Victor looks out the kitchen window, staring across the back yard, beyond the pool, towards the trees that separate his house from the cottage out back. Winter is starting to take its grip on the landscape, stripping the trees of their brown leaves so that, day by day, a little bit more of the cotta
“It’s not a party, Victor,” Amelia breathes, her words angry and injured. “It’s a sacred ceremony, where we will be forever linked –“ “Party, ceremony, call it whatever you want,” Victor murmurs, turning away and entering his office. “Just don’t bother me with it anymore.” He sits down at his desk
“Sure, I have a moment,” I say, tucking my feet sideways beneath me. In honesty, though, I don’t have too long. The boys are downstairs waiting for their dinner and I have absolutely nothing thawed or prepped. Still, I can tell by the tension in Victor’s voice that something’s up. He sighs, a big
He hums, listening. “If you don’t, I worry that she’ll close the space between you and find ways to convince you to agree to the things that she wants, even if they’re in her best interest, not both of yours.” “Thank you,” Victor says, decisive. I jump a little at the closure and authority in his
“I mean, did we have to go across town for the burgers?” I say, running an exasperated hand through my hair as I stand on the side of the road, staring at the steaming engine of Victor’s Jeep. “We had to get the best, mom,” Alvin says sternly, ready to jump to his dad’s defense. The boys were thril
“What are you doing?” Victor asks. “Adventure,” I say, looking at him with wide eyes as if it’s obvious. “Come on!” With that, I head into the grassy meadow next to the car, which runs for what looks like miles in every direction. “Evelyn,” Victor says, his voice low with warning. “This doesn’t s
“Did you fall asleep too?” I whisper to Victor. “No,” he murmurs beside me, his voice low, luxurious. “But I might. I can’t remember the last time I was this…relaxed.” I shift myself, turning a little so that I can look at him. I can make out the curve of his long, straight nose, his firm lips, hi
Victor straightens his tie and clears his throat. God damnit, he thinks, pay attention, Victor. For the life of him, he can’t seem to keep his mind on the subject at hand. For some reason – Well, God damnit, I know the reason, he thinks, gritting his teeth – He just can’t seem to focus on the con
“Me me me,” he says, hardly able to contain his excitement. “My turn, mama. Please.” And he looks down, again, at his little girl. “Well,” I say, shifting her in my arms and leaning forward so Ian can better see her face. She frowns in her sleep, squirming a little and making me smile. “I was think
Several hours later, I’m changed and curled up more comfortably in my bed with Victor by my side, a baby in each of our arms, and our boys curled up like puppies at the end of the bed. Archie is on the bed too, cuddled between them. We sit quietly together, all still focused on the two little babie
“It’s all right, doctor,” I say, giving her a little smile and nodding towards the boys. “We found them.” “Oh my god,” she says, shaking her head and placing a hand over her heart. Then she frowns at them. “How did they…” “Window,” Victor says, gesturing towards it and sighing. “It’s all right. Th
“Come on, Evelyn,” the doctor says confidently as Victor squeezes my hand, his eyes darting between my face and the first baby, which the doula is now wrapping in her first swaddle. “One more push, and then you’ll be done, and you can hold your little girls.” “Okay,” I huff, sitting up and shifting
Slumped on the couch, Ian heaves a gigantic sigh. “What is taking so long,” he mutters, glaring angrily at the steps as if they’ve personally offended him. “You knew it would take a while,” Bridgette murmurs, running a hand over Ian’s soft brown hair and smiling fondly at her nephew. She sighs and
“Oh my god,” Victor gasps, instantly wide awake. “Oh my god,” he says again, grabbing my face and searching it like it has answers. “Are you – are you okay?” “Yes,” I say, nodding but then belying my answer with an immediate moan. I grit my teeth, my hand going to my stomach as I weather the contra
And between them, my three Alphas have kept me sane. Even though every other part of the end of this pregnancy has worked hard against that sanity. Very, very hard. Even though the TV is on, capturing both of our attention, Ian very suddenly turns his head towards my stomach, like a dog hearing a w
As it turns out…I cannot. I cannot spend 3 months in bed, waiting for my babies to be born. Two and a half months later, I’m basically climbing the walls, I’m going so crazy sitting here in this bedroom, waiting for my little girls to be born. I’ve done it this long, though. I’ve stayed in my bedr
“Why?” Victor asks, suddenly serious in the sea of merriment. “Evelyn, why aren’t you here? What’s wrong?” “Um…” she says, her eyes glancing away awkwardly. “Because…I went into early labor…and I’ve been put on bedrest…” The tablet cracks as it falls to the floor. Rafe gasps, reaching down for it