I stared at my computer screen, looking at a photo Grace posted on her Facebook.

It was the picture of her, Ruby, Lila, Taylor and I on graduation day. The caption said: 'can't believe this was ten years ago today! I miss these guys so much ❤️!'

I closed my eyes and smiled, remembering that day like it was yesterday.

Man...I miss them like hell.

I haven't seen Grace, Ruby or Lila since the summer of senior year. We have been so busy but I was able to catch up with Taylor four months ago for coffee. Taylor has a boyfriend of three years and became a fashion designer. Grace, according to her Facebook, has two kids and is married to her high school sweetheart, Jake Lahey. Ruby and Lila on the other hand broke up the summer of senior year because they didn't want a long distance relationship, but I don't know if their together now.

And as for me...life's been pretty damn good if I do say so myself.

My office door creaked open.

Turning my desk chair, I smiled at the receptionist. "Hello, Valarie."

She smiled, "good afternoon, Mrs. Becker. There's someone for you on line two."

I nodded. "Got it. Thank you."

Valarie closed my office door shut. When she left, I picked up the phone.

"Hey, beautiful," the person on the other end greeted.

"Hello." I blushed. Six years of being married to Ryder and he still makes me blush like when we first met.

"Why did you call me on my work phone? I have calls to make, you know," I reminded him, since I was still at work.

"I know, but you don't answer your cell phone at work, but you do answer your work phone."

I smiled to myself. Oh, Ryder.

I could hear him sigh heavily. "I just...I miss you so much. I just needed to hear your voice."

My eyes flickered over to the picture frame I had on my desk. Picking it up, I admired the photo. It was of Ryder, our kids and I on a trip to Disneyworld.

"I miss you too," I said and sighed as well.

Ryder is on a business trip in France. He has been gone for two weeks. What's great for me is that he gets back tomorrow, so I won't have to take care of the kids alone. He is one of the best doctors in America and gets to travel around the world to help people in need of treatment.

"How are the kids?" he asked.

After college, Ryder proposed to me and we had a beautiful wedding – a day I will never forget. A year after our wedding we had our first child, Bradley. One year after he was born, we had another child, Lucy. And two years after Lucy, we had our final child, Elena.

Pressing the phone up to my ear with my shoulder, I began to multi-task and start typing on my computer.

"Good. Bradley is at soccer practice and Elena and Lucy are at home with the nanny."

"Who's going to pick him up from soccer? That's my job." Ryder huffed, upset he couldn't pick up our son. Ryder and Bradley loved to spend father and son time together. Their bond was unbreakable.

"Fatima will do it. Don't worry, you have all next week to pick him up." Fatima is the name of the nanny who watches our kids since Ryder and I both have jobs.

"Go get some rest, love. You sound so tired," Ryder said worriedly.

No matter what he always knows how I'm feeling, even if he can't see me. I love how he's able to understand me so easily.

Because that's all that anyone really wants, someone who understands them completely.

"I will. Thank you for the concern, Ry." I yawned. Wow, I really am tired.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you. I'll see you tomorrow."

After that phone call, time went by at the speed of light and sure enough, I was packing my bags and heading out of the office.

"Bye everyone, have a great weekend," I said my goodbyes to all my fellow peers and left the office.

I walked into the elevator. The walls were clear, so as I rode down I was able to see the buildings and streets around me.

The bold, brilliant colors of the sunset burned my eyes as I watched it while going down the elevator. Ryder was so far away, but at least we're under the same sky.

Taking my eyes away from the sunset, I looked down at the parking lot only to see a hooded man leaning up against my car.

What the hell? Who is that?

Finally the elevator doors pushed open and I sped-walked to the front doors of the building.

My car was parked facing the building but the man leaned up against it with his back facing me.

I grabbed my pocket knife from my purse; I always carry it with me. You never know what might happen to you, better safe than sorry.

Cautiously waking closer, I shouted "hey! Get off my car!"

The man didn't move an inch.

Once I was in arms reach, I grabbed onto his shoulder and turned his broad body around.

"Tell me who you are-''

I gasped once I recognized the face of the hooded man.

He removed his hood and smirked. "Missed me?"

"Oh my god, Ryder!" I jumped into his arms and he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly. "I thought you weren't getting back until tomorrow!"

"I know but I wanted to surprise-''

Before he could finish his sentence I kissed his lips forcefully, missing the sweet taste of his soft lips against mine.

As I kissed him, I thought about how much I missed him and his soft kisses and his warm body cuddling me at night and his beautiful face and his wacky personality. I missed all of him and I've never been more glad to see someone ever.

"I decided to leave France a day early to see you. I couldn't stand being without you and I know that sounds corny but it's true. You're it for me, baby. I want to be by your side always and forever," Ryder told me.

I smiled warmly at him, taking in his words. "God, I missed you so so much! I'm so glad your home."

He kissed my neck and I shivered, realizing how good it felt. "Me too, baby."

He put his arms on my shoulders and stared at me. "On the phone you sounded tired, but in person you look tired as well. Let me drive you home."

"Ok." I handed him the keys to my car and he opened the passenger seat for me. Before I got into the car I grabbed his face and kissed him one last time before he got in the car.

We sat in the car, staring at eachother with goofy grins on our faces.

"Where to?" he asked even though he knew where.

"Home," I smiled, gazing out the window. "To our lovely home."

***

Once we pulled into the driveway, we saw our three kids playing handball against the garage wall. We smiled happily knowing how well our children got along...well, most times.

"Wait here," I told Ryder. I wanted it to be a suprise for the kids that he came back from France early.

I got out of the passenger seat and the kids greeted me by running up and hugging my legs and waist.

"Mommy! I missed you!" Elena squealed.

"I missed you...all of you so much." Even though I saw them in the morning, I always missed them. They were my babies, how could I not?

I picked up Elena and kissed her cheek and she giggled.

"I have a surprise for the three of you," I told them and they all gasped in excitement.

"What is it! What is it! What is it!" they cheered.

All of them went mute once they saw the driver seat door open up and out step their father.

The three of them opened their mouths in shock as their eyes opened wide.

Ryder held out his arms and crouched down. "Guess who's back!"

"Daddy!!!!!!" Elena screamed with happiness, squirming in my arms.

Bradley and Lucy ran up to him and hugged his body tightly.

I walked over to the three of them as I held onto Elena.

After hugging Bradley and Lucy, Ryder held out his arms and I gave him Elena.

"Daddy's missed all three of you so very much," Ryder spoke in third person.

Ryder looked at me and wiggled his eyebrows. "Especially you," he whispered, desire clouded his eyes.

I blushed and looked down at the floor.

"Daddy, why is mommy's face turning red?" Lucy asked her father and then Bradley and Elena turned to look up at me.

"Allergies," I told Lucy, feeling embarrassed.

Yeah...definitely.

She looked at me with confusion.

"Who wants to go inside and make hot chocolate?" I asked our kids. Hot chocolate was their favorite drink to make.

All of them screamed in excitement and raced eachother into the house.

I looked at Ryder. He intertwined his fingers with mine, his thumb rubbing circles on my palm. I sighed in relaxation.

His attention was drawn towards the kids. "It's so good to be home."

We walked to up the driveway hand-in-hand.

This life we have together is one I can not explain. I have so much love in my heart for my husband and my kids, and having kids with this man has taught me the importance of life. It's taught me how valuable life really is, and that all these challenges you face are preparing you for the amazing that will soon come.

We got inside only to find Lucy standing on a chair trying to reach for a cup while Bradley reached for the milk in the fridge.

Elena tried opening up a bag of marshmallows, only to have them pop out of the top of the bag and scatter across the floor.

"Marshmallow rain!" Elena cheered.

We all laughed at her silliness.

Bradley stopped reaching for the milk and began to eat the marshmallows off the ground.

Ryder untangled his hand from mine and ran over to Bradley. "Bradley, dont eat those!"

I watched my chaotic family and smiled to myself.

This, I thought as I looked at my kids and at Ryder, is the most amazing gift life has ever granted me.