epilogue
Ryanne
Six Months Later
I lay backin the recliner and stick a pillow under my swollen feet. The twins aren’t due for several weeks, but they continue wreaking havoc on my body. After Derek proposed, we decided on a quickie wedding at the courthouse with just Ethan, Emma, and Lynette. Luckily, we were able to have our ceremony and a quick honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains before the twins completely slowed me down.
I jumped at the chance when Derek asked me if I wanted to quit working. Taking care of not one but two babies is going to be a full-time job, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to stay home with them while they’re little. My husband reassured me I can return to Bent Out of Shape or even WesCo if the desire to work ever hits me again. I’m not sure it will. I plan on enjoying Derek and the twins, and I’ll worry about my career sometime in the distant future.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” My husband walks into the family room and sets my insulated bottle of water on the side table next to me.
“I’m exhausted,” I admit. Sleeping is difficult with the oversized watermelon protruding from my stomach. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Why don’t you go lay down while I cook dinner?” He kneels in front of the recliner and lifts one of my feet into his large hand. My eyes cross as my husband gently rubs my swollen foot.
“That sounds like a great idea.” I smile at him. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to find such a sweet, loving, possessive caveman. He stands and lifts me into his arms before carrying me upstairs. “I can’t believe you’re abandoning me at Ethan and Emma’s tomorrow.” I pout.
My husband rolls his eyes, accustomed to my crazy pregnancy hormones. “I’m not abandoning you.” He kisses my nose and lays me on our bed. “I’m taking you over to see Emma and the new baby while Ethan and I paint the nursery.” Emma’s Aunt Maureen is planning to take Ellie, Duncan, and Eric to the movies and out for ice cream to give us some time to take it easy.
“But,” I start, and he lays his finger over my lips.
“No buts.” Derek pulls the covers over me. “You know there’s no way I’m letting you stay in the house with paint fumes.”
“Yes, big boss sir,” I tease.
My overprotective, neanderthal husband laughs and kisses me one more time before heading for the door. “Now, rest and save up your energy. You’ll need it to give me hell later.” He turns and winks at me.
So true. The poor man never knows what trouble my pregnancy hormones will cause. I watch him walk out, lightly closing the door behind him, before rolling onto my left side. It’s the only position that makes the terrible two happy. The doctor put my lady parts on a temporary vacation a few weeks ago, but my husband doesn’t complain. He still cuddles up to me at night and lightly rubs my huge tummy. When I tried to give him a little relief, my husband resisted, telling me, “If I can’t make your pussy sing, I won’t get off either.” My huge belly and out-of-control hormones don’t keep the dirty talk from revving my engine. Too bad I have several more months before I can get my husband to take care of my hunger.
Derek proves to me every day just how lucky I am to have found the perfect man. My morning from hell several months ago turned into the best day of my life when I accidentally sent the embarrassing text to my soulmate. Now, I have the family I always wanted, and I get to spend the rest of my life with my big boss.
* * *
Derek
One Month Later
“Baby girl, I’m home.”My wife is four weeks from her due date, and I’m starting to stress the fuck out. Ryanne is my whole world, and bad things happen in the delivery room all the time. Worrying about her impending labor has turned me into a total asshole. All our employees are giving me a wide berth, and my twin started avoiding me two weeks ago. He sends me daily texts to check on my wife and has Emma call Ryanne daily, but he hides in his office anytime I’m around. Fucker.
“I’m in here,” she calls back from the living room, and the normalcy of her voice sends relief flowing through my conflicted soul. Having a family with the love of my life is like a dream come true, but I’m terrified of it turning into a nightmare. Losing my soulmate or one of our twins would destroy me. Pasting a smile on my face, I grab the flowers I picked up on the way home and head for the living room. Ryanne’s eyes fill with tears when she sees the pink and blue bouquet in my hands.
“You are too sweet.” She holds out her arms for me to lean over and hug her. At thirty-six weeks pregnant with twins, her bulging belly makes it hard for her to get around, so I hired a full-time housekeeper to keep up the house and wait on my woman hand and foot.
“Where’s Ellen?” I don’t see our middle-aged housekeeper anywhere.
“I asked her to run to the diner and grab us two burger and fry platters for dinner. Your daughters are hungry for greasy food.” She winks.
“You mean my sons need the calories to grow big and strong.” It’s an ongoing argument between us. My wife didn’t want to find out the sex of our twins, so we asked the doctor to keep it a secret. She’s convinced we’re having two girls while I’m praying I only produce male sperm. I’m not sure how I’ll keep my sanity trying to protect two more little replicas of my stunning wife from all the horny assholes out there.
“We’ll see who’s right.” Ryanne laughs. “Can you help me to the bathroom? One of the twins is break dancing on my bladder.” She doesn’t have to ask me twice. The highlight of my day is holding her luscious ripe body in my arms. Halfway to the bathroom, I feel wetness coat the front of my pants and run down my legs.
“Please, tell me I jiggled you too much and you peed on me,” I beg. I’m not prepared for any other possibility. Like her water breaking.
“Uh.” My wife looks up at me and bites her juicy bottom lip. “I think your daughters have decided they aren’t in the mood for burgers.”
Holy shit. Things move at warp speed once she confirms my worst fear. Needing to be strong for her, I pull up my big boy pants and act like I’m in control as I load her into my car and proceed to drive like a manic all the way to the Women and Children’s Hospital in Harren.
* * *
Two hours later,I’m sitting next to my wife’s hospital bed, staring down at Jessica, my gorgeous seven-pound two-ounce baby daughter. “Fuck me with a wooden spoon,” I grumble. “I’m going to start searching for convents with big walls, guard dogs and extra security.”
Ryanne rolls her eyes and continues trying to get Jenna to latch on. She glances down at twin number two, who outweighs her sister by three ounces, and mumbles, “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your daddy under control.”
“Not happening,” I insist, but we both know my baby girl has me wrapped around her pinky. There’s isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make the love of my life happy.