“I know, Victor,” I say, raising my hand to clasp his, which is still on my shoulder. “I hear that – and I’m going to – but we need to come up with a plan. There’s still so much to do – so much I was going to do in the next two days. If I don’t do it, someone else has to.” Victor nods, setting his
“Phase one of the solution,” Victor says, walking back into the room and handing me his cell phone, the screen already lit with a call. “What?” I ask, curious. “What’s this?” “A little mini conference,” Victor replies, smiling at me. “I thought that…someone with more experience in this area could
“Anytime, darling. I’m so excited for you. I want to help however I can.” “Oh,” I say, perking up a little, “does that mean you’ll be over this afternoon to watch the twins while I have a nap?” “No,” Annabeth says, breezily. “I find ways to delegate my own child care, let alone taking on yours. I
The plan moves forward beautifully. I’m almost overwhelmed by it, the efficiency with which my team works and the ease with which things move forward. I’m incredibly pleased, but then also a little disappointed in myself for not doing this any sooner. Honestly, what was I so afraid of? Burton is th
“Nope!” I say, shaking my head vehemently. “Things are really good right now! I’m not risking a jinxing!” “Oh my god,” he murmurs, sighing and laughing at once. Then, he lifts his head from my shoulder and looks at me evenly. “Seriously, Evelyn? You’re not going to let me sleep with you tonight, be
I’m barely awake the next morning when I hear the little knock at my door. I groan, feeling like I just fell asleep a moment ago – But then I gasp, sitting up straight, as I remember that it’s my wedding day – The knock comes again and I toss my blankets off me, scurrying to the door. “Who goes t
I can smell them before Alvin even gets close to me and I gasp, putting down my coffee. “Oh, so beautiful!” I cry, reaching for them. Alvin hands them over and I take a deep sniff of their amazing scent before plucking the card out from the center and reading it. Evelyn – I know that today will b
The sun has just barely set as I stand at the entrance to my new garden at the big house, separated from the crowd of family and friends by a large hedge that I had placed here precisely for this purpose. I take a deep breath, smoothing my hands down the sides of my wedding gown, looking down at my
“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