Epilogue Two
Hayes
Ten Years Later…
“Mommmmmm,” Naomi whines at Raegan from the hallway on the other side of the house. “Can you pleaaaase sell Ezra back to his previous family? He’s being annoying… for the hundredth time.”
“Ezra, leave your sister alone.” It’s all they get out of her this time.
I’m impressed. Usually, she bites and then there’s a big blow up that lasts at least twenty-four hours.
You’d think being the therapist and only medical professional in the house, she’d be immune to the incessant whining and complaining of two almost ten-year-olds, but she’s exactly the opposite.
Raegan likes order and control. Kids–especially our two–are the opposite of controlled.
I take that back. Naomi is generally the calmer kid, but together, they’re a handful and with as feral and wild as Ezra is, he’s easily able to burrow himself under his mother’s skin and cause her to lose it… fast.
Demi and Raegan got pregnant around the same time apparently. Don’t ask me how I handled two hormonal pregnant women at the same damn time. The truth is, I’m sure I didn’t handle it well. I had to call in reinforcements–more than once. I know when I’m out of my depth.
They also, in a weird and fucked up twist of fate, went into labor on the same fucking day.
Thankfully, Demi went a little sooner than Raegan, so I was able to attend both births.
Raegan’s pregnancy was considered high-risk, solely because of her age, and for obvious reasons, that wasn’t easy for any of us, but the woman is a fucking rockstar and she breezed through her labor, like it was nothing.
With one slightly calmer child and one feral child, I bet you’d think you knew who birthed who, but you’d be wrong. Demi, my wild girl, brought our precious Naomi into the world and Raegan, Ezra. Sometimes, I wonder if she cooked him long enough, but the doctors told us he’s perfect.
The front door swings open and in walks my other wife.
She volunteers at the local LGBTQ shelter three times a week.
She looks tired. Not surprisingly, since we’re approaching the holidays and things always seem to amp up around then.
After what happened with her mother, she wanted to give back and help others that were dealing with similar issues. I couldn’t be more proud of her.
“My love,” Demi purrs at Raegan. “Your daughter was screaming at me through her window. What happened now?”
“Oh, when she’s like this, she’s suddenly my daughter. How convenient,” Raegan retorts through pursed lips.
Demi plants a kiss on her cheek, then starts wandering over to me. “You know they love fucking with you, yet you keep feeding right into their hands. You can’t show them any weakness. They’ll stomp all over it, throw it back in your face and use it against you.”
“Jesus,” I grimace as she sits on my lap so she can kiss me, too. “That’s bleak, even for you, Babygirl.”
“Bleak, but true.” She shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly and I’m unable to stifle my laugh.
I lean back in my chair, close my eyes and widen my legs so Demi can sit a little more comfortably. I hear Raegan slide in next to me, then she places a hand on my thigh.
My lungs exhale a breath of air and I open my eyes once again.
I used to think I was meant to be alone… forever. I thought I was the problem. I thought everything in life needed to be wrapped up in a neat little package, with a bow. Everything under control. Safe.
Now, with both of my wives at my side. And our two crazy children fighting down the hall. Nothing is neat or tidy.
But it’s all mine.
Ours.
And I’ve never been happier.