20. Tristan
CHAPTER 20
TRISTAN
“H appy biwfday to me, happy biwfday to me!” Jamie sang. Tristan had just come into the triplets’ room to wake them, only to find that they were already awake and singing. Their faces were alight with the childhood joy of a party. For the last few days, Tristan had been answering hundreds of questions about their birthday party. Now, as he perched on the edge of Jacob’s bed and watched the kids wiggle and jump with enthusiasm, he prepared himself for another round.
Sure enough, there were things Jasmine wanted to know (or be reminded of). “We have cake?”
“Yes, we’ll have cake,” Tristan assured her. “Actually, we’ll have three: one vanilla cake with strawberry filling and pink frosting for Jasmine, one chocolate cake with green frosting for Jamie, and one vanilla-ice-cream cake with blue frosting for Jacob.”
The kids cheered.
Then Jasmine was ready with the next question. “How many kids?”
“There will be fifteen kids. Most of them are from your preschool class, and a few are from daycare or are kids of my colleagues.”
More cheers.
“And presents?” Jasmine’s eyes lit up. Both her brothers wiggled with enthusiasm.
Tristan leaned forward and raised his eyebrows. “Wait, do you want presents?”
“Yes!” the kids chorused.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
“Maybe you want a very small present.”
“No!” they chorused.
“Big present,” Jasmine added, holding her arms out as far as she could.
“Coloring,” Jacob said.
“Princess dress,” Jasmine requested.
“Skul,” Jacob finished, his eyes glowing. Luckily, the kids had been asking for the same three presents for weeks, so Tristan was ready. He winked.
“Okay, there will be presents.”
“Yay!” The kids spilled out of their beds, dancing around the room in joyous shakes and wiggles. Then, as if by silent communication, they piled onto Jacob’s bed with Tristan and exchanged looks. Tristan knew what was coming even before Jamie asked.
“Ria come?”
As always, when the kids had asked this question, Tristan’s heart sank. The truth was that he didn’t know if Ria was coming. He’d sent the invitation weeks ago and hadn’t heard anything back. Odds were good that Ria had decided not to come. Perhaps she’d even changed her phone number and hadn’t received the invitation at all. Either way, it wasn’t looking good for Tristan.
Tristan wanted nothing more than to see Ria again, at least one more time. He wanted to apologize for what a jerk he’d been when she told him about the new job. He wanted to tell her that he loved her. He wanted to explain that he couldn’t live without her — and that he didn’t want to try. He wanted to ask her to come home. But if Ria didn’t come to the party, he wouldn’t be able to say any of that.
Tristan couldn’t explain to the triplets what had happened between him and Ria. So, instead of trying, he gave the answer he’d given each time they’d asked before.
“I don’t know. But I’ll be there. Your friends will be there. And cake and presents will be there!”
The triplets smiled, but their reaction wasn’t anywhere close to the joyous cheers they’d given at the prospect of presents, friends, and cake just a few seconds before. Tristan opened his arms wide, and the kids climbed into them to snuggle against his chest.
“I know you miss Ria,” he told them. The kids nodded. “I miss her, too. But I’m right here, and I love you very much.”
“Okay,” the triplets chorused.
“Now, let’s get up, get dressed, and get downstairs for breakfast!”
Tristan served the kids a balanced breakfast of toast, eggs, and fruit in hopes of counteracting the rush of sugar they’d have later in the day. Once they’d eaten, he set them up in the living room with their favorite show and started blowing up balloons, hanging streamers, and setting up party games in the yard. He’d done a lot of the prep work in previous days, but there was still a little to do this morning.
Soon, the house looked great, the kids were dressed in their special birthday outfits, and the food had arrived. Right on time, the doorbell rang. Immediately, Tristan sat up a little straighter. Was it Ria? He got up from the kitchen table, where he’d been sitting and coloring with the kids, and went to answer.
On the other side of the door stood two twin toddlers from the triplets’ preschool, along with their parents. The twin girls were dressed in frilly party dresses to match Jasmine’s, and the parents held wrapped gifts and a bottle of soda.
“Welcome!” Tristan smiled, even as his heart sank. “Come on in.”
The parents settled on the living room sofa while the kids, too excited to color now, chased each other around the house in an elaborate game of pretend that Tristan couldn’t have followed if he tried.
The bell rang again. This time, Tristan was still hopeful, but less so. His heart sank when he saw one of his employees and her young son, but again, he smiled and welcomed them in. Even if Ria didn’t come, the triplets’ party was shaping up to be something great.
Over the next half hour, more families trickled in, until all the invitees had arrived. There was still no sign of Ria, but Tristan refused to let his sadness ruin the triplets’ special day.
“Everyone out to the yard!” he said. The kids ran, screaming with joy, out the back door, while the parents followed at a more sedate pace. Once outside, they ran back and forth between the bouncy house Tristan had rented for the occasion, the triplets’ new swing set (which was one of their birthday gifts), and the mini wading pools full of water and bubbles. The parents took seats on the porch or played with the kids.
Meanwhile, Tristan brought out the food. The parents served themselves, but the kids were happier to just run past the table and grab a handful of carrot sticks, a few potato chips, or a small sandwich as they went. For now, Tristan was happy to let them play, though he’d make sure the triplets ate something more substantial before he brought out the cake.
Hands on hips, he surveyed the yard. The parents were talking happily, and the kids seemed to be having the time of their lives. The yard looked suitably festive with bouquets of colorful balloons and rows of streamers on the fence and trees. The bounce house was a particular hit — the kids couldn’t get enough of it.
“Daddy.”
Tristan looked down to see Jamie standing beside him. “Hey, kiddo.” Slowly but surely, the kids had started calling him “Daddy.” Instead of feeling strange, the term was very welcome.
“No Ria?” Jamie stuck out his lip.
“No, honey, but look at all your friends.” Tristan ruffled his son’s hair. “Are you going to show me some cool superhero moves in the bouncy castle?”
“Yeah!” Jamie’s eyes lit up, and he gave Tristan’s leg a hug. Then he ran off to rejoin the party, calling, “Daddy, you watch?”
“I’m watching,” Tristan called back with a wave.
That’s when he heard it. A familiar giggle rang out from behind him, and he turned slowly, his heart already racing. Ria stood on the back porch, dressed in a pretty dark green sundress and holding a stack of three identically sized but differently wrapped gifts. Her red curls were pulled back in a clip at the top, with a few strands free to frame her face. Her freckles seemed a little more pronounced, and her green eyes were sparkling, but otherwise, she looked the same as the last time Tristan had seen her, more than a month ago.
“You came,” he said, surprise, relief, and joy warring within his chest.
“I did.” She looked over one shoulder at the house then back at Tristan. “I just let myself in. I hope that was okay. When I rang the bell, no one answered, so I thought you might be back here.”
“Yes, of course, that’s more than okay.” Tristan was almost bursting with all the things he wanted to say to Ria. He wanted to pull her off to a quiet corner so they could finally talk, but he was also running the triplets’ party. He couldn’t just disappear.
“You look so comfortable amidst the chaos.” Ria waved a hand around the playing kids and chatting parents. “Just a few months ago, you would have been a fish out of water.”
“I do feel comfortable.” Tristan smiled. “It’s thanks to you. Listen, Ria, could we?—”
Just then, Jacob came tearing across the grass, his face lit up in a smile, and a balloon trailing from a string clasped in his small fist.
“Ria here! Ria here!”
Ria scooped the little boy into her arms and spun him around. “Hi, Jacob. I missed you so much.”
“Miss you.” He hugged her tightly. “Miss you.”
The commotion drew Jasmine and Jamie’s attention, as both kids practically flew out of the bounce house and across the garden to Ria. She lifted them up, too, until she was balancing all three triplets in her arms. The kids’ faces were shining — and so was Ria’s. She hugged them close, kissed their dark hair, then carefully set them down.
“You guys have a great party here.”
“Got three cakes,” Jasmine said, holding up three tiny fingers. “Many bawoons. Presents. Hundred kids!”
“That’s amazing!” Ria squeezed her shoulder. “Now, go play with your friends.”
“You no go?” Jamie asked suspiciously.
“I won’t go.” Ria smiled down at him, though Tristan was almost certain he heard an unspoken “yet” at the end of the sentence. Reassured, the kids ran off to play with their friends again. Ria and Tristan were alone. She turned to him.
“Were you saying something?”
“Yes, but it can wait. There might be a little too much going on right now for us to talk. Just promise you won’t leave right after the party, okay?"
Ria nodded. “Okay.” Her expression was solemn.
Tristan wanted to reach out to her and take her hand. He wanted to tell her that he didn’t just want her to stay after the party, but to stay for a very long time.
“Hey, Tristan.” One of the dads was walking over to him, holding his young son in his arms. “Sorry to disturb you, but Mike needs to use the bathroom. Could you point us in the right direction?”
At exactly the same moment, Jacob ran over.
“Cake?”
Ria and Tristan exchanged a look as another feeling of déjà vu rolled over Tristan. They’d tag-teamed hundreds of similar situations before when one triplet needed something, and another needed something else. Falling easily back into well-oiled patterns, Tristan turned to the dad.
“Sure thing. Let me show you where it is.”
Simultaneously, Ria bent down to Jacob’s height. “It isn’t quite time for cake yet, but how about I get you a sandwich?”
As Tristan led the dad and son into the house, he sent one last glance back at Ria, who was now holding Jacob’s hand as she led him to the refreshments table. She looked up, as if sensing that he was watching her, and her lips lifted into a hesitant smile. The party chaos around them seemed to fade, until it was just the two of them looking at each other. Then Ria turned her attention back to Jacob. Tristan focused his own attention on the father and son.
The rest of the day flew by in a whirl of birthday chaos. The kids played in the yard until they were tired then feasted on lunch and cake. Next came presents; each of the triplets got when they had wanted, as well as some toys, board games, and candy from their friends. Throughout the party, Tristan kept looking back and forth between Ria, Jasmine, Jacob, and Jamie. He couldn’t believe his luck.
This time last year, he had been alone — and he’d thought he was happy. His days had been filled with work, following the latest trends in health and wellness, and more work. He’d rarely, if ever, imagined having children or a partner. Now, he had three beautiful kids who he loved more than life itself and a woman he loved — even if things were still tenuous between them. As the kids squealed with joy over their art supplies (for Jacob), princess dresses (for Jasmine), and robotic toy squirrel (for Jamie), Tristan realized that he’d never receive a better gift than getting to see these three grow up.
Except, perhaps, for Ria. With her bright-red hair and beautiful smile, she stood out among the party guests like she’d been kissed by sunshine. Tristan could hardly believe she was here — and she didn’t seem angry, either, even though she had a right to be. As she handed out cake and bounced in the bounce house with the triplets and held Jacob in her lap while opening gifts, Tristan couldn’t help marveling at how wonderful she really was.
Even better were the brief moments alone the two of them shared. At one point, they went into the kitchen together to carry out the cakes. Ria looked around the kitchen with a grin before turning to Tristan.
“I have to ask. Do these cakes have spirulina or fish oil or something in them?”
“I swear they don’t.” Tristan grinned back. “I try to make sure the triplets eat healthy food, but part of the joy of childhood is having a special, spirulina-free cake on a birthday.”
Ria nodded approvingly. “Good. I just had to check.”
For a moment, it felt like they had their old banter back — especially when Ria accidentally knocked a stack of napkins off the table with her elbow while she was picking up Jamie’s cake. They smiled at each other, but then she slipped out of the kitchen with the cake in her hand, and the moment was broken.
The whole day, Tristan reminded himself that when the guests left, he would have time to talk to Ria. When the time came, though, he realized his mistake. The triplets were still hopped up on sugar and filled with joy over their new gifts, Ria’s return, and their wonderful party. So, instead of getting a quiet moment with Ria, the pair spent the afternoon playing games with the triplets to wear them out, then fed them an early dinner.
Tristan was grateful that Ria never made any overtures about leaving, instead seeming content to spend time with the kids all day. By the time dinner was on the table, the sugar was starting to wear off and the kids yawned as their eyes drooped. Ria and Tristan carried the kids upstairs to wash their faces, brush their teeth, and put on pajamas before tucking them into bed. As they slipped out of the room, where the triplets were already sound asleep, Tristan felt another wave of déjà vu. They’d put the kids to bed together dozens of times before. For a moment, it felt as though Ria still lived here and nothing had changed.
“That was a great day,” Ria said, sending Tristan a quick smile. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for coming. And thank you for staying until bedtime. The triplets loved seeing you again.” And so did I. Yet the words Tristan had been wanting to say to Ria for weeks stuck in his throat.
“It was wonderful to see them, too. I miss them so much.” Ria wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I feel like they grew, even though I was only gone for a few weeks.”
“I think they did.” Tristan grinned. “And they’re talking more and more every day. So much of their success is thanks to you, you know.”
“No.” Ria shook her head. “Not at all. You’re their dad, Tristan, and it’s clear that having you as a dad has been wonderful for them. They seem happy and well-adjusted.”
“I try to make sure they are. Sometimes they ask about their mom, and we go to visit her now and then and talk about her plenty, but mostly they just seem… happy.” Tristan hesitated. “How’s your new job?”
He didn’t want to make small talk with Ria. He wanted to kiss her thoroughly and tell her how he felt. Yet now that the moment had finally come, he was nervous. What if Ria didn’t feel the same way? What if she’d really just come back to see the triplets again?
“It’s going well. LA is a great place to be.” Ria smiled, though it looked a little forced, then glanced at her phone. “Listen, it’s getting late. I should go. It… it was nice to see you again.”
In that moment, Tristan knew that this was his chance — his only chance. If he didn’t tell Ria how he felt now, he might never be able to. His nerves slipped away as he shook his head.
“Not yet, Ria. Please, join me for dinner. After that, I can call a cab to take you wherever you need to go.”
“Oh.” Ria hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
She bit her lip, her eyes skating away from Tristan’s. “I just… I just don’t think it would be.”
Everything came down to this moment. Tristan reached out, slowly, and took Ria’s hand in his own. Her fingers threaded between his as their eyes met.
“Just stay for dinner,” Tristan said.
Slowly, Ria nodded. “All right. I can only stay for a little while, though.”
“I understand.” But even that felt like a win. Tristan squeezed her hand once before letting go. “Come on.”
Together, they walked down the stairs towards the kitchen where they’d shared so many meals. Tristan’s heart beat a quick rhythm in his chest. Once again, he mentally replayed Jamie’s words. He just needed to speak from his heart. Everything else would fall into place… if Ria felt the same way as he did.