Epilogue Two
AINSLEY
ELEVEN AND A HALF MONTHS LATER
M y eyes flutter open at the sound of my husband’s voice. I roll over, and my hip aches, but it’s a good pain. I did what they didn’t think I could do. I carried three babies for thirty-four weeks. The hormones didn’t just give us a chance to have a baby, they gave us an instant family. The doctors warned it was risky to carry multiples with my hip issues, but I’d been working out and doing yoga. I believed I could do it, and I did.
Mikhail, in this moment, is making my ovaries practically burst. He’s shirtless, holding all three of our babies against his chest, cooing and softly talking to them. One boy and two little girls. Samiul, named after Mikhail’s grandfather. Sabina, after the name his mother had wanted to give a daughter, if she ever had one. And finally, our precious, sweet Sorsha, named after one of my favorite movie characters.
Last night was long, and they had to deliver the babies by C-section. But I’m feeling better this morning. I smile as my husband glances at me. The triplets arrived early and will need to stay in the hospital for a while, but they’re feeding surprisingly well. Sorsha needed some oxygen last night, but I can see she’s no longer wearing a cannula.
“She’s breathing okay?”
“She’s doing perfect, Mama. Your babies are as beautiful as you.”
I smile, because only Sorsha has hints of my red hair, while Samiul and Sabina are already showing the darker hair they inherited from their father.
“I love you, husband.” I sigh as I try to stretch a bit.
“I love you too, zayka . I have some news for you.” He has a smirk on his face and a conspiratorial look in his eyes.
“Oh yeah?” I smile at him as I sit up in the bed.
“Your sister is in the next room giving birth.” He grins. “She stopped by, but you were sleeping.”
I nearly jump out of the bed. “And you didn’t wake me? Does she need me?”
“No. Alek has her.”
“Oh my goodness! My babies and hers will be one day apart in age.”
“Yeah. They settled on a name too.”
“They told you and not me?”
“I bluff better than you do.” He laughs, startling our babies.
“Bluff. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I told her that you found out from Lena.”
“You liar.” I slide from the bed and slowly walk to him. They removed my epidural a few hours ago. I didn’t want it in too long, and they said they could remove it early.
I carefully take our son from his arms. He’s bigger than his sisters and cuddles into my body.
“I’ll help. Grammy wants her turn,” Morrigan says from the doorway.
I turn to look at her as she walks over to take one of the girls from Mikhail. She’s been so excited for the babies to arrive. After all, the boys haven’t made her a grandma yet, and she’s eager for that role. Months ago, she told me she’d be my babies’ grammy, and I didn’t fight it. She’s become like a mother to both Lyric and me.
When I look at my husband, I can’t hide the tears. I love my life and everything that his bluff gave us.
* * *
S tay tuned for Boss’s Sugar Plum Fairy to learn more about the rat in the MacElvoy family, coming December 2025. Also, be on the lookout for JJ’s story, part of a brand-new series in my Vegas Underground World, coming next year.