Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER: RIA
“Happy Birthday to you,” Ria sang, smiling down at the triplets all snuggled in their beds. “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jacob-Jamie-Jasmine, Happy Birthday to you!”
“Again, again!” the triplets chorused. Ria chuckled.
“Sorry, guys, but your birthday is over for now. It’s time to sleep.”
“Aw.” Three little faces fell.
“But don’t worry,” Ria continued. “I think being four years old will be amazing.”
“Yeah.” Jasmine grinned. “I like being four.”
“I really like being four!” Jacob put in.
“I like squirrels,” Jamie added with a yawn.
Ria smiled at all of them, blew kisses, then slipped out of the room. They’d probably chat a little more, as they often did, but that was all right. It was their birthday, after all.
Tristan was waiting downstairs in the kitchen with tacos on the table. When he spotted Ria, he poured her a glass of lemonade and stood to pull her chair out for her.
“Thank you.” Ria sank into the seat across from him. “So, their birthday is over. Again.”
“Can you believe that they’re four?” Tristan shook his head in wonder. “It feels like just yesterday that they turned three.”
“It feels a bit longer than that. After all, it’s been a whole year that I’ve been living here now.” Ria smiled. “A whole year that we’ve been in love.”
Tristan took her hand across the table. “It’s been a good year, hasn’t it?”
“The very best.”
“Listen.” Tristan squeezed her hand. “I know how hard you’ve been working — how hard we’ve both been working — to make the triplets’ birthday a success. So, I thought I’d give you a little present, too.”
“Really?” Ria couldn’t hold back her smile. “What is it?”
Tristan slid an envelope across the table to her. Curious, Ria let go of his hand and slit open the envelope. Inside was a printed itinerary for what looked like a trip to a nearby coastal island known for its gorgeous views and relaxed atmosphere.
“Are we taking the kids to Angel Island?” Ria asked. They’d gone on a few trips with the kids over the last year, including an amazing vacation to Hawaii over Christmas. Ria’s dream of seeing the Big Island had finally come true, and it had been even better than she’d imagined. They’d snorkeled, hiked, and lounged poolside while the triplets splashed in the shallow kiddy pool in front of the resort. Ria was looking forward to another such trip.
“Not quite.” Tristan smiled. “I asked Nora to come babysit for the weekend, and she agreed right away. Apparently, she feels like you’ve always given her everything you could, and she wants to return the favor. Anyway, it’ll be just the two of us on a romantic island getaway.”
“Oh, Tristan.” Ria beamed. “I can’t wait. I love the kids, but it’ll be nice to get some time for just the two of us.”
“Definitely.” Tristan leaned across the table to give her a quick kiss. “We leave in two weeks.”
“Wonderful.” Ria reached for a taco. “I feel like we’ve barely had any time to ourselves in the last year.”
“Me neither. Even though we’ve had our moments.” Tristan winked, and Ria blushed.
It had been a wonderful year, even though they’d been busy. Ria had fallen more and more in love with Tristan every day. He was attentive, thoughtful, and very sexy. And now that Ria was living with him, they’d gone through the house together, weeding out ugly vases and pretentiously cool items Tristan had bought. The house looked, and felt, more and more like a home.
The days were spent with the kids. Tristan still worked most of the week, but he always came home in time for dinner and bedtime. The triplets went to preschool a few days a week, during which time Ria had begun taking college courses again. She was a year or so away from getting her teaching certificate, as she’d always hoped to. She’d given her notice to the Robinsons, who’d graciously let her out of her employment immediately and wished her well in her future with Tristan. Ria’s next job would be as a teacher.
Evenings were spent with just the two of them, eating dinner together, snuggling on the couch, talking late into the night, and exploring their connection. It was everything Ria had dreamed of and more.
Of course, not everything had been easy. Some adjustments had been needed as they’d grown used to living together as a couple, instead of as a dad and a nanny. But overall, things had gone more smoothly than Ria could have dared hope.
Ria’s excitement for the Angel Island getaway carried her through the next two weeks so quickly she felt like she was walking on air. She was so distracted by thoughts of a weekend with just her and Tristan that she barely noticed she was more tired than normal. And when she came down with a bout of stomach flu right before they were supposed to leave, she was very disappointed.
“Do we need to cancel?” Tristan asked when he found Ria in the kitchen drinking ginger tea and looking very pale the morning before they were supposed to leave.
“No, let’s go,” Ria insisted. “It’ll be fun, and I’m sure the sea air will make me feel better soon.”
“All right.” Tristan gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Do you need help with the triplets today?”
“No, it’s all right.” Ria sipped her tea. “They’re off to preschool in an hour or so. I’ll be fine.”
She felt better after eating a little breakfast and was able to walk the kids to school the long way, through the park. The kids laughed and chased each other around as Ria followed with a smile. After she dropped them off at preschool, she decided to swing by the grocery store to get a few things. It was only when she passed the section of pregnancy tests that she put two and two together. She’d been tired, she’d been sick, and her period was late. Her hands shaking slightly, she added a pregnancy test to her cart and headed to the checkout.
* * *
“It’s a beautiful day!” Tristan called as the ferry plowed across the cerulean waves towards Angel Island. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay!” Ria called back. She was still a little nauseated, but eating candied ginger seemed to take the edge off, and she was enjoying the trip. The skies were blue, the water sparkled, and they’d spotted a school of dolphins just off the coast that had tried to race the boat. “And I think we’re almost there!”
Sure enough, a few minutes later, the ferry docked at Angel Island. Tristan held out his arm to Ria as they joined the throng of disembarking passengers. Ria took deep breaths of fresh, salty air as she savored the open expanse of blue sky above and her hand on Tristan’s arm. It was hard to believe that this was her life. She had a man she loved and children she adored. And she got to be here today, on this beautiful island with Tristan by her side.
“You look happy.”
“I am happy.” She grinned at Tristan. “It’s such a beautiful day. Thank you so much for doing this.”
“Anytime. We should get away more often, just the two of us.”
“We should. Although I have to admit that I keep wondering how the kids are doing on their own.”
“Me too.” They shared a smile. “I’m sure they’re fine, though. Your sister is an amazing babysitter, and the kids love her.”
“She is.” Ria’s thoughts drifted away from the island and back to the pregnancy test she’d taken that morning. Perhaps the result shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it had been. She needed to talk to Tristan, but she was hesitant to add potential complications to a beautiful weekend, the first they’d had alone in quite some time. She could talk to Tristan when they were back in San Francisco, surely.
They dropped their bags off at the cute little bed-and-breakfast Tristan had booked for them. After they both freshened up, Tristan suggested a walk along the beach, and Ria agreed without hesitation. Hand in hand, they strolled along the sand, the waves washing over their bare feet.
“Ria.”
Ria looked up at Tristan. His carefree smile had grown serious.
“Yes? Is everything all right?”
“More than all right.” He squeezed her hand. “I did want to talk to you, though.”
“All right.” Ria’s heart began to race, and Tristan squeezed her hand again.
“This last year and a bit, with you by my side, has been the best of my life. I think people would laugh if I admitted this, but I’d rather clean the kitchen or wrangle tantrums with you than do anything with anyone else. I feel like I’ve grown to love you more with each day that’s gone by.” Tristan smiled at her, his green eyes crinkling.
“That’s sweet.” Ria nudged him with her shoulder. “Do you still love me more each day, even though I’ve broken at least a dozen cups and one of your windows?”
Tristan chuckled. “I think those things made me love you more. Anyway, you have to admit that it took skill to break that window.”
“Yep. I had to run into the bookshelf at just the right angle so that it would fall into the window.” They both chuckled at the memory. Luckily, the kids had been out of the house at the time — they’d been rearranging the playroom as a surprise. While moving the furniture, one thing had led to another until the window was in pieces.
“I wasn’t even surprised, though. After the vase, I was ready for anything.” Tristan stopped in front of Ria, bringing them both to a stop, and took her other hand in his. “But seriously, Ria, you’ve made every part of my life better. I’m a better father because of you, of course, but I’m also a better man because of you. I love you more than I can put into words.”
Ria smiled up at him. “I love you, too.” Then her mouth dropped open as Tristan slowly sank onto one knee.
“Ria Eliana Hampton,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers. “I never want to spend another day without you. I want you in my home, in my bed, and in my life, always. I want to make our decisions together. I want to raise our kids together. I want to grow old by your side. I want to show you every day, every hour, every minute, how much you mean to me. Ria, will you marry me?” In his hand, a beautiful diamond ring glittered in an ornate velvet box.
Ria wanted nothing more than to fall into Tristan’s arms with an enthusiastic “yes!” But she couldn’t. She took a deep breath.
“Tristan, there’s something I should tell you.”
“Oh.” Tristan looked alarmed. “Should I get up?”
“No, no. I just…” Ria let go of one of his hands so that she could press a palm to her stomach. “Tristan, I’m pregnant. I know you never planned to be a father, and the triplets were quite a surprise, and this is another surprise, but?—”
But Tristan was already on his feet, sweeping Ria into his arms. “Oh, Ria, this is the best news!” He kissed her, lightly, then dropped to his knees again so he could kiss her stomach.
“Really?”
“Of course. I love you. I love the triplets. I already love this baby — although it might be more convenient if it’s just one baby.”
Ria chuckled. “I can’t make any promises.”
Tristan stood again, lifted her into his arms, and spun her around. Then he set her down. “Being a parent with you has been one of the best experiences of my life. Of course I’m happy that we get to keep doing that.”
“Me too.” They smiled at each other for a long moment. Then Ria’s eyes widened. “Oh! And yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, if you still want to marry me, there’s nothing I want more than to marry you.”
“You do?” Tristan beamed. The ring reappeared, and he carefully slid it onto her finger. “Then let’s get married. And let’s become parents all over again! I’m ready for anything — as long as you’re with me.”
“Always.” Ria stretched onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Tristan’s lips. He kissed her back, thoroughly, until Ria’s knees were weak. In that moment, everything felt absolutely perfect. The two of them stood on the white-sand beach, beside the crashing cerulean waves, beneath an azure-blue sky, in each other’s arms. They were getting married. They were parents to the triplets. They were having another baby.
“Well, future Mrs. West,” Tristan said, “shall we go back to the bed-and-breakfast?”
“Let’s go.” Hand in hand, they walked back the way they’d come, already talking about their wedding, about baby names, and about the future. Ria’s heart was so, so full. Everything was as it was meant to be, and the future seemed as wide and as bright as the sparkling, endless ocean beside them.
The End