Chapter Twenty-One
Zac
To say that the first month of being a parent of three wasn’t a learning curve would have been a lie. It was a steep one at that. But I was lucky. I had a mate who didn’t buy into the omegas are the caretakers or the alpha’s job is to make the money stereotypes.
He’d been up to his eyeballs in just as many diapers as I had. And while he couldn’t make the milk our children needed, he could give them bottles of it and took overnight feedings from me every other day. I couldn’t ask for a better father for our three babies.
Being a parent was the best. I loved every moment with our children. They were not only the cutest kids in town, not that we were biased or anything, but they were also smart, fun, and happy, happy babies.
The three of them were still sleeping in the same oversized crib a year later, and when they moved to toddler beds, I had a feeling they’d all migrate to the same one once the lights were out. They had a really cool bond, fascinating to watch.
“Come on, Addison, we need to get your shoes on.”
She had toddled away when I grabbed them, our first walker and our first runner. The other two were still in the taking a few steps and then giving up and crawling fast stage, but not Addison. She was going to be our track star.
“Addison, your uncle Johan is gonna be here soon.”
She giggled and came right over.
My mate’s best friend had been Zooming with the kids since they were born, and this was the first time he was going to be able to make the trip out here.
I wasn’t sure what the catalyst was, but something told me that things weren’t going well for him in the city.
Whatever the reason, I was glad he was finally able to get away and spend time with us.
I got her shoes on and brought her out back where her brother and sister were with her father, watching the construction. The kids loved to watch them work, especially on days like today when there were big trucks in the yard.
After going back and forth, we were finally putting in the saltwater pool and building the pool house.
My mate still said he didn’t need it. While that was technically true, if something could make him smile, then I wanted to give it to him.
Besides, it was good for cubs to learn how to swim, and doing so in a cold lake really wasn’t that fun.
“Having a good time?” I kept Addison on my lap, not wanting to have to chase her. We’d put a gate on the back porch, but recently she learned how to open it. Our child-safety-gate-lock game had to be in high gear with this one.
“They’re just putting the roof on now. It’s fascinating, but loud.” My mate described how they were bending the metal to fit, which explained the loud noise.
“What time is Johan expected? I thought he’d be here by now.” He had planned to drive all in one shot, but made the right decision to stop along the way.
“Soon?”
“Soon” wound up being an hour later, and he came bearing gifts. We were going to have to call him Santa soon. He was taking this Cool Uncle Johan thing seriously.
“Did you maybe go overboard with the gift thing?” My mate hugged his bestie.
“Well, of course I did. It’s not every day I get to spoil these cubs,” he said.
He gave them each their presents. They had a huge amount of fun opening the packages and ripping the paper to shreds.
It took them a little while to realize there were things inside worth paying attention to as well.
Among other toys, he got them each a bear and a wolf stuffie with their names embroidered on the paws.
“I didn’t know whether we had cubs or pups on our hands. It was best not to take a chance.”
“They’re wonderful,” I said.
Edris crawled over to the kids, making their bears and wolves dance and march with what I assume were supposed to be realistic voices.
“He looks so much happier here, so alive. I’m glad his car broke down that day.”
“I am too, but I’m equally glad when he turned it in for something more baby friendly.”
“Buying that thing was both the best and worst advice I’d ever given him.” He chuckled. “But, seriously, I’m glad he met you.”
Kellie growled, copying her dad.
“I think I’m being called.”
I watched as he crawled to the kids, joining Edris in the silly game. It was hard to believe that it wasn’t two years ago when I’d have been sitting on this porch, thinking my single life was all I’d ever know. Then Edris came into town and changed everything.
He’d filled a hole in my life, one that was much larger than I realized.
He hadn’t tried to force me out of my career like so many alphas were known to do.
He hadn’t tried to change me into some perfect little housemate.
Heck, even when he suggested I leave town for the city, it hadn’t been about changing me.
He thought I could make my career dreams come true there.
I was so lucky that Fate had brought him into my world.
“Growl.” My noises were the worst out of them, but the kids didn’t seem to notice how bad they were as I got down and crawled over to them, joining the game that had somehow morphed into a stuffie parade.
Life didn’t get much better than this.