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
Victor’s eyes shift to Willard, noticing that he makes no such denial of personal conversation with Walsh. Instead, Willard’s smile grows, taking pleasure in watching Victor struggle under this new revelation. Victor’s rage grows inside him and his claws begin to emerge from his fingertips, scrapin
“Daddy!” They yell, wrapping their arms in hugs around his legs. Victor laughs, greeting them, feeling his stress almost melt away. “Hey boys, good day at school?” he asks. “Yes, it was awesome,” Ian says, grinning up at him. The door creaks again and Victor looks up to give Evelyn a smile as well
“Yes, they were picked up half an hour early. I got word of it this morning from the office, it was all planned.” My mind races, trying to find an explanation. Did Victor? But no – he would have told me – I snap my eyes back to Mrs. Kay’s face, feeling my emotions turn to steel. “Where are they.”
Two hours later, our convoy pulls into my father’s driveway. Almost before the car stops, I yank off my seatbelt and start to open my door, desperate to know if they’re here. “Evelyn –“ Victor calls as I jump step out of the car, slamming the door behind me. I hear him open his own door as I quick
My mother looking worryingly at the door. “He played you a dirty trick, then. Again, I’m so sorry, Evelyn – I thought they were coming here to meet us with your consent.” I huff a little laugh, full of derision. “Why would I ever let my boys come here, with him? After what he did to me?” My mother
“Come on boys,” my mother says, reaching down to take Alvin and Ian’s hands. She shoots Emma a worried look as she does so. “Let’s let the grown-ups talk for a minute, we’ll go outside and see the lake.” “No.” Victor says, keeping his eyes on my father. “My children will stay with me.” My eyes fla
My eyes widen with shock, my breath shuttering. What? A quick glance at Victor tells me that he is equally ignorant about what’s going on. How can – “Tell me, Victor,” my father says, falling into a more casual stance that mocks Victor’s ignorance and powerlessness. “What is it, precisely, about th
“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