Epilogue - Hollander
Five Years Later
“ D addy, are you almost done with the catio?” My four-year-old twin daughters dance around the screened-in outdoor space Hadley had me build for all five of our cats.
“Almost, sweethearts.” I set my hammer down, pick them up, one under each arm, and spin in a circle until they are both giggling uncontrollably.
“Faster, Daddy.” Greta squeals while Gwennie giggles louder.
“Holls, be careful. You’re going to make them puke.” Hadley rushes over to my side, or as fast as a nine-month-pregnant woman can move, with our two-year-old son, Gavin, trailing after her.
“We’re fine, Mommy.” Both Gwennie and Greta roll their eyes as I set them down, their expressions looking suspiciously like the cats when they roll their eyes at Hadley.
“Well, I’m not sure I’m okay.” Hadley places a hand on her stomach as her face pinches into a grimace. “I think I’m in labor.”
“It’s a good thing I’m here.” Klaire waltzes into the catio, her youngest child on her hip. “You two had better get a move on. You don’t want a repeat of what happened last time with Gavin.”
“Don’t remind me.” Hadley pants, making me realize her labor is farther along than she’s letting on. “Having Gavin in the backseat of a limo in the parking lot of the emergency room certainly made headlines.”
“Don’t worry, making headlines is something my family is known for.” Klaire grabs Hadley’s arm, helping guide her out of the catio.
“Speaking of headlines, where’s that sexy husband of yours?” Hadley jokes in between deep breaths.
“He should be here any minute with the older kids.”
“You know I love you, don’t you, Hollander?” Hadley grits her teeth, her face contorted with pain. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the hospital.”
In the end, Hadley was right. We didn’t make it to the hospital in time for baby Glen’s birth. But we did make it to our bedroom, to Tom’s utter disgust, as he looked down on the whole thing from his hammock in the window. Thankfully, both mother and baby are doing well, despite Tom’s judgment.
-The End-