Epilogue Avery
Ten weeks.
I’ve been pregnant for ten weeks.
I have my certifications. Kyle is gone for good and—more importantly—I have my men right here by my side.
This is my first scan for this baby as well as the first sonogram my men have attended. I know it’s selfish, but I’m glad to be the only woman to ever give them this experience.
I know that I’m pregnant. The blood test and cravings have proved that, but somehow, it’s this moment that makes things feel real.
Even though the tech warmed the gel, it still feels cold on my skin. Goosebumps dot my skin.
The last time I did this, I was pregnant with Leo and my mom and Mia came along with me, but now, my baby’s three fathers are with me.
I feel so loved.
I look over at my men, and they smile encouragingly at me and like a completely sane and rational person, I burst into a flood of tears.
The first time that happened, they swarmed me like piranha demanding to know what upset me and how they could fix it. Wesley was even dead set on getting me to the emergency room because I was too overcome to explain right away.
He’d even gone so far as to grab my coat and shoes.
We had a good laugh when I was finally able to tell them I was crying because I saw a bird hopping around on my balcony.
Now they just take it in stride.
“What is it this time? Are you thinking about the cereal commercial again?” Wesley teases.
“No, it’s just I love you three so, so much,” I say between hiccups.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the tech desperately trying to repress a smile.
“I was the same way when I was pregnant with my babies,” she says. “There was one time that I was set off by a leaf falling off a tree.”
“I think you might be the only one in this room who understands me.” I chuckle.
She turns the monitor so we can see, and I search it for any clue about the baby. Unfortunately, just like the last time I was pregnant, I can make neither head nor tail of the picture on the screen.
I’d hoped that having been through one pregnancy already, I’d be able to tell what was going on, but I guess I’ll have to wait for them to circle the little blob on the pictures they print out for us.
It’ll be much easier at the later scans when they’ll look more like a human rather than a tadpole. Still, I’m happy to be here even if I can’t tell exactly where my baby is.
The ultrasound tech has clearly done this before because her face gives absolutely nothing away. There are no pursed lips, no raised eyebrows, no cheek biting. She’s just completely placid.
It’s actually quite impressive.
“Okay.” She smiles. “The doctor will be with you shortly to go over everything.”
We all give her our thanks, and she disappears out the door.
“So, do you see the baby? Because I can’t.”
“Thank fuck I’m not the only one,” Wesley says, rubbing the back of his neck.
Phillip shakes his head. “I can’t tell either.”
“Didn’t you take a child development class?” Jamie asks.
He huffs. “Over twenty years ago.”
They all fix their stares on me, and I fight the urge to squirm.
“Okay, Princess, where is our baby?”
“I don’t know either,” I say meekly. “I wasn’t able to find Leo at his first scan, either.”
We’re still all laughing when the doctor walks in.
“It’s so nice to see everyone laughing and feeling good. Most of my parents are nervous.”
“We are, but she’s not.” Wesley nods in my direction.
“That tracks.” She smiles. “Moms are always the tougher ones.”
She settles down on the stool next to the table and quickly looks through the images and notes before turning to face us again.
“Alright, let’s talk children. We weren’t able to find the heartbeat, but that’s nothing to worry about. None of them are in an ideal position for us to pick it up on our machines. Again, nothing to worry about right now. All three of them are a great size, and everything else is completely normal.”
My brain finally catches up to my ears. “Three. You said three babies.”
“Yes, I did. Congratulations.”
“There are three babies in there.”
She nods.
“Three.”
“Yes, ma’am. Why don’t I give you some time to digest the news before we get into any more specifics?”
“Thank you.”
When she leaves the room, we just stare at each other for a solid thirty seconds. Then I blink, and they’re surrounding me and peppering little kisses on my forehead, my cheeks, my hands, my belly—anywhere they can reach, really.
“I never even thought I’d have one child, but three?” Jamie beams. “Well, four, counting Leo, but three at once? That’s… wow.”
Phillip nods in agreement. “Yeah, not at all what I was expecting.”
“Well, there is a bright side to all of this,” Wesley says.
“You mean besides the love of your life growing three babies at once?” I ask. “No wonder I’ve been so tired.”
“That goes without saying. You are an absolute wonder, Avery, but that’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
“Well, when we’re out and about, all four of us will have a child to carry around. Cuts down on fighting over who gets a turn holding our kids, doesn’t it?”
I laugh. “You’re insane.”
“Yeah, but you like it.” He grins.
“Never said I didn’t.”
When the doctor comes back, the four of us are settled and ready for anything. She walks us through all the specifics and gives us an armload of resources for parents of multiples. The best part came at the end, though, when she printed out the images and circled all three (three!) of our babies on each one for us.
“I guess we’re going to have to change the type of house we’re looking for,” I say once we make it back to Jamie’s place. “What we’ve been looking at just isn’t going to cut it now.”
“I’ll message our agent in the morning, but right now, we’ve got something for you.”
“You do?”
“We actually have two things for you,” Jamie says. “Originally, we were going to do one after the scan and one at family barbeque night. But then we got to talking when you were in the bathroom and decided that there’s no way we’re going to be able to wait on either thing.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Probably not.” He shrugs. “So, do you remember a week or so ago when Mr. Macklin told you that he was going to be retiring early because someone gave him an offer that was too good to refuse?”
My heart starts racing in my chest. “No.”
“Yes. You, my love, are now looking at the new owner of Brookside, and the very first thing I’m going to do once everything transitions over is send Henri to another one of my restaurants to learn some manners.”
“And that leaves Brookside without a head chef.” Wesley grins. “Since I’ve always wanted to have my own venue, I figured it was high time Fantasy Flavors had a new home. The thing is, we usually outsource our desserts. We won’t be able to do that once we move in there, so I’m on the lookout for a head pastry chef. They’re going to have to be in charge of the entire pastry department, including staffing it. I’m really going to need someone I can collaborate effectively with so the dessert and dinner flavors don’t clash.
“Do you think that’s something you might be able to help me with?”
Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
“I hope with an entire team to help you that you’ll have some time for me,” Phillip says. “I happen to find myself in a new career. I’m going to be stepping back from my practice and heading up a marketing team. Coincidentally, it’s at the same place Jamie bought and Wesley’s moving to. Do you think you’d have time to join my marketing team as our social media specialist-slash-influencer? The company is going to be completely rebranded, and I’m going to need someone who has a good online presence to help promote it all.”
“This is a dream, isn’t it? Nobody pinch me. I don’t want to wake up.”
“Can I take that as a yes?” he asks.
“You absolutely can. Now all of you get over here.”
As soon as they’re close enough for me to grab, I wrap my arms tightly around them and squeeze as tight as I can.
“Three healthy, beautiful babies, my own pastry team, and a chance to dive into marketing. I’m so overwhelmed. This is by far the best day of my life. I swear if one more good thing happens to me, I’m going to explode.”
“I guess I should take that to mean we shouldn’t ask to marry you today, then?” Jamie asks.
“Probably not. That certainly would be—Wait. What?”
He fumbles around in his jacket pocket and pulls out a little velvet-covered box. Inside it is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“We started looking as soon as we found out you were pregnant. It took us a while, but we finally settled on this one. There were going to be speeches and toasts at the barbeque about how much we adore you and that our lives would be meaningless if you weren’t in it, but all that’s coming to mind now is how much I want you in my life forever.”
“I’ll make sure we still do the speeches at the barbeque,” Wesley promises. “But after learning you’re giving us three perfect little children, all I want to do is make you ours officially.”
“I was still going to do my speech,” Phillip says, taking my hand. “I even had it memorized, but looking at you now, I can’t remember a single word of it. All I know is that I love you with every fiber of my being, and I need you to say yes now and make us the happiest men in the world.”
“I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you three. Yes. I’ll marry you today, tomorrow, months from now. Whenever and wherever you want.”
Before they slip the ring on, I catch sight of the inscription on the inside.
Forever yours—Jamie, Phillip, and Wesley.
Forever mine, just like I’m forever theirs.
Thank you for joining Avery on her steamy journey through Age Gap Academy! I hope you enjoyed this tantalizing adventure as much as I loved writing it.