Epilogue Drew
The guys have gone absolutely bonkers with baby stuff.
I mean, there are piles of clothes, practical stuff, and toys.
So many toys.
I have a feeling they’re going to enjoy them more than the baby will.
They’re all so excited about the idea of fatherhood. Greyson, especially, since he’s been a dad for long enough to miss so much. He’s told me more than once how much he misses Annabelle.
He’ll get to pick her up later today and bring her back here for a couple of days.
Honestly, I can’t wait for him to have that. And to get some hands-on experience.
Maybe he can show me how to change a diaper and prepare a bottle. The practice will be good for us all.
Moving a pile of blankets to the side, Adam sits on the couch beside me, leaning in and putting an arm around my back. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
“Okay. A little hungry.”
“That’s an improvement. How do pancakes sound?”
“I’ll make pancakes.” Gabe drops a kiss in my hair on the way to the kitchen.
Adam points at him behind my head. “I’ll make her pancakes. That’s why I suggested it.”
“Too late. Give her your gift, Romeo. I’m already in the kitchen.”
I laugh at the two of them. Gabe’s started picking on Adam the same way he picks on Greyson. It’s made Gabe more lively.
Which is nice since he’s been far more intense with me lately. Not that I’m complaining.
“I’ll be making her those pancakes, so don’t bother. Yours will go to waste.”
Gabe sends him an incredulous look, before pinning me with a more serious and loving one. “You’ll have to hand feed her to guarantee that.”
“Done.” Adam says it like it’s final, the hammering of a gavel. I’m biting my lip to keep from laughing hysterically as I turn back to him and the box in his lap.
His mouth is stern, but his green eyes are alight with humor and joy. It makes him so much more handsome. It should be a sin. He slides the dark blue wrapped box half on my lap. “You ready for your present?”
I nod, ripping at the corner, pushing the pretty wrapping paper away and revealing a snap open box. Inside is the most beautiful lilac and gold glazed teapot and teacups. “They’re gorgeous.”
My fingertip traces the delicate filigree across its curves. Adam’s watching, too easily dissecting my reaction. He’s such a business man.
“You can’t drink caffeine for a while, so I got you some herbal teas to go with it. They’re already in the cupboard.”
I grin at him, as the Kincaid brothers laugh.
“Practical Adam Lancaster.”
His eyes narrow at Greyson, who has his own present under his arm. It’s big and light, whatever it is.
I caress his face and pull him closer for a small peck. “I love it. Love them. I’ve always wanted my own tea set.”
Adam finally grins back, love written all over his face. “Good. Now, I’m going to go make you pancakes, and we can test it out afterward.”
“Pancakes are almost done.”
Gabe’s comment doesn’t deter Adam from jumping up to don an apron and pull out his own pan.
Greyson is shaking his head as he picks his way through the debris to get closer. “Those two are worse than we are.”
“You’re not wrong.”
He holds my present up for me. It’s not wrapped in paper, but a fabric bag. I tug at the string, and he helps me roll the fabric from a giant curved pillow.
I’m giggling before he presents it like a prize. “A pregnancy pillow?”
“Believe me, you’re going to need it.”
“Won’t it get in the way of me cuddling the three of you?” I revel in the way his eyes darken. He’s far naughtier than I ever imagined as a pre-teen.
“Believe me, you’re going to need it.”
It has me falling back into the couch laughing.
I never imagined I would laugh so much.
Somehow, these three keep me smiling through the rough stuff.
“Thank you.”
He sets the pillow aside, plants his palms on the back of the couch on either side of my head, and plants a solid kiss on me. “You realize those two are building a pile of pancakes that you will never in a million years be able to eat on your own.”
“We’ll take them next door. I’m sure Daisy will be happy to devour whatever’s left.”
Gabe carries a tray over to the couch and slides in the moment Greyson vacates the space.
“You fill up on his before you get any of mine, and I will have to discipline you, princess.” Adam calls from behind his skillet.
I’m shaking the cushions with joy as he sets the fork in my hand and prompts me to eat one of his chocolate chip silver dollar pancakes before Adam can come take over.
Which he will do.
Then he hands me a frame with a bow across the front. I slide it aside and feel the hard tug in my chest.
The paper’s faded to a soft brown, fingerprints smudged in streaks of purple and blue.
The stick figures are messy, my tiny handprints still visible in the corner.
He framed it anyway—like it’s a masterpiece.
“You kept this?” I blink fast, trying to keep the tears at bay.
Gabe’s voice is rough when he answers. “Always did. You called me your best friend that day. Thought it was time to make it official.”
Okay, there’s no holding back the tears. Gabe’s thumbs are there to wipe them away.
“You okay?”
“Hormones.”
“Sure.” It has me laughing through them.
“I love it, you big softy.”
He cups my face as I beam at him. “I know.”
Gabe manages to feed me a few more pancakes before Adam takes the plate on my tray away and replaces it with his own.
He takes my other side, cutting a slice of his lemon ricotta pancakes.
Because if I’ve learned anything from staying in his cabin, it’s that he likes fancy things and big flavors.
He feeds me a bite before he looks at the picture and nods. “Good choice. Where are you going to hang it?”
“In her office,” Gabe says as I chew. He’s right. That’s exactly where I’d been picturing it.
“Give her a chance to speak,” Greyson says, sitting on the coffee table amongst the piles of papers and baby things.
He tosses a few silver dollar pancakes into his mouth before winking at me.
“In my office,” I finally answer.
Adam feeds me another bite, and I sit back to chew. This chaos, this love, this family—it finally feels like home.
Greyson shakes his head. “It’s like he can read your mind. Unless you’re mad at him. It’s the only time he turns deaf.”
My gut and my cheeks hurt from laughing. I never want it to change. “Merry Christmas, you idiots.”