ANTONY
Iwant to stay in bed with Erin forever, but I know there’s so much we need to do. I want to get home as quickly as possible, so that the twins are still awake, and Erin and I can tell them we’re together.
Plus we’ll need to arrange for Erin’s things to be shipped back here, and end her lease.
“As much as I hate to admit it, we should probably get moving,” I say, detangling myself from Erin’s body.
“Yeah, you’re right. I wish we could stay in bed forever, but we need to get back for the twins. Who’s looking after them?”
I feel a stab of guilt as I admit, “I hired a new nanny. I suppose we best talk about that, too. It doesn’t feel right just letting her go.”
“No, I won’t allow that. I know how tough things are, and honestly, with how tired being pregnant makes me, I could use an extra pair of hands.”
“Okay, we’ll discuss it with Auli'i when we get back. Then there’s this place to deal with. I could buy out your lease, if you want?”
Erin’s eyes widen. “Damn, I didn’t even think about that. Then there’s shipping my stuff back -- though I didn’t bring much. Most of it is in storage.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it all out. Just pack enough for a few days. We can sort everything else out when we’re back home.”
Erin smiles. “Home. I like the sound of that, but are you sure it isn’t moving too fast? I could always rent somewhere or move in with Tina for a while?”
“What do you want to do? If it were up to me, I’d never want you to leave again, but I understand if you need more time.”
“Honestly, I hate the idea of not waking up with you and the twins every day.”
I can’t stop the grin that covers my face. “Move in with me then.”
Erin’s grin matches mine as she says, “I’d love to.”
She insists it’s best if we take turns showering, saying I’ll only distract her if we shower together.
She lets me go first, and while I’m in there, she packs enough clothes for the next couple of days.
Then while she showers, I book our flights back to the Hamptons, and give Auli'i a quick call to let her know that Erin will be with me.
“I’m scared the twins won’t be happy to see me,” Erin admits when we’re on the flight back to the Hamptons.
“Don’t be worried, they’ve missed you like crazy. They’ll be glad you’ve come home.”
“Yeah, but will they be happy we’re together and having a baby?”
I take Erin’s hand in mine and squeeze it gently. “Of course, they will. They love you, Erin.”
“I hope they forgive me for leaving,” she says, the worry still clear in her tone.
“They will. Their sessions with Jason are really helping them talk about their feelings.”
Erin smiles. “I’m going to have to thank Jason. It sounds like he’s had a positive effect on you all. I was actually thinking, we should ask him about couple’s therapy, too.”
“I agree. I don’t want either of us making the same mistakes. Maybe if we’d just been more honest about our feelings in the first place, none of this would have happened.”
“True, but everything is good now,” Erin says, entwining her fingers with mine.
-----
As we approach the house, I start to feel nervous too. I know the twins will be happy to see Erin, but it will still be a lot for them to get their heads around, especially when we tell them about the pregnancy.
Then there’s Auli'i to deal with. I certainly have nothing against Erin’s suggestion of her remaining the twins' nanny and know it will be useful to have an extra pair of hands when the baby comes. But, until then, I don’t know exactly how much work there will be for her.
But I have another suggestion -- I’d like to invite her to apprentice at the restaurant, if she’s interested.
When we arrive at the house, Erin hangs back cautiously. “You should go in first and speak to them.”
“If that’s what you want, then I will, but I’m sure they’ll be overjoyed to see you.”
Erin pulls a face that tells me she isn’t as convinced as I am, so I leave her outside and head to the house.
The twins are just finishing up dinner as I enter the kitchen and jump down from the table when they see me.
“Daddy!” Elizabeth squeals, throwing her arms around me.
“We thought you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. Is everything okay?” Aaron asks, hugging me too.
“Better than okay,” I tell them with a smile. “I have a surprise for you outside.”
Before I can even stand properly, the twins are out of my arms and racing outside. I have a moment to give Auli'i a reassuring smile, before I hear delighted screams.
I make my way outside to find the twins wrapped around Erin, all three of them crying.
I join them, wrapping my arms around my family.
“You came back!” Aaron says, awestruck.
“I’m sorry for leaving,” Erin replies, stroking his hair out of his face.
“It’s okay, we understand. Daddy said you needed the money,” Elizabeth replies, searching her face.
Erin sighs. “I’m sorry but I told you a lie.”
Elizabeth and Aaron look scandalized.
“What do you mean?” Aaron asks.
“Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you everything,” Erin says, standing and taking the twins' hands.
They walk together inside the house, and enter the kitchen, where Auli'i is stacking the dishwasher.
Auli'i freezes, her eyes wide. “I’ll just be leaving then.”
“No, stay, please. I’m not here to take your job from you, so please don’t worry,” Erin says gently.
Auli'i looks at me questioningly. “Do you want to join us while I explain everything to the twins?”
“Are you sure? I understand if this is private.”
“I’m sure. I want you to be part of this, Auli'i. You were there for me and the twins when we needed you. You never gave up, no matter how difficult things were. I don’t forget loyalty like that,” I say, then gesture that she should enter the living room.
Erin sits on the sofa with the twins, and Auli'i and I sit in the armchairs on either side of the room, so we can face the others.
“It’s my fault Erin left,” I admit.
As best we can, Erin and I explain to the twins that we’re ‘dating,’ which elicits giggles from them both, but that I did something wrong and made Erin so upset that she moved away.
“Talking with Jason made me realize what a fool I was, so I flew to New York, begged Erin’s forgiveness and begged her to come home with me.”
Aaron grins. “It’s like a fairy tale, and you’re the brave knight who rescued the princess!”
“Not quite, but I did get my happily ever after,” Erin says, and smiles over at me. “That’s not all we have to tell you. Before I left, when me and Daddy were still ‘dating,’ we made a baby.”
“What? Where is it?” Elizabeth asks, looking around as though Erin has a baby hidden in her purse or something.
From across the room Auli'i giggles.
“It’s in my tummy, growing. But I have a picture, if you want to see.”
Before the twins can answer, Erin reaches into her purse, and retrieves the ultrasound image. She hands it to the twins, who pass it back and forth, staring at it with wide eyes.
“This doesn’t look like a baby,” Elizabeth insists.
“It looks like a monkey,” Aaron giggles.
“That’s because it hasn’t finished growing yet. He or she has to stay there for another six months; they won’t be born until my birthday.”
“Will the baby have your birthday presents?” Aaron asks.
“No, we will get the baby its own presents,” Erin says.
“What’s the baby’s name?” Elizabeth asks.
“Daddy and I haven’t talked about it yet. In a few months, when I have another scan, the doctor might be able to tell us if it’s a boy or a girl. Then we’ll choose a name.”
“Let’s call her Diana, after Wonder Woman,” Elizabeth suggests.
“No, it’s going to be a boy, and we’ll name him Hans, like Hans Christian Anderson.”
“Let’s wait until we know if it’s a boy or girl before we discuss names,” I say, trying to stop the twins from getting carried away.
“Will Erin be our nanny again even though she’s your girlfriend and you’re having a baby?” Elizabeth asks.
“I don’t want Auli'i to have to leave,” Aaron adds.
“None of us do,” I say firmly, then direct my attention at Auli'i. “I want you to stay, and help Erin with the twins, and the baby when it comes, if that’s what you want. But, with Erin back looking after the twins won’t be a fulltime job, so I have another offer if you’re interested.
I think you’re an excellent cook and could thrive in the restaurant.
I’d like to offer you an apprenticeship. ”
Auli'i’s eyes widen. “Thank you, Mr. Braddock. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything yet. Take your time and think it over.”
With the happy news shared, I ask Auli'i to stay and give the twins their baths, so Erin can unpack and settle in, and I can call my brothers and Dale to update them. Then, Erin and I read the twins to sleep.
“You can take a few days off -- fully paid of course -- to relax after all your hard work, and think about my offer,” I say to Auli'i later, as she, Erin and I are in the kitchen.
“And please, don’t think I want you to leave,” Erin adds. “From everything Antony has told me, you’re a wonderful nanny, and I definitely wouldn’t mind some extra help. But please, do what you think is best for your future.”
“Thank you, Mrs.Bradd-” Auli'i begins, then stops and slaps her hand over her mouth.
Mine and Erin’s eyes widen, and she quickly says, “Call me Erin, please.”
After Auli'i leaves, I pull Erin into my arms and press my lips to hers. “Welcome home.”