Elijah’s Epilogue
Four years later.
“ A re you ready for today?” My beautiful wife asked from the bedroom.
I looked at myself in the mirror. “Yeah, I think I am.”
Her arms wrapped around me from behind. “I am so beyond proud of you.”
I turned to face her. I leaned down to kiss her. “As long as you are by my side, I am ready for anything.”
I knelt down and kissed her swollen belly. “Are you two ready for today? Daddy is finally opening his own restaurant.”
She pulled me up with a wince. “Oh, please don’t talk to them right now. They always move uncontrollably at the sound of your voice, and I just got one of them out of my ribs.”
I chuckled and kissed her belly over her shirt. “Be nice to your momma. She has enough to deal with before you two come out.”
She winced and braced herself on my shoulder. “There it is. His foot is back in there.”
I grabbed her hand and stood with a laugh. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“You owe me a foot massage tonight,” she said in a huff as she pressed down on her stomach.
“Yes, your highness.” I kissed her forehead. “Just think, next time you get pregnant, you will already know what it’s like, and we will already have a routine down.”
If looks could kill, I would be dead.
“You think I am doing this again? You already got a two-for-one deal, dude. Shop is closed after this.”
I kissed her forehead again. “Yes, dear.”
I walked out of the bathroom as she called after me. “I am serious, Elijah.”
I smiled and walked down the stairs. I knew she wasn’t serious, and I had plans of knocking her up again as soon as possible.
When we talked about having kids, we decided on three.
My vote was five, but it’s her body, so three it is.
With the first pregnancy being twins, I hoped that hadn’t changed, but I guessed we would find out.
As we walked into my restaurant, I couldn’t help the smile that covered my face. I did it. I made something of myself, and it was all for me. I heard the bells on the door from someone walking in. I turned around to see my mom standing there.
“Mom, what the hell are you doing here?” She hugged me, and I lifted her off the ground. “I thought you couldn’t make it.”
“Brielle and I wanted to surprise you.”
I looked over at my beautiful wife, and she smiled with a shrug. I looked back to my mom. She put her hand on my cheek. “I’m so proud of you, Elijah.”
“Thanks, Momma. I’m really proud of myself, too.”
Tonight there would be a friends and family tasting before the grand opening this weekend. Everyone was coming, even the guys from the band.
They weren’t a band anymore, but we were all still really close. My brother was married and had a two year old and another on the way. And the rest of the guys were doing new things with their time.
The bell on the door rang again. I turned to see my favorite little blonde girl in the world running toward me. I bent down to pick her up. “Uncle Lijah!”
“Hey, you. How’s my favorite girl?”
“I heard that,” Brielle teased.
I laughed. Aubrey and Lincoln’s daughter, Emma, looked at me with wide eyes. “Am I really your favwit?”
I leaned into her and whispered, “As long as you don’t tell Auntie Bean. Yes, you can stay my favorite.”
She giggled as I kissed her cheek and put her down.
“Where are your mom and dad?” I asked.
“They told me they needed a minute and to run in and find you.”
“They did, did they?”
“Yup.”
I pointed to where Brielle and Amani were rolling napkins and utensils. “Go help Mani and Bean with those, okay? I don’t want you near the kitchen.”
“Okay. I love you most, Lijah.”
“I love you mostest, Emmie.”
She really was my favorite person. I didn’t know such a little human could take up so much space in my heart.
I walked toward the door, and it looked like Aubrey and Link were in a somewhat heated conversation.
I opened the door. “Are you guys good?”
Aubrey slapped Link’s arm and whispered to him, “Just not today, okay?”
I gave a quizzical look. Link looked down at her and back at me. “Fine.”
He walked toward me. “Where do you need me, boss?”
I ignored whatever that was for the time being. “Go help the waiters set the tables for me.”
“You got it.”
Aubrey walked by and kissed my cheek. “Where do you want me?”
“Ask Brie if she needs help. Em is with her.”
She smiled and walked past me.
I turned back to see everyone bustling around and couldn’t help but smile. I could finally say I was proud of myself and mean it.
Aubrey, Callie, Nick, and Link all came over to our house after the tasting. The grandparents took Emma for a sleepover.
Brielle offered Aubrey and Callie wine. We don’t keep it in our house for obvious reasons, but someone brought it to the restaurant, and she brought it home for our guests to enjoy.
Both of them said “no” simultaneously, then looked at each other.
“Are you?” Callie asked at the same time Aubrey said, “You’re not–”
Callie spoke first, “No, I'm not, but I have news.” She waved me and Brielle over from the kitchen and then grabbed Nick’s hand.
“Nick and I are using a surrogate, since we have been trying with no luck. We didn’t expect her to get pregnant right away, so we have been keeping it hush, but we found out today that the transfer was successful. ”
Everyone broke out into congratulations and hugs.
“I am going to try to induce lactation, so I am staying away from alcohol,” Callie added.
I pulled Brielle into my side and kissed the top of her head. “More babies.”
She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “Isn't it amazing?”
I nodded.
The conversation died down, and Link cleared his throat. “We have news, too.”
All of our eyes shot to Aubrey. She smiled and shrugged. “More babies. We found out this morning that I am about six weeks along.”
Brielle broke down crying and gave her a hug. “I am too pregnant for all this good news. How are we all having babies right now?”
Aubrey laughed. “This is the best thing ever.”
Brielle looked up at me. “It really is.”
“Need anything before I get in bed, baby?”
“Just you.” She smiled over her computer. “I am almost done with this order.”
“What are you ordering?” I hung up my towel and walked into the bedroom. Brielle was ogling me like a piece of meat, so I asked her again. “Baby, what are you ordering for the gallery?”
She put her computer on the side table and put her arms behind her head. “No idea.” She smiled.
I started to pull my boxers up my legs when she huffed. I paused and looked at her. “What?”
She pursed her lips. “I’d like you better without the clothes on.”
I smiled and crawled onto the bed without said clothes on. “Are you objectifying me, Mrs. Ryder?”
She leaned in and kissed me. She bit my bottom lip lightly, then moved to my neck. “I think I am, Mr. Ryder.”
“Fuck yes,” I said in a pained voice like I was suffering. “It has been way too long since I was inside you.”
She pulled back with a knowing smile. “We had sex last night.”
“See? Too long.”
I kissed her lips as we both laughed and got under the covers. She faced away from me, and I pulled her panties down. This was the only way we could make love comfortably right now, since her belly took up all the room.
“What are you going to do for six weeks after these two come into the world?” she asked.
I put my head on her bare back. “Probably die.”
She chuckled, “Guess we just have to do it every day until then.”
“I vote yes.”
I began touching her body, but she turned slightly toward me, and her look was more serious. Her hand cupped my cheek. “I am so happy to be doing life with you. I am so beyond proud of you, Elijah. I hope you get everything you could have ever dreamed of.”
I sat up on my arm and touched her belly with my other hand. “This is the best life I could have ever imagined.”
She leaned down to the side, kissed me, and whispered, “Now fuck me so I can go to sleep.”
I laughed against her lips. “As you wish, Mrs. Ryder.”