Epilogue
IVY--THREE YEARS LATER
“What are you doing here? You just had a baby. I was gonna send something over to you in a bit,” Rebecca Parker says as she scoops my toddler into her arms and kisses his cheek. “Good morning, Ben. How are you today?”
“I’m tired, Nana. Mummy woke me up too early and said we were gonna get breakus.” He rubs his black curly hair against his nana’s neck and closes his eyes. He calls me Mummy, and it’s the most wonderful thing I have ever heard.
“I wanted a bowl, and I haven’t been out of the house in four days.
Alex is smothering me. We had to get out before he woke up.
I’d forgotten what he was like when Ben was born, and I swear he is twice as bad this time.
” I sit at the nearest table, and Rebecca reaches out with her free hand to gently touch the baby’s bald head where it pokes out from behind the fabric that straps her to me.
Teddy Parker’s voice booms as he walks from the back. “Well, I thought I heard my babies were in here.” He has been a surprisingly enthusiastic grandparent. He’d always seemed to be the more subdued of the couple, but he has taken to being a grandparent with zeal.
Ben’s eyes fly open at the sound of his voice. “Pop!” He straightens and turns toward his pop, who then takes him from Rebecca.
I stand as Teddy approaches. He puts an arm around my shoulder and kisses my head. “How are you, sweetheart?”
Also unexpected, the bond I’ve formed with Teddy. I never had a dad until I met him. And Rebecca has turned into the mom I always wanted. I’ve not seen my birthmother in four years. And now, I have too much love in my life to care.
“I’m tired and hungry,” I answer.
“You want your usual?” Rebecca asks. I nod, and she disappears to the kitchen.
“And how is Princess Parker?”
Yes, Alex and I named our baby girl for the Parkers. Ben is named after Alex’s father, Benjamin, with the middle name Grant, which was Alex’s Mom's last name before she got married.
“She only woke twice last night, so I’d say she’s doing pretty good.”
The restaurant suddenly goes quiet, and I don’t have to look to know why.
By and large, the town has gotten used to the mega movie star living amongst them, but for many, the novelty hasn’t quite worn off.
It certainly hasn’t helped that press for his upcoming, and possibly last, movie is going strong.
“Ivy. What in the world? Do you know what it’s like to wake up to an entirely empty house?”
I turn to face him fully.
“Good morning, my love,” I say just as Ben throws his arms in the air and calls from his perch in Teddy’s arms. “Daddy!”
And just like that, the frustration melts off his face.
“Good morning, darlings.” He leans down, wraps me and Parker in his arms, and kisses my cheek.
Then he goes and takes Ben from his pop.
“Good morning, Master Benjamin.” Alex called Ben that once as a joke, and Ben thinks it’s the absolute funniest thing. The joke continues.
Ben laughs and smashes his dad’s cheeks in his hands.
“That’s a good look for you.” I laugh, then turn to Teddy. “Do you think you and Nana would be able to take a little break and join us for breakfast?”
He took a look around my restaurant and shrugged. “Maybe. Let me run and check in with Beck.”
The Parkers moved to town right after they learned we were expecting Ben, our honeymoon baby.
They’d fallen in love with the area on their first visit, and more so when they came back for our wedding.
We had tossed around the idea of a destination wedding, but instead we opted for a small, intimate ceremony at our church, followed by a large and absolutely gorgeous party at a venue in town.
There wasn’t anything keeping them in California, so they headed east and adopted us all—including Val and her family.
My life was turning into more than I could have ever dreamed of.
The sad little girl, whose only love in her life was her sister, now has enough love in her life to fill her heart many times over.
The Parkers also brought with them their restaurant experience and desire to keep working part-time. I’m on maternity leave now, but even when I’m not, they are in the restaurant at least twice a week.
“Am I your jailer, that you had to break out of the house?” Alex asks, pulling out a chair for me.
“I love you and I appreciate you, but your hovering and constant attention were about to make me lose my mind.”
“I’ve been hovering, have I?”
“Yes.”
“Was I hovering when I rubbed your neck last night?” He takes the seat beside me and puts his arm around my shoulder, settling Ben in his lap.
“Not at that moment.”
“Was I hovering when I made dinner yesterday?”
“Alex.” I laugh. “None of it’s bad. It’s just too much.”
“I only want to take good care of you.” He brings his hand from my shoulder to hold my head while he leans in to kiss my cheek.
“You do take care of me. You are the most loving and attentive husband. But sometimes I need a little space.”
“I’m loving you too hard?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yes. Exactly, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise given your personality and how hard you loved me before we had babies.”
He sighs and smiles. “I’ll try to tone it down. The three of you are just so lovable, it’s hard to control.”
I shake my head and smile at the man I call mine.
Val and her family show up and drag a table beside ours, just as Nana and Pop come out from the kitchen with four bowls. Tears fill my eyes as I stare around at my family.
“Are these good tears, darling?” Alex asks, pulling me toward him.
“The best tears.”
*Thank you for reading Alex & Ivy's story*