Epilogue
VIOLET
Five Years later
As soon as I hear the car doors slam, it's all over. Jamie flings his bowl into the sink with gusto, and Nate literally drops the entire freaking egg into his bowl. Cracked shells and all.
All the help I had sprints for the freaking door without a backward glance. "Really?!" I shout, but the grin pulling my lips up makes it obvious I'm not upset.
Their excitement and enthusiasm is amazing. It's a whole freaking experience watching two large dominant men shove each other around trying to get to the front door before the other. Wiping my hands on a rag, I lean against the wall and watch their faces light up.
"Aren't they adorable, Bubbles?" Ellis wraps his arm around me from behind. Sighing contentedly, I give him some of my weight and enjoy the show.
"It never gets old," I comment and giggle as Nate and Jamie fall to their knees when a blonde cutie rushes into our house.
"NATE! JAMIE!" Pure joy comes barreling into our house.
Nate grins over my sister’s head at Jamie in a way that says she said my name first, sucker!
Mom's men scoot into the house behind the happily squealing four and a half year old with her bags for the weekend. Mom squeezes past everyone and aims right for me.
"Hi, sweetheart," she says, hugging me. "Thank you so much. We'll be back Sunday to pick her up."
Her blue hair tickles my nose but I love it anyway. Watching her raise a child is a beautiful opportunity I never knew I wanted. Plus, while I know my sister is obsessed with her favorite brothers-in-law, she loves me the most. She's my little mini me.
"SISSY!" the terror in question screeches and barrels into me.
"Careful, little one," Ellis coos and stabilizes me. He ruffles her blonde hair that was definitely in pigtails at some point today.
Bending, I lift her up and set her on my hip. Her sticky fingers grab my cheeks and smoosh my lips together. "Glowing," she compliments me.
Giggling, I tickle my nose against hers. "Thank you, sissy," I coo with a big grin just for her.
Mom cringes at whatever snack goop is stuck to my cheeks and pries her daughter’s hands off my face. "So she just woke up. You may have your hands full."
"I just woke up too," I wink at the little girl in my arms.
"Oh!" She wiggles to get down, and I let her. "So Raven is awake too?" With so much concentration, she squints at my rounded tummy.
A kick in the rib makes me wince. "Put your hand here, Opal," I whisper and pull her tiny hand up to feel my baby kick.
"Whoa!"
While she marvels at my belly, I soak in the joy of this moment. I teased Mom a few times about naming her child after a color, but when I saw the sonogram and she told me the name she chose was Opal, I fell in love.
So, when I showed my mom the sonogram of my little girl, I did the same. "Meet Raven, Mom."
The tears we shed that day were full of joy and healing.
Much like they are every time we get stuck in our feelings.
Like right now. Being a mom, new and experienced, is an emotional, beautiful, terrifying thing.
Sharing it with Mama, knowing I have a family who already loves Raven is a dream come true.
"Baby, are you okay?" Nate sounds worried, making me realize I had shed a few tears while watching Opal poke at her niece.
"I'm amazing," I whisper and swallow thickly.
Mom smiles knowingly at me and squeezes my hand. Her men each hug or kiss my cheek, then tell their kid to be good as Opal runs off with Ellis and Nate. I watch with so much gratitude for our ability to forgive and love as Mom is swooped off her feet by the four men she loves.
Jamie breaks my stare down with the now closed front door by wiping my cheeks with a warm cloth. "Sticky fingers." He chuckles.
"They're about to get even stickier," I tease and close my eyes basking in his affection. "You sure you'll love me when I'm permanently covered in child goo?"
Jamie laughs with his full chest and kisses me firmly on the mouth.
Before he can say anything, Ellis and Opal rush past us to the kitchen.
She's loud and hyper as Ellis shows her the cookies we made for her to decorate.
I can't find anything I don't love about it, even though my lower back hurts from picking her up.
Even though my temples throb from the sounds and exhaustion, it's perfect.
"I have so much love, Violet, it's fucking endless. Goo, trauma, and all, you're mine, my love."
"And mine," Nate butts in, stealing a kiss from me, then Jamie.
"AND MINE!" Ellis bellows, having heard the claiming party.
You know what I do? I let their love soak into my heart and soul.
You know why? Because I trust myself. Even if I didn't, I have three men who have without a doubt earned my trust as well.
I love this life with them.