EPILOGUE TWO
FINN
As I take Skye out of her car seat and place her down onto the pavement, the door to my parents’ house opens.
“Nanny!”
Skye is off as soon as she sees my mum and charges towards her.
“Don’t run, Skye,” I call out, but it’s too late.
My mother bends down to scoop Skye up into her arms. “Oh, there’s my big girl,” she says as she kisses her cheek. “How are you, darling?”
“So excited.” Skye grins.
I smile at the pair of them and turn back to Maya as she gets Emberly out of her seat.
“You okay?” I ask.
Maya beams at me as I reach for our bags and lock the car. “Yeah,” she says.
The second we step into my childhood home, we’re swarmed with love and affection. I watch as my mum strokes Emberly’s head and gives her forehead a quick kiss, and my father has Skye up in his arms as she giggles into his shoulder.
“How are you growing so quickly, huh?” my mum says to Emberly, who’s now awake and looking around a little suspiciously.
“Too quickly,” Maya laughs. “Those four months have gone by in a flash.”
“How are you guys?”
I nod. “We’re good. Ivy here?”
“Not yet, soon. Come on, let’s get you all settled.”
Skye’s already digging around the box of toys my parents got down from the loft. Toys me and Ivy used to have as kids; it’s a nostalgic feeling seeing them being reused.
“How are you, son?” My father slaps his hand onto my shoulder.
“Well,” I say. “Tired, but well.”
“Life with a newborn,” he says with a chuckle.
“Even tougher with two kids, but worth every second.”
I glance over at the kitchen as my mum has a cuddle with Emberly while Maya flicks on the kettle, and they laugh together. My heart is filled to the brim because my parents always go above and beyond for our girls.
When Ivy and JJ arrive, Skye immediately rushes towards them, and she’s greeted with hugs and kisses. That kid is a sucker for affection, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Once we’ve all settled and sat around the sofa, my dad holds Emberly, and I play with Skye on the floor with the toys and a room full of chatter and joy. It’s a full circle moment…I can’t believe this is my life.
Ivy nudges me gently with a smirk. “You’re such a girl dad.”
“And what about it?”
“Nothing,” she laughs. “I just love seeing you all together. You’re such a good dad, Finn. Those girls literally adore you.”
“Auntie Ivy,” Skye calls. “Look at my hair. Daddy did it.”
Ivy strokes over her loose French plaits. “Wow,” she says with wide eyes. “I’m impressed. They’re so pretty, Skye.”
“He does them every day for school,” she says.
“Wrapped around your little finger, huh?”
My eyes roll as Skye returns to play with her dolls. “Do you know how hard it is to braid hair?” I mutter. “It took me months to learn.”
“Well, as someone who has always been able to braid their own hair, no. But this is what I mean, you’re a great girl dad, and I’m here for it. Wanna do mine next?”
I shove her shoulder playfully, and we both release another laugh. “Shut up.”
Ivy stands up and dusts herself off before walking towards her bag and catches eyes with JJ. I watch them for a moment as she clears her throat, and everyone’s attention turns to her.
“Guys, we have something to share,” she says slowly as JJ stands by her side.
My mother blinks, panic stretching over her face. “What is it?”
She draws in a breath as JJ gives her a supportive nod.
After a few seconds, she removes whatever she’s holding behind her back and flashes us a tiny babygrow with ‘Baby Woodford’. My mouth falls open immediately, and my mum starts to sob—just like she did when we told her Maya was pregnant with Emberly.
While my mum ambushes Ivy, I step forward to hug JJ and clap a hand on his back. “Congratulations, man,” I say sincerely. “You guys are going to make great parents.”
He embraces me tightly. “You’re gonna have to give me all your secrets.”
I scoff into his shoulder. “I’m still learning.”
“And yet, you’re still an amazing father.”
After we pull away, I hold him at arm’s length. “You’ve got this, JJ,” I state. “You’re both gonna do just fine. I promise. But we’ll always be there for you no matter what.”
I step towards my sister, who is now crying, and I hug her. “I’m so happy for you,” I whisper. “Congratulations, Ivy. This is the best news ever.”
“Excited for our babies to grow up together,” she says, and it makes my heart squeeze.
“Best cousins ever.”
“So many grandbabies,” my mother says as she wipes her eyes, and my father holds her close. “Oh, I’m so ready.”
“Let’s toast,” my dad says as he grabs his mug of coffee. “To Ivy and JJ.”
“To Ivy and JJ!”
“To all our beautiful babies,” Maya says as Ivy brushes a hand over her stomach.
Ivy wipes her eyes, and we hold up our mugs. “To the brightest futures.”
I wrap my arm around Maya’s shoulder and kiss her temple as Emberly wriggles in her arms.
“Mummy, what’s going on?” Skye asks as she tugs at Maya’s leg.
Maya bends down to take her hand. “Auntie Ivy has a baby growing inside her, which means soon you’ll be a big cousin.”
Skye’s eyes widen as she looks at Ivy. “A baby in your tummy like Mum had?”
Ivy beams. “Yeah, exactly like that.”
“I wanna meet them now!”
“Only seven months to go,” Ivy says as she strokes Skye’s head. “And then you guys can be best friends.”
Skye flashes her a cheesy grin and does a silly dance. “I can’t wait!”
I sit down with Maya at my side as she hands me Emberly. Maya rests her head on my shoulder as we watch Skye play with Ivy and JJ and our family around us.
Nothing on this planet could beat this feeling, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.