The next morning, Victor wakes before Evelyn again. He’s pleased to see it, a little thrill of excitement running through him. Great, he thinks – I can go wake the boys and finally put my plan into action – “Nooo,” she murmurs, reaching for him as he starts to roll out of bed. “Come backkk. Too ea
I frown at Victor as he opens his bedside drawer, half my attention on Alvin reaching out to pull Archie off of Ian and give the dog a snuggle. “Why do you want a mint?” I ask, turning back to my kids. “You just brushed your teeth.” “Sometimes, you just want a mint,” Victor murmurs, and I turn back
“Um…” I say, looking at the empty velvet pillow inside the box. “Victor, baby…” I can’t help the little laugh that bubbles out of me. “What?” Victor asks, blinking. Then he looks down at the vacant box. “Oh my god,” he murmurs, looking all around him, as if the ring might have fallen out or somethi
Then, Victor opens his hand to show me perhaps the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I gasp when I see it, completely distracted from my answer. I am not a diamond afficionado, I know nothing about carats, but all I can say is that it is…big. Huge, even, and gorgeously cut and facet
Then, smiling again, Victor turns to me. “Well, Evelyn? What do you think?” “Actually,” I say, cheeky, “I would like to revisit this question of first-choice of deserts –“ Victor laughs, but also closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Please, Evie, the three of you are killing me –“ “Yes!” I cry,
Two hours later, the house is full of people. Not gathered for an engagement party or some kind of celebration, as one might expect. Despite the fact that this is perhaps one of the happiest days of my life, it’s also just precisely that. A day in my wonderful life. And as I watch my Alpha fiancé m
That night, after dinner, Victor and I tuck the boys into bed. Alvin spent our entire dinner gushing about their day studying with Miss Georgia – about everything they learned, and how great the books were, and how every single thing Georgia did was wonderful. Ian, alternately, spent the meal sullen
Victor looks down at me, considering. “They’re really growing up, aren’t they?” I nod, my face a little grim at the fact. If it were up to me, I’d keep them at this age forever. But, also…a little part of me has to admit that I’m excited to see the people they grow into. Victor sighs, putting his
“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