Chapter 54: Chapter 54

A Year Later

Cassandra's POV

"Mommy, I'm going fishing with daddy," said Max as he got ready to go with Julian to the pond in the park nearby. Julian kissed me on my forehead as I breastfed my two-month-old, beautiful daughter whom we named Meryl Analaise Henderson. I nodded and smiled at both of them tenderly.

"Be careful and listen to your Daddy," I told him but he had run off to get his toy fishing gear already.

"Take some rest, Cassie. I'll be treating Max to ice cream afterwards," he told me.

"Sure, don't forget to get some for me," I said to him making him chuckle.

"I can't wait for the day when we can again go out as a family," he said. I smiled at his wish. I wished that too but Meryl being a month premature, the doctor had advised taking extra care of her till she gains more bodyweight.

"Soon, till then you can get me treats," I pointed out making him chuckle.

"Sure, why not? Nora do you want ice cream as well?" asked Julian to Nora who had almost become like family to us. She rolled he eyes at him.

"I thought you'd never ask," she said making him chuckle. Max came back with his toy fishing gear.

"Daddy, let's go. What are you waiting for? Mommy is busy with Meryl. She can't kiss you," said Max impatiently. I rolled my eyes at his words while Julian pouted looking sad. Max giggled and pulled him along. Nora doubled with laughter.

It had been a year since I was married to Julian yet the magic between us, the love between us has been the same as before. He was the most caring husband on earth and I couldn't have asked for a better life partner than him.

I completed my graduation on a fast track so that I could concentrate on Meryl more. Two months back, I experienced pre-term labor and my water bag broke. Meryl had to be delivered via a caesarian section. I was under excessive care for a month and now I got back my health. Although Meryl was born premature, we monitored her closely and she was now fine.

Max was ecstatic to get a baby sister. He was very attentive to her, he could watch her for hours.

Anna twins were quite a handful and whenever they visited us, Max was over the moon to get Arielle to play with. Even Amy visited us with her baby boy who resembled Tristan in every aspect. He was the naughtiest of the lot and we always wondered how Amy managed him. Mom and Dad helped me cope up after my delivery, coming to see me regularly. They were like a pillar of support for me. With Avery's husband had transferred to New York permanently, Aunt Caroline was free to visit me whenever she wanted to.

The kids bonded well with each other and our family get-togethers became more fun occasions for young as well as old. Gran wasn't well last month, but with regular checks and medicines, she was better. She still harped on the same thing, the next wedding in the family.

"We'll get Arielle married at eighteen. I want to see her happy before I die," said gran. We all protested hearing her negative words.

"Why would you die? You look so hale and hearty," said dad.

"Can I marry a prince, Gigi?" asked Arielle. Gran's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Why not?" she asked, telling her stories of how a prince Charming would arrive and whisk her off on his horse one day. We all rolled our eyes at that.

"Mom, please don't stuff her head with bullshit. There's nothing like prince Charming these days. She might fall for a jockey instead!" said dad, making us all roll with laughter.

"Stop, granddad. Prince Charming is real," scolded Arielle and dad groaned.

"I can see that the harm has already been done," he said, walking away. Stefan was cool about it. He didn't bother with planning for the future. Arielle was just seven and she had a lot of growing up to do before that.

Adrian and Azura were yet to have children. They were giving it to me since Azura was too young. They were on a vacation in Mauritius and we all expected Azura to get pregnant when she returned. Anna, Amelia and I caught up with each other on our favorite topic, babies and their problems. We discussed everything and it helped a lot.

Three days later, mom invited us to dinner at her beach house to celebrate our Wedding anniversary. Julian and I wanted to stay over just like we had done a year back for our honeymoon. It was a special place for us since we had got married there. Max wanted Arielle also to stay back and Stefan agreed.

So we all packed up for a few days and left for mom and dad's house for a few days. It would be the first time for Meryl though.