Four Years Later.
“Hush, little baby, don’t you cry…” Listening to Ava sing to our youngest, a little girl, as she rocks her back to sleep makes me homesick. I know I’m watching the footage hours later, after the babies have been put down and fed two more times, but it doesn’t make it any less important.
With the birth of our son, we decided to have cameras installed in the house that I could access from any secure connection in the world and watch our children grow up. Missing Maddox’s first steps nearly killed me, and now I’ll never miss anything again.
Many people have tried to convince Ava that I’m controlling because of them, but she shuts them down immediately, telling them it was her idea. One she’s insanely proud of, especially after I heard Katelyn’s first word a month ago.
It was music to my ears. Witnessing the tears in Ava’s eyes when she heard it made me miss my family even more and appreciate my wife's sacrifices.
After the vixen told me about her pregnancy with Maddox—through boudoir pictures that apparently were Heather’s idea—she worked her ass off to finish school as quickly as possible. She graduated six months early, found an amazing substitute job at a private school, and has been home for most of the last four years.
With two children now, though, she has quit working for the time being. She’s the back-up sub if they need her, or she helps tutor when requested. Ava is happier than I’ve ever seen her and loves being a mom.
“Mommy’s going to give you a baby sister.” I pause at the words she’s crooning to our daughter and, immediately, mute the video and call her.
“Hello, handsome.” Her grin upon answering as she breastfeeds Katie tells me she knows exactly why I’m calling. “Having a good day?” she asks instead.
“The fucking best. Were you serious?” She always is, but I need to ask for confirmation.
“As a heart attack.” A tear rolls down her cheek.
“I fucking love you, Ava.” Touching the screen, I wish I could dry her tears away.
“Just come home, Steele.” I have yet to be there for either of the births and have missed every ultrasound. Not once has she done anything but encourage me to come home.
A promise I intend to keep.
Epilogue
Ava
Six Months Later.
“I could kill him!” I scream at Heather, who has been my best friend, birthing coach, babysitter, everything I’ve needed since Steele and I got married nearly five years ago.
“You got this, Ava,” she reassures while pulling my legs up higher as I push when the doctor asks. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my body.
Not only am I pregnant with our third child but also our fourth. Twins. We’re having twins. Surprise twins even. I had no idea, neither did the doctor, until my latest ultrasound a little over a month ago because I was feeling way more uncomfortable than I had with my other pregnancies.
I haven’t told Steele yet. Not because I don’t want to but because he has been unreachable. As much as I’ve hated it, I understand, and his family is always here for me. Even my mother over the last few years. I still barely talk to my father, but that’s his choice, sadly, not mine.
“Baby number one is almost here; one more big push,” the doctor instructs just as the delivery room door opens.
“Holy shit,” Heather mutters.
Looking up, I see my husband in all his sweaty, exhausted, glory. A nurse attempts to push him out of the room, but he growls at her and strides towards me.
“Didn’t want to miss this one,” he grumbles against my lips.
Before I can respond, a contraction hits, and I’m urged to push. Steele secures one leg, while Heather takes the other, and I feel like I’m going to explode. Relief hits me when I hear the shrilly cry.
“And we have a beautiful boy. Dad, would you like to cut the cord?” Steele beams with pride as he does. The nurse takes our son to the incubator to clean him up, and the doctor tells me to get ready to push again because the second baby is ready to crown.
“Second?” Steele appears shell-shocked as he peers between my legs and notices another head coming through. “Son of a bitch. You really like to surprise me.” He grins as I begin to bear down again. Exhausted and ready to quit, I hear another tiny cry.
“A gorgeous little girl.” The doctor grins, and Steele cuts her cord too.
Waiting for the babies to be evaluated, I gaze over at Heather and realize exactly what our newest daughter’s name will be.