow. The three of us go back and forth kissing each other and even Sadie and Jasper.
We make our way to the bathroom, wanting to rinse off from our day out after we change Joe Jr.. I grab one of his blankets and place it and several of his toys on the floor. Emma places him in the middle and Sadie and Jasper join him. While he’s busy playing, I start the bathtub and assist my wife with undressing.
“Easy, Mr. Covelli,” she teases. “He’s awake.”
“I know, Mrs. Covelli,” I muse. “That doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun.” My hands take their time, exploring her body as if it’s the first time.
She wiggles a little as I help to remove her clothes.
Offering my hand, I help Emma to step down into the tub once we’re naked, sitting on opposite ends so I can massage her feet. Our gazes bounce back and forth between each other and our son on the floor. Needing to feel her close, I tug on her ankle as I shift closer to her. My hands easily find her hips and I place her on my lap as we lounge. Joe Jr. crawls over, pulling himself up on the one-foot ledge to get to us. With one hand, I get a hold of Joe Jr. under his left armpit and lift him the last little bit so he’s sitting on the ledge that rests at my shoulder level. Emma unbuttons his onesie and we remove his clothing and diaper before bringing him into the water.
“Those classes have really paid off,” I mention as Joe Jr. splashes around in the water.
“And, you thought I was crazy,” Emma teases.
“No,” I remark. “But, it is impressive what an infant can do with just a few classes.”
Once Joe Jr. turned four months old, Emma had an instructor come to the house to teach Joe Jr. how to handle himself if he fell into water — primarily in our pool while he’s playing in the backyard. Amazingly, he took to it quickly, being able to rotate his body so he faces up and already knows how to call out for help. It took Sadie and Jasper a few times to trust the process and not dive in after him in the beginning — we had to lock them inside the house during his first two classes.
I scoop up some water in my mouth and spit it out at Joe Jr. who cracks up with laughter. I’m not sure if it’s the sound or the actual water projecting through the air that he finds so humorous. It doesn’t really matter to me since I’ll do anything to hear him laugh. Emma’s quick to join in the fun after I shoot the water in her direction twice. Joe Jr. laughs even more when Sadie and Jasper try to catch the water in their mouths.
At some point, Emma gets a look on her face — she’s smiling from ear to ear and I can tell she’s happy.
“What?” I say.
“Nothing,” she replies. Her grin widens.
“What is it, beautiful,” I coax.
“Nothing,” she says, moving closer. “I just love you.”
My heart races — it does every time she says it. “I love you,” I reply. I lean in for a kiss and she gladly reciprocates.
As Joe Jr. and I continue to play, I see her watching us out of the corner of my eye.
“Joe,” she calls.
“Yeah, beautiful,” I answer.
She drapes her legs over my lap and begins playing with my hair. “We may need to cut our honeymoon a little short,” she says oddly.
“Why? What’s wrong?” I question, confused by her random statement.
“Nothing,” Emma replies. She reaches for something on one of the built-in shelves behind me.
“Then why would you say . . . .”
“Because of this,” she states, handing me a long, white plastic tube.
My heart pounds in my chest as my eyes bounce between her face and the mark on the stick. “Are you serious?” I ask, eager that she’s not joking.
She smiles and nods as her eyebrows lift, nervous by my reaction.
“When did you find out?” I inquire excitedly.
“This morning,” she reveals, wiping the few tears falling down my cheek. “I had Anna pick me up two of those. Both have the same result.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was trying to find the right moment,” she confesses. “I wasn’t sure how you’d react, and after the last time with my avoidance . . . .” her voice fades and her head lowers.
I take Emma’s lips with mine, beyond ecstatic at the thought of us having another baby. “How far along are you?”
“I don’t know,” she giggles. “The stick doesn’t tell you that.”
“Why would we need to end the honeymoon? You’re not in the third trimester . . . at least, you don’t look like it.” I comment.
“For Kim to examine and confirm,” she admits.
“We could find someone here in Italy and then have Kim do a full checkup when we get back,” I offer. “We only have three more weeks for this leg of the first string.”
“We don’t have to finish,” she says timidly.
“No,” I assert lovingly. “You’ve waited this long to finally go on the first trip from the map you and your parents created. We’re going to finish it.”
“You sure?” she inspects.
“Yes, beautiful,” I confirm.
“We aren’t getting another dog,” she suddenly mentions.
“What?”
“Just because we got Jasper just before Joe Jr. was born. We aren’t getting another one each time . . . .”
Laughing, I cut her off, “Each time? How many do you want?”
“What? I don’t know,” she huffs with a little anxiety in her voice. “I love you, but I don’t think I can spit out seven like your mom did.”
A hearty laugh bellows from within me. “I’ll be content with however many we have . . . and if we want . . . sometime in the future, we could always adopt.”
“Really?” she checks.
“Really,” I confirm. “I don’t mind adopting . . . giving a child a chance in this world he or she may never have.”
Tears form in her eyes. “Thank you. I love you,” she shares, trying to stop herself from crying.
“I love you,” I answer.
After our bath, the three of us play with Sadie and Jasper and have lunch before venturing out on the town of Capri for a little while. When it nears dinnertime, I arrange for Anna to feed and watch Joe Jr. as I plan to take my wife out to dinner in celebration. We go dancing before we casually walk the streets back to the hotel, making plans to visit the hot springs tomorrow. Bidding goodnight to Anna when we return, Emma and I head over to our sleeping angel, admiring his beauty and wishing him sweet dreams as we kiss him goodnight. With the balcony doors open, a cool breeze in the air and a clear sky above, I make love to my wife under the Italian moonlight — excited for the life growing inside her, the life I have with our family and the one we’re building together.
Here’s to our beginning …
It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for taking the time to share in Emma’s journey. I hope that you have, or soon will find your Joe Covelli . . . your Emma Peterson . . . or whichever character has captivated your heart the most. I wish all the happiness you could ever imagine and that you deserve. We all deserve to find our happy endings! I’m proud to say that I found mine. There are bumps along the way, but the love, respect and honest communication is what makes us strong and unbreakable in our relationship. I wish for you to find the same and to never settle for anything less.
Wishing you Love, Peace and Happiness.
Kindest Regards,
Martha
Dr. Roger Callahan
and his therapy, Thought Field Therapy, is a viable and functional form of healing therapy that helps promote the body’s healing ability.
I was introduce to this wonderful therapy several years ago and it has helped me immensely in all aspects of my life. I have not experienced anything as traumatic as Emma, but this therapy has had a profound impact. As a former psychology major, and someone who has worked in the special needs community for a number of years, I give my full endorsement to the techniques and teachings of Dr. Roger Callahan and his staff, and strongly encourage you to consider using it.
If you or anyone you know has gone through any form of trauma; surgery, loss of a loved one, severe or minor accidents or even have phobias, I strong recommend looking into using Thought Field Therapy. The actual physical trauma does not have to be profound in order for negative emotions to be attached to it. Thought Field Therapy is an effective, viable, non-invasive therapy.
I am not a doctor, therefore I cannot give medical advice. I can only recommend tools and resources that I have personally found beneficial and hope that you do as well.
Cheers to taking charge of your own health.
Dr. Callahan’s books:
2.
Tapping the Body’s Energy Pathways
3.
Five Minute Phobia Cure: Dr. Callahan’s Treatment for Fears, Phobias and Self-Sabotage
4.
Dr. Roger Callahan’s Introduction to Thought Field Therapy (TFT): Home Study Programme
I’d love to hear from you. Don’t forget to post your honest review on Goodreads.com, Amazon.com or anywhere else where you can spread your love for Emma, Joe, Sadie, Maggie, Henry, Jared and the rest of the Just Breathe characters. From time to time, I do have contests for my readers, especially those who have written an honest review! Keep yours eyes on my social media for more details!
There are several more books from me on their way! Some will be in the romance genre while others will venture into new genres — which ones, you ask? They shall remain a mystery — for now. :)
As a special treat, for those of you who have read Just Breathe, which means you have taken your time to read this entire series, I will share this . . . . my next novel will be entitled
Killmore
.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when you have a question or a comment while you’re reading or re-reading one of my novels. I’m always happy to chat!
Again, thank you so much for going on this journey with Emma. I hope that you have learned something about yourself and have taken away a small piece of something that can positively impact your life.
When life starts to get to you — breathe. Just Breathe. Be strong. Be fearless. Most importantly, be HAPPY. If you’re not, then change the things that you have control of to find your happiness.
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