Epilogue Two
PIPER
Three Years Later.
“W here! Is! He!” I shout into the room full of doctors and nurses. I’ve been in labor for close to thirty-six hours, and my husband was unreachable for nearly twenty of them, and now, he’s fucking late, and I’m going to kill him.
“On his way from the airport. Please, Pipe, breathe.” I squeeze Marcus’ hand even harder, and I think I hear a finger snap when he whimpers and drops to his knees beside my bed. Amy and David are enjoying a cruise that Galen, Marcus, and I sent them on for their second honeymoon, or they’d be here.
I’m not supposed to be due for another month, but our twins, like their father, are impatient to make an appearance. Hael and her husband have our darling daughter on a Disney trip because I’ve just been so exhausted and needed some me time before the twins came. Which is how Marcus wound up being the one at my side today.
Galen had taken a job at my insistence because even he was driving me crazy. As soon as Marcus was able to reach him, he was on his way home from lord only knows where, and now, I’m eight centimeters dilated, and he might miss this.
“Oww, oww, oww,” Marcus whines as I’m hit with another contraction and squeeze again. It took Galen and me a long time to forgive Marcus—Galen longer so than me. But eventually, we came to peace with things, and Marcus has been nothing but supportive of our marriage. He’s been a wonderful uncle, as well.
“Don’t be such a bitch, little brother.” Galen enters, looking like he just crawled his way out of a jungle and hasn’t showered since I sent him on his merry way.
“God, you stink,” I mutter with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. “I missed you,” I sob as I let go of Marcus and reach for my husband.
“Doll.” Galen leans down to kiss me, holding my head tight with one hand and the other on my belly, rubbing the way he does, which always soothes me. “I’m here. I’m sorry I left.”
My sobbing kicks up a notch, hearing that he feels guilty when I’m the one who sent him away. “No, it’s my fault. I said you should go.” His entire face softens, and I know I’m the only one who ever gets this look from him.
“No, baby doll, Daddy should have stuck around. I knew better.” He’s trying to take the guilt off my shoulders, and I love him even more for it.
“Oh, good, Dad’s here.” My doctor smiles at him, and I growl, feeling feral and obsessive. “Are we ready to push?” she asks, missing my reaction.
“It’s time?” Galen asks, surprised. The doctor nods and pats him on the shoulder. She knows how concerned Galen has been over this pregnancy and how stressed I’ve been.
“It’ll be okay, Galen. We’ve done this once already,” I try to reassure him.
Breathing gruffly through my teeth, I sit up so Galen can slide in behind me like he did last time. Dropping back into his chest, my husband grunts and reaches forward for my knees.
“Just like you’ve been practicing, breathe in and out. Galen, remind her when she freezes up.” He nods at the instructions before kissing my temple, the tender touch going miles to ease my discomfort. “Ready?” I have no other choice but to bob my head.
It feels like an eternity passes before we’re greeted with the initial loud cry of our first baby boy. I only get a few minutes to hold and admire him before being told the second is coming quicker than anticipated, and the nurse takes our son to the warmer with the NICU team checking him over.
“Here we go again, Mom; you’ve got this.” Bearing down, I push until I’m told to stop. The concern on the doctor's face triggers my anxiety. It’s only because of my husband’s soft touch and soothing words that I don’t give in to the urge to demand to know what’s going on.
“Okay, one more big push,” she instructs, and I do. Just as I’m about to give up, another screaming baby boy is lifted to show me. “The cord was wrapped around his neck, but we’re going to check him over, then bring him to you, okay?” I nod as plump tears drip down my face.
Galen’s arms wrap around me from behind, our eyes glued to where they’re working on our son. “Mom, we have one hungry little man here. Are you up for feeding him?” I nod vigorously at the nurse. I loved breastfeeding our daughter and have looked forward to doing it with the twins.
“Christ,” Galen groans behind me, pressing his head into the back of mine. “You trying to kill me already, doll?” He helps unbuckle my gown and massages around my nipple as I’m handed our son. He latches on like he’s done it a million times before. “Fucking natural,” Galen grunts, brushing his fingers gently across his brow.
“Alright, Mom and Dad, baby number two is doing well. We’d like to keep everyone overnight and reassess in the morning. Sound good?” Galen agrees with her as I stare at the infant in her arms, dying to touch and hold him. “He’s not looking quite ready to eat just yet, but give him a few minutes, and he will.”
Galen helps me hold the twins while we wait for a private room to open up. I was terrified he wouldn’t make it in time for this, and now that he has, I know everything will be alright. Our little family is just perfect.
“Thank you for making it back in time, Daddy.” Staring up at him, his eyes are filled with all the love he can supply us.
“Doll, you know I’d never miss this.” And I do. He’s proven repeatedly that we’re the most important things in his life. I never should have doubted him.
“Love you.” I rest my head against his chest as both boys nurse from me now. Closing my eyes, I’m confident he’ll take them when they’re finished. I feel his lips on my temple and the whisper of breath across my flesh as I fall into a restful nap, more at peace than I’ve been in my entire life. All because of my stalker.