Epilogue Amber
The nurse with a warm complexion and smile laid Mona Elaine in my arms against my chest. I was exhausted from labor, having been awake all night long. The kids were with Mom; Evan hovered over me smiling like the proud father. He was just as tired, hair mussed, eyes drawn, but we were thrilled baby Mona was here.
“She’s so beautiful, looks just like you…” He pressed a kiss to my forehead, leaving a cloud of his cologne and musk warming me. I blinked slowly as more waves of exhaustion sank into my bones. “I’ve already called Jacob and Mona. Hang in there with me a few more minutes, Momma, and we’ll get you some sleep.”
Evan hovered over me, doting on me while we waited for our family to arrive. “I can’t believe she’s here so soon.”
“I can’t believe we don’t have the nursery ready yet. Erin and Mona are going to go by the house with the kids this evening to finish up for us.” Evan reached for Baby Mona, so I handed her over as I pushed myself up in bed farther. The mattress was so stiff and uncomfortable. I was glad I only had to spend two nights here and then I could go home to my own bed, unlike with the twins where we were in the hospital for a month.
“There was so much to do still. I hope they can manage. I’d be okay here if you want to go help.” I reached for the water on my tray table and sipped it through the straw, watching Evan cradle our newborn. His face was lit up with pride and joy.
“And miss Baby Mona’s first poop?” he said, chuckling. “I’m not leaving your side. Besides, Jacob will be there to watch the kids. If they need help, you know he’ll jump right in. And Chelsea is coming to town too. She heard Uncle Evan was headed to the hospital for baby time and booked her flight.”
Jacob and Erin’s only daughter coming home to visit from Europe was a nice surprise. I was sure everyone was looking forward to seeing her again. I knew I was.
“I’m so tired,” I whined, letting my head drop backward at the same time we heard a knock at the door. Reluctantly, I raised my head again and turned that direction to see the door swing open. Mom entered first, followed by the twins, then Jacob and Erin. Shelby waltzed in too with a bundle of balloons and an arm wrapped around a teddy bear, grinning.
My heart was so overwhelmed and full at the sight of my entire family and extended family in this room with us. The kids raced toward me with huge grins.
“Mommy!” Parker said, leaping on the bed.
Vera stood to my right and shrugged her shoulders as she asked, “Where’s the baby?”
“Daddy has her,” I said, nodding at Evan who was surrounded by adults.
“Her?” Vera asked, frowning. She was hoping for a boy so she would be the only girl, despite weeks of telling her having a sister to bond with would be a good thing.
“Yes, you can hold her if you’d like.” I smiled weakly as Parker draped himself over my chest and wrapped his arms on my neck.
“Mommy, can you come home now? Nana doesn’t want to cook me chicken nuggets.” He buried his face in my neck as I looked up at Mom with a hint of amusement. She shook her head and rolled her eyes with a smile as I wrapped him up in a hug.
“Well, your birthday party is in less than two months, so you can have a full chicken nugget extravaganza.” I squeezed hard and kissed him. I missed my kids so much when they weren’t with me.
“Mommy, look!”
I glanced in the direction of Vera’s happy call, seeing her rocking Baby Mona back and forth in her arms like a doll baby. She’d had a lot of practice with her dolls at home, pretending sweetly and playing house. It was a heartwarming sight.
“Mona?” Evan said, standing up and moving to the side. I watched my mom wink at him and narrowed my eyes in confusion. Something was up, something they had planned ahead of time that I knew nothing about. I watched him walk over to Jacob who stood with his chest puffed out looking down at Vera and the baby.
“Jake…” Evan thrust his hand out toward his brother and squared his shoulders. The two of them were closer than they’d been in years, thick as thieves after the secret had come out. I wondered how much of their separation of hearts had been my fault, for making Jacob promise to keep my secret. Now I was grateful for them both and the way they protected me and looked out for me.
“Evan?” Jacob said, his voice lifting at the end like a question.
“Jake, Chester isn’t here anymore. You know me…I’m somewhat of an old-fashioned soul when it comes to this sort of thing.” Evan glanced at me then turned back to the man who’d been my only father for the past eight years. “Jake, I want to marry her. She’s the love of my life. Look at my beautiful family. I need her with me. She makes me a better man, and I want to make her happy. I’m asking for your blessing.”
Tears welled up in my eyes and I covered my mouth with my hands. Evan was asking for Jacob’s blessing to propose to me right in front of me, which set off huge green flag energy. I shook my head as I watched it unravel, Jacob questioning Evan’s priorities and loyalty, Erin grinning like a mad woman, Mom nodding knowingly. They had set this up ahead of time, trapping me.
When he turned to me, he didn’t even have to ask me. I was already nodding. Still, he got down on one knee by my hospital bed and held out a ring in my direction. Parker, still lying on my chest, tilted his head and said, “Jewelry? Yuck…”
I chuckled and readjusted him. “Shh,” I whispered to him.
“Amber, you are the love of my life, my other side, my better half. I need to feel whole now. Say you’ll marry me. Make our family a real thing.”
I nodded the entire time he was asking, extending my hand to reach for him. First he slid the ring on my finger; then he rose up and kissed my forehead. “I love you,” he whispered to me softly.
“Yuck, kissing,” Parker grumbled. Evan and I laughed as he slid from the bed, giving us more space to enjoy the moment.
“I love you too, and I’d love to be your wife.” I wrapped my tired arms around him as he kissed me again, this time on the lips. Evan’s stubble scratched my face but it didn’t bother me one bit. Bringing our daughter into the world to meet our twins on the same day he asked me to make this officially permanent was the happiest day of my life. Evan and I were made for each other. And if I learned anything from all of this, it was that when something is meant to be, nothing on earth can stop it. Not time or distance or even a secret.
In the end, we got our second chance at love because fate made it so. I couldn’t wait to see how the rest of our story went.
Thank you for reading Silver Fox’s Twin Babies.