Epilogue
HALLIE
ONE YEAR LATER
I cuddled baby Clara to my chest as she cooed. Lawson lowered himself to the spot on the couch next to me. “You look good holding a baby.”
My stomach did a series of somersaults that would’ve been fitting for Cirque du Soleil. “I think Clara here is doing all the work.”
I glanced at Grae on my other side, who held Clara’s twin, Micah. “You and Caden do good work in this department.”
She laughed. “It’s crazy how they’re a complete mixture of the two of us. Genes are weird.”
Lawson’s hand ghosted up and down my arm. “Are they sleeping any better?”
“No,” Caden answered from his spot next to Grae. “And they rile each other up. I feel like we might be in for it during the teenage years.”
Grae’s lips twitched. “Caden gets cranky with lack of sleep, but they’ve got him wrapped around their little fingers.”
He leaned over Micah and tickled his belly. Micah let out a bubbly giggle.
“The lack of sleep is rough,” Adrian said as he bounced his and Emerson’s baby boy on his lap. “We should’ve bought stock in coffee.”
Emerson leaned over and pressed a kiss to Adrian’s temple. “But you love those silent moments in the middle of the night with our guy.”
Adrian’s expression turned soft. “I do. But I miss sleep.”
My world felt complete when Emerson and Adrian moved from Chicago to Cedar Ridge six months ago.
Adopting a baby boy had changed their minds about city life.
They wanted a place for Dawson to run and play as he grew up.
And Cedar Ridge had a built-in community.
They’d quickly become a part of the Hartley family, and I was able to give Emerson the family we’d never had growing up.
And now that we had some distance from our parents, we were finding more of our footing as individuals, too.
Emerson had started a nonprofit that provided tutoring for underprivileged children in need, and I had enrolled in a training program to become a victims’ rights advocate.
I only had a few months on the job, but I already knew it was my calling.
Kerry scooted over and shook a set of plastic keys for Dawson. “But our boy is so cute, the lack of sleep doesn’t matter.”
Dawson gave her a drooly, gummy grin.
“It gets easier,” Wren promised. Her daughter Josephine’s hands were wrapped around her fingers as she toddled across Kerry and Nathan’s living room.
“How’s the birthday girl?” I asked, giving a little wave.
“She’s cake drunk,” Holt said with a grin.
“It’s her first birthday,” Nash defended little Jo. “Go big or go home.”
Maddie laughed as she rubbed a hand over her swollen belly. “That’s what happens when you get her the good stuff. I still can’t believe that cake. How did you get it to look like Shadow, Aspen?”
Aspen grinned from her spot perched on Roan’s lap. “It took a few tries, but it really was just mixing the right food coloring.”
“Shadow is the love of her life,” Holt mumbled.
“Sha Sha!” Josephine chanted.
We all laughed.
A hand landed on my shoulder from behind. “Is it okay if Vi and I head out? We wanted to hit the bookstore before it closes.”
I looked up into Luke’s face. It was older in just a year. Heck, he was shaving and driving now.
“Of course. What time do you think you’ll be home?” I asked.
Luke glanced at Violet, so much adoration in his eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder if they would go the distance. “I’m having dinner at her place. So, eight or nine?”
“Drive safely, please,” I warned.
Luke grinned. “Love you even though you’re crazy overprotective.”
“Love you, too,” I called as Violet gave me a wave and a shy smile.
“Mooooooom!” Charlie came running into the living room, Cady on his heels.
Lawson let out a low chuckle next to me as Charlie skidded to a stop in front of us. “Where’s the fire?”
“Cady said there’s a new reptile store opening in Brookdale. Can we go? Can we?”
Aspen winced. “We have Roan to thank for this news.”
Roan shrugged. “I think it would be cool to have a bearded dragon. What’s one more animal for the menagerie?”
Lawson groaned. “Thor just stopped peeing everywhere.”
“Thor is Drew’s dog,” Charlie complained. “I should get a pet, too, shouldn’t I? Plus, my bearded dragon is going to be way better trained.”
“Bruh,” Drew said, looking up from his phone. “Thor is a wonder dog. Don’t throw him under the bus.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “He ate one of your socks and barfed it up yesterday.”
My stomach roiled at the memory.
“We’ll see about making a visit to the reptile store,” Lawson promised. “But pets are a lot of responsibility.”
“I’m the responsiblest,” Charlie vowed.
Drew just snorted at that.
Charlie whirled on him. “Shut it. You’re just mad because Quinn Adams doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Drew’s jaw went hard. “Stop eavesdropping, you little—”
Nash clamped a hand on Drew’s shoulder. “The little Casanova has fallen?”
Drew had fallen—and hard—for a new student in his first-year class. Only Quinn didn’t seem to have the first clue Drew existed. His typical cocky smiles and charm weren’t doing a thing, and he was floundering. It was adorable to watch.
“She’s shy,” Drew mumbled.
“Or smart,” Charlie muttered.
“Charlie,” I warned. “That’s not very nice.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“How about an apology to Drew?”
Charlie scowled but turned to his brother. “Sorry.”
“Real heartfelt,” Drew shot back.
“I said sorry!”
Nash stood, lifting Charlie into the air. “Come on, little monster. Let’s talk about what it means to be a good wingman.”
My gaze followed as he flipped Charlie upside down. That was a mistake. My stomach pitched as Charlie did.
I lurched to my feet, quickly handing Clara to Caden. “Be right back.”
I was already practically running. Don’t puke, don’t puke, don’t puke.
Sliding into the bathroom, I closed the door behind me and breathed deeply. The worst of the nausea had faded, but it had left me with a light-headed feeling that made the world swim around me.
“Hallie?” Lawson’s voice cut into my thoughts as he stepped into the bathroom. “Shit. You’re white as a ghost.”
His hand went to my forehead. “Are you sick? Want me to take you to Doc?”
I couldn’t look at him, could only focus on staying upright. “I already went. Yesterday.”
Lawson’s body stiffened behind me, and he turned me to face him. “Why didn’t you say anything? What’s wrong?”
My heart hammered in my chest as blood roared in my ears. “I’m okay. I just—um, it’s not what we planned. And I don’t know if it’s going to freak you out. It’s a lot, and I know we talked about it, but—”
A huge smile spread across Lawson’s face. “You’re pregnant?”
“Triplets,” I blurted. I had to get the news out before he went down the single-baby train. My head had been swimming since Doc gave me the news yesterday. Three babies when we already had three kids at home. It would be mayhem.
Lawson’s jaw went slack. “Triplets…”
I winced and nodded. “I know we only talked about one—”
He cut me off, pulling me into his arms. “Hallie. I’d have a football team with you if you wanted.”
I sniffed as tears pooled in my eyes. “Really?”
Lawson’s hands came up to frame my face. “There’s nothing I love more than building a family with you. Three at once will require a zone defense, but I’m up for the challenge if you are.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. “The boys will help, too.”
He brushed the hair away from my face. “They’re gonna be over the moon.”
Tears spilled over. “You think?”
“I know.” Lawson bent and brushed a kiss over my lips. “You’re a miracle, Little Minx. The missing piece that gave us more happiness than I would’ve thought possible.”
I pressed a hand to his chest. “It’s you. All of you. You brought me out of the ashes.”