Epilogue
Piper
One Year Later
The aroma of fresh pasta and simmering tomato sauce fills the air, a now familiar and comforting scent that always brings a smile to my face. Then again, there’s not an hour that goes by I don’t smile these days. Even when I was in hard labor, feeling like my insides were being ripped out of me, those brief moments in between contractions, and after throwing up, I was smiling into Magnus’s eyes as he held my hand, wiped my forehead with cool clothes, and encouraged me every step of the way.
In my weakest and scariest moments he’s even more my superhero. He even had a cape all ready for our son on the day he was born. Our child’s life will be filled with adventure, that’s for sure.
Sunday’s at Mama Isabella’s home are our cherished tradition that we don’t break unless we’re traveling somewhere, and half the time we go places, she comes along with us, which makes our trips even better. Today is our typical Sunday. Livie and Tyler join us most of the time as well, and Isabella loves the extra mouths to feed, and the extra hands in the kitchen.
Today, it’s Mama Isabella, Magnus, our son, Livie, Tyler, and beautiful Julie all laughing in the kitchen. As usual Bianca is running late. We have bets on when she’ll rush in through the door. We now know she shows up late to get out of cooking. She loves to eat, and she can cook, but she’s not a big fan of doing it. She doesn’t tell her mama this as it would break her heart.
Magnus’s mother is currently in heaven as she sits on her bean bag chair so she can be on the ground but comfortable. She’s cradling her first grandson, our tiny Giovanni, named after his great-grandfather. He’s currently cooing at his grandma ,who’s very happy to coo right back as she happily fusses over him. I laugh as Julie, who is a little over a year old now and full of joy, runs in circles around Isabella who has adopted her as a grandchild as well. Isabella says the more children filling her home, the better. She’s even considering adding onto her home now if we keep giving her children. She wants plenty of space for them to have fun in.
“Slow down, Julie, you’re going to make Nonna dizzy,” Livie calls out. Julie laughs as she ignores her mother.
“She’s just fine, mama,” Isabella says as she laughs while reaching out to tickle Julie who giggles madly before making another mad dash around her.
“I wish I had her energy,” Magnus says as he beams down at his son. He can barely look away from little Gio. It’s pretty damn endearing.
“Don’t burn the sauce,” I warn him, and he looks back down and stirs again. I drop in the basil I’ve just chopped.
“She’s busy like her daddy, but she does run circles around him,” Livie tells us. She then looks over at her hubby. “Can you knead the bread, Hun, my arms are worn out.”
“On it,” Tyler says, gladly taking over for his wife. He leans in and kisses her before getting to kneading. Mama Isabella doesn’t believe in Kitchen Aids doing the kneading. She says the bread has to be formed with love.
We continue working when we hear the front door open and all of us look at the clock. I smile as I glance around. “I won tonight,” I tell them and the rest of them moan. I had a feeling she’d be a little earlier tonight. She loves holding Julie and her nephew. She has to wrestle the kids from her mother though which isn’t an easy task.
Bianca sweeps into the room, spots the kids, and immediately drops down to the floor where Julie launches herself into her lap. Bianca places dozens of kisses on her cheeks making the child giggle with pure joy. If only we could bottle that sound there’d be world peace.
When Julie gets distracted, Bianca looks at us. “You won’t believe the date I had last night,” she declares.
Each week we all love to hear about her dating disasters. There’s yet to be a man to win her over, but we have a pool on that as well. I’m thinking this will be sooner rather than later. I think I’m going to win again. We all look at her and wait, knowing she’ll talk a mile a minute.
“Do tell, little sister,” Magnus says when she pauses too long. She beams at him as if she was waiting for someone to acknowledge what she said.
“Well,” Bianca begins, rolling her eyes in the cutest dramatic way possible. For a woman who’s nearly thirty, she sure acts and looks about twenty-five. “The man showed up late, spilled wine on my dress, and then, to top it all off, he thought that quoting Shakespeare was a good idea for small talk. What is wrong with men?” She loves talking with her hands, and her arms are flying all over the place as she speaks, making Julie laugh as she winds in and out of her aunts bold motions. No matter what Bianca’s doing, she’s careful to know where the kids are at all times.
We all laugh, loving to hear about Bianca’s terrible dates. I do notice there’s a shift in her demeanor, though. Despite her complaints, there’s a certain softness in her eyes, even the hint of a smile she isn’t quite hiding.
“What’s his name?” I ask.
“It doesn’t matter as I won’t be seeing him again,” she says a bit too quickly.
“I don’t know. You seem different tonight,” I say. She gives me a glare but there’s no heat in it.
“His name is Sebastian, but seriously, I’m not seeing him again, even if he was slightly charming beneath the mess of our date.”
Magnus gives his sister his full attention. “Charming, huh? I don’t think I’ve heard you use that word with any other date before. Has someone met her match?”
Bianca turns her glare on her brother, desperately trying to maintain her indignation, but it’s clear there’s something going on with her. “Nope. Not seeing him again. I’ll see what the next date will bring,” she says.
We decide that’s all we’re going to say for now. She’s like a baby animal and we don’t want to spook her. We continue with our dinner preparations while Bianca and Isabella entertain the children. Livie sidles up to me and I love that everyone who’s special to me is all in one room.
“I have some news to share,” she tells me.
“I love news,” I say as I continue layering the eggplant parmesan.
“There might just be a sibling for Julie in about seven months.” She says the words so casually, it takes a moment for them to process in my brain. I stop what I’m doing as I look at my best friend, joy filtering through me. A gasp escapes my mouth and Magnus looks up with concern. He’s so in tune to me it’s crazy.
“Are you serious?” I ask.
“As a heart attack,” she says, making me shake my head before I grab her into a hug and bounce up and down.
“I hate that saying, but love that I’m going to be an aunt twice over,” I tell her.
“What’s happening?” Magnus asks.
Livie turns to beam at him. “We’re having baby number two in seven months,” she practically shouts.
Everyone smiles as the joy in the room turns up another notch and we all offer our congratulations and hugs. Even Bianca jumps up from the floor and throws her arms around Livie, saying she gets to hold this one before me, making Livie laugh. Mama Isabella smiles with joy and officially gives Magnus permission to build an addition on the house. She’s going to need a lot more room for all of these beautiful grandchildren.
Magnus takes Gio from her so she can properly hug Livie. Our son lets out a wail that makes Isabella beam. She knows he loves his Nonna, and it’s beautiful. I don’t have the heart to tell her he’s hungry. After a few more hugs, I take him to the corner and sit so I can feed him.
We finally sit down to dinner, Julie on Isabella’s lap and Bianca holding Gio, everyone filled with smiles and stories. I look around at this built family of mine. They’ve all become mine and each one is just as important as the next.
One year ago Magnus and I were newlyweds, just beginning our journey together. Now we’re parents, surrounded by those we love and who love us. It’s beautiful, wonderful, and unbelievable. It will keep growing and growing.
I might not have started out without love, but I’m surrounded by it now. I look over to my husband and take his hand. He looks in my eyes, his gaze filled with love. Life is good, it’s beautiful, and this is forever.