Chapter 30Jules
CHAPTER
THIRTY
JULES
Oleander and Hemlock.
They’re perfect.
I’m sure every parent thinks their babies are wonderful but ours really are the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.
I hold Oleander against my chest as Gavin holds Hemlock.
All of the fear and nervousness I’ve felt these past few months over being a dad was washed away the moment I gave birth. I have new fears and worries but I know Gavin and I will give our children a good life.
It’s surreal that something so tiny and precious came from me.
Right now, they don’t look like either of us, but I wonder who they’re going to favor more. Baz and Callum—more so Callum since he’s almost a carbon copy—look like their father, but Altair shares a lot of Gavin’s features too. Maybe Hemlock and Oleander will as well. I’m not mad if they do. Gavin is a handsome man.
“You want something to eat? Maybe some tea?” Gavin runs his free hand through my hair.
“Please.” I’m still tired, and sore. My body hurts in new ways that Iolani already warned me about. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to recover, since it’s different for everyone, but I know I’ll need to take it easy for the next several days. Gavin will insist on it. So will everyone else.
“I’ll be right back.” Gavin carefully settles Hemlock in my arms before he presses a kiss to my forehead and hurries out of the bedroom.
I sniff as a tear rolls down my cheek.
The boys are asleep after having latched and nursed for several long minutes. Their tiny chests rise and fall with every breath they take.
I didn’t know it was possible to love someone so much so quickly.
“I’ll protect you both with everything I am,” I whisper into the quiet room after I swallow around the hard lump in my throat. “And you have a father that will do the same. Plus three older brothers you haven’t met yet that will beat up strangers for you.”
Not just strangers either, I’m sure.
The Strange family isn’t above throwing a well-deserved punch in defense of the people they love. And they love a lot of people.
“You’re wanted. You’re loved.” I wipe my wet, tear-stained face on my shoulder. My parents never told me they wanted me. I’m not even sure they even loved me, but I want my children to know I want them and I love them. I’ll tell them every day so even on their worst days they know they’re not alone.
Gavin returns with a mug in one hand and a plate of fresh cut fruit in the other. “Baz and Altair are staying with us tonight. Callum and Silo are on their way, and Thane will be over in the morning.”
Altair has been staying with Baz more often than not these days. I’m sure that has more to do with their current... relationship than needing more room for the babies.
“Do they want to meet their brothers?” I don’t know how soon we’re supposed to introduce Hemlock and Oleander to the family. Should we wait a few more hours, or days? Or can the boys meet their two youngest brothers now?
“Yes.” Gavin sits on the edge of the bed. “I told them to wait until tomorrow. They can meet them first thing in the morning. You’re tired and don’t need that amount of energy in your face right now.” He pauses and searches my face. “Unless you want them to say hello now?”
I think about it. “We can wait.” He’s right; I’m still pretty tired, and I want to enjoy Baz, Altair and Callum’s first interaction with Oleander and Hemlock. “We can rest tonight.”
Gavin climbs on the bed and slips under the blankets with me before taking the babies. I lean against him, soak in his warmth, and he presses his face into my hair. “I love you, and I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m not sure I did all that much,” I admit as I shut my eyes. Just for a moment. Then I’ll drink my tea and eat. “They were coming out no matter what I did.” If Gavin hadn’t shown up when he did, he would have missed the birth of our boys.
“Doesn’t mean it was easy. Or that you did nothing.” I suppose he’s right. Nature took over. My body knew exactly what to do but giving birth might be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I should be proud of myself. I brought two new lives into the world. “Between us two, I was definitely useless. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you.”
“No. You’ve done so much for me. You could never be useless.” Gavin stayed at my side. If he’s as tired as he looks, he probably didn’t get a wink of sleep while I did, either. “Just having you with me was enough.”
Knowing he was with me, beside me, watching over me and our children as I gave birth was enough to keep me calm and focused. His warm and steady presence made me feel safe when otherwise, I would’ve been terrified.
“Plus—” I pause and bite my bottom lip. Gavin bumps against me.
“What?”
“You took care of Alan.” I don’t ever want to know what he did but I doubt the coyote will return to Pine Glen.
Gavin drops a kiss on my hair as I reach for my tea and fruit.
Today is a good day, a happy day, and I don’t want to spoil it by talking about Alan any more. We will eventually have to talk about everything that happened at the baby shower because Alan had a marriage license I never signed, but not now. Today is about us, and our family.
Hemlock starts to fuss but Gavin quickly calms him down before he can wake Oleander. It does something to my heart to see Gavin holding our children so easily, a half smile on his mouth as his warm gaze bounces between their two tiny faces. He’s such a good father, and...
“I’m not sure how I got so lucky as to have met you.”
Maybe everything that led me to Pine Glen and Gavin Strange is just kismet. Fate took notice of me, or him, or maybe even both of us and decided to play matchmaker. She’s given us a happy ever after. Not one I thought I’d ever get, or even deserved before Gavin showed me differently. And not one he expected, but one nonetheless.
Gavin’s smile is radiant—as bright as his love for me. “What makes you think you’re the lucky one out of the pair of us?”
I laugh, but not loud enough to wake the boys. “Yeah. Okay. If not me, how did you get lucky?”
A few months ago I never would’ve had the courage to tease him, but Gavin makes me feel brave. I’m free to be myself with him, safe in the knowledge he’s going to love me on good days, and bad days, and all the long days in between.
“I got you; that makes me the luckiest man alive.”
“I’m happy I knocked on Strange Brew’s employee entrance.”
The choice I made to return to the diner changed the course of my whole life. Because Gavin welcomed me with open arms, with no intention to do more than help me when I desperately needed it, here I am—mated to a man I could only ever dream of, with two children, and so happy I can’t imagine being happier.