Epilogue One
A FEW MONTHS LATER
Paige
“Is it safe?” Bethany walks into the living room with her hand raised over her eyes.
Considering Trevor’s fly is down beneath the blanket, things were about to be very unsafe on the couch. “Of course.”
She drops her hands and purses her lips. “You have a room, for heaven’s sake!”
“I’m sorry, Bethany. You’re right.”
“I’m sorry too. Sorry that you had to interrupt us.”
I smack him in the arm at the same time Bethany launches a pillow at him. “Cool. You jerk. Where’s the miniature hellion?”
“He’s with Carter’s parents today. Lyle wanted to show him how to bleed brakes.
” Lyle and Loretta, since they got back from their vacation, have made it a point to take in Jacob and treat him like their own grandchild.
“That boy of ours screwed the pooch, and now we have to wait even longer for him to start making his own,” Loretta grumbled.
She and Lyle had called us up for dinner about a week after they returned.
“We only hesitated because we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but that boy has a family with us, and so do you two. ”
Of course I cried. They hosted a baby shower for us, and so many people showed up that it blew my mind. Carter only encourages the interactions. “Just call them Mom and Dad. It’s easier than all this Mr. And Mrs. Stewart shit.”
I don’t think that will come anytime soon, but our son is calling them Papa Lyle and Meema Loretta.
“I could’ve taught him.” Trevor tucks his face into my neck, tickling me with his scruff. His grumpiness is completely manufactured.
Bethany sits in front of us and takes one of each of our hands. “I’m moving out and into the apartment above The Shop.”
I sit bolt up, and Trevor nearly falls off the couch. “What? Why? Was it something we did?”
She shakes her head. “Not at all. I like how close it is to my work, and Trevor made it so pretty. I would love a place to call my own, and I can afford it now.” She squeezes our hands.
“You two are more like my parents than my own parents, and I love you both so much. I’m grateful for the home, but I need to start my own life.
” I frown but nod my head. “I’d like to stay for the first couple of months after they’re born to help out—”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to.” She stands from her kneeling position and sits on the couch beside me. “Jesus, did you spill something? Oh my God.”
“What? What did I spill?” I move too and realize the same thing she did. “My water broke.”
“Your water broke!”
Trevor bolts up. “Let’s do this thing, Mrs. Paige Whitaker! Family of five, coming up!”
Trevor
On the outside, I’m fine. Everything is exciting, sunshine and roses, as I’m strangling the rock in my pocket. On the inside, panic is clawing through my skin, filling me with complete and utter terror.
She wasn’t supposed to go into labor. We were supposed to have another week.
We unload and rush into the hospital, my heart racing in my chest and fear coursing through my body. “You’ve got this, baby. How do you feel?”
“Like I’m ready to be done being pregnant.” Bethany chuckles from her other side, and I try to smile as well. Everything goes smoothly until they talk about taking her in back. Then sweat coats my body when I prepare to walk away from her. Again.
They hand me a plastic bag full of something. “Get dressed, Dad. It’s go time.”
“Wait, what?”
“Get dressed, Trevor. They’ll call you back after they do the spinal.”
“Call me back?”
Paige grabs my hand. “You want to be there with me, right?”
Relief slams into me. “I need to be there with you, baby. Yes. Let me get dressed. I’ll be there. I promise I’ll be there.”
I rush into the bathroom, but a nurse calls out. “Those things are see-through! Don’t go naked!”
Paige and the others around them laugh, including Dr. Lee. “Let’s go meet your babies, Mom and Dad.”