Knocked Up-Bonus Scene

Four years later…

I pull up behind Dex’s pickup next to the site that Clearwater is currently working on.

“Daddy.” Maisie points to Dex’s pickup with a big smile on her face. She’s a daddy’s girl, that one.

“Yes, sweetie, we’re going to see Daddy.”

Faber’s still asleep in his car seat, and I let him sleep while I get Maisie out and message Dex to let him know we’re here.

Maisie stamps her feet impatiently, wearing the little worker boots Dex got for her.

I can’t bring the kids on site, but they love coming to see their dad at work, even if it is from a distance.

Justin’s in school now and I miss having the little guy with me, but I’ve got my hands full with a determined three-year-old and a baby.

Dexter strides across the site, and my heart flutters at the site of him. He’s in full workman’s gear with his hard hat on and carrying a pick axe. He’s brought it over for Maisie, I’m guessing. She’s fascinated with his tools, and he made her a miniature wooden set to play with. I bet she’ll follow in her brother’s footsteps and get into construction too.

Because it’s not Dex I’m here for today.

A tall lanky figure strides after Dex, easily keeping up with his long legs. I scan Ty’s face as he approaches, a mother’s worry, looking for any signs on how his day is going.

He smiles when he sees me and gives me a nod.

“Hey Mom.”

I hold up two brown paper bags, one for Ty and one for Dex.

“I brought you lunch.”

The men take the bags gratefully, and I pull out Maisie’s lunch box and a sandwich for myself. This is a small build and there’s no site office, so we lean against the cars as we eat. But we’re used to making do. As long as we’re all together, it doesn’t matter where we eat.

Faber cries to let me know he’s awake, and I get him out of his car seat. He’s hungry too, and I pull down my maternity top and he latches on. After nursing three babies, I’m an expert at this now. And it doesn’t even occur to me to be embarrassed, feeding my baby on the edge of a building site.

I wait until Ty’s finished eating before asking him about his morning.

He beams as he tells me what he’s been doing. It’s his first day apprenticing with Clearwater. He wants to get into demolition, just like his dad. I worried that he wouldn’t have the frame for it. He’s not solid like Dex. But Dex has been taking him to the gym to build up his upper body. Besides, there are plenty of other jobs on site if he finds something else he prefers.

Maisie jumps up and down at her father’s feet and he picks her up, finishing his sandwich off with one hand.

She pulls at his beard and he pretends to bury his head in her chest, making her giggle.

Then she puts her arms out for Ty to take her. He’s got a line of dark stubble on his chin, a seventeen-year-old’s best effort to grow a beard.

But Maisie has a different game she plays with her brother. Soon they’re running around the cars playing hide and seek, the sound of their laughter echoing through the deserted street.

Dex sighs contentedly and takes my hand. He squeezes it too tight like he always does. But I don’t mind. It’s a reminder of how strong my big, burly husband is.

Me and Dex talk quietly about our visit next month to see Grace and Calvin and their family. With his hand in mine, Faber sucking gently on my breast, and the sounds of the kids’ laughter, a contentedness spreads through me. I have everything I need right here, and I’m eternally grateful for that.