Epilogue
ELI
TEN YEARS LATER
Inever thought about having a favorite time of the year.
Every season has a beauty of its own, but as I look out at my daughters, triplets, and beautiful wife out in the garden, cleaning up the space, getting it ready to plant veggies and flowers in the same space I watched their mom walk down the aisle toward me a decade earlier, I know springtime holds a special place in my heart.
We got married in our backyard at the end of April after a late crazy snowstorm. Her friend and old neighbor, Tracie, did us the pleasure of getting ordained online to marry us. My sister and Camila were her bridesmaids, and my brothers stood at my side as we promised to love one another.
Now, in that same yard, my three girls, who are eight now and growing like weeds, and every day, each one looks more and more like their beautiful mama.
When we found out we were expecting triplets, and that they were all girls, it scared the hell out of me.
But the moment I looked at my wife, smiling, her tear-filled eyes filled with so much joy as she stared at the ultrasound of our little babies, I knew it would be okay. I would make it all okay.
And somehow, it has been.
Sure, there have been ups and downs. The economy had a few rough years, and in turn affected the bakery, meaning we had a couple of tough years financially.
Not that Stella ever complained. If you hear her talk about that time now, she tells you it was what made us stronger, and in a way, it’s true.
When the girls were born, we dealt with colic and teething. Times three. Bumps and bruises, tee ball and cheer. But through it all, I made sure to be there. With my wife. My partner in crime and better half. We always have one another’s back.
“Daddy!” they call out the moment my cover is blown and rush over to me.
With open arms, I pick the three of them up in a bear hug, lifting them up in the air and giving them a twirl.
I kiss the top of their heads before looking over at my wife.
Stella is standing there with the sweetest smile on her lips as she looks at us.
“Did you bring it?” Tanya, the youngest of the three, ask. I laugh, nodding.
“It’s in the kitchen.”
“Yes!” They all cheer at the same time before the run past me and rush into the house. I walk over to my wife, and she meets me halfway.
“Hi, handsome.” She smiles up at me, and I swear, every time she looks at me and my eyes connect with that beautiful mint-green gaze, I fall impossibly deeper in love with her.
“Hey, beautiful.” I kiss her and hold her in my arms.
“Good day?” she asks. I nod, sighing with happiness and feeling like the luckiest son of a bitch to walk the earth to be the one she asks that question day in and day out.
Because it’s these moments. The simple ones that so many take for granted that count. The ones I vowed to be present for and never not see them for what they are worth. Like the woman in my arms and the three little girls in our kitchen, they’re priceless.
“Great day. We sold out.”
“And you still managed to bring our gremlins their treats?”
“You know Tess set them aside the moment they came out of the oven,” I share, dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder.
I look at her and can hear the girls approaching.
I never knew I would be the kind of guy who would enjoy being a girl dad.
I’d never really put that much thought into it, but as they come over and the four girls in my life all start to talk almost at once, I know in my gut I wouldn’t want life to be any other way.
I’d lay down my life for theirs.
And in the crazy ruckus of that moment, as they all talk over one another, I can’t help but feel seriously lucky.
Blessed at the life I was given and the life the future will one day bring.