Should be easy, right?
Epilogue
Jim
Four Years Later
Making it through the rest of the semester four years ago, wasn’t as hard as we thought it was going to be. Even married, we never got caught except for Abby. When our daughter was born, Mads put her teaching career on hold. I tried to talk her out of it, but she said she was meant to be home. In the years since, we’ve had two more children, both girls. I am outnumbered and I love it. Working at the university after her graduation, didn’t exactly work out. Despite the fact that Mads graduated and I did make sure I wasn’t violating any ethics; they were still pissed. I was fired for cause and they didn’t make a fuss about Mads diploma. Now, I am teaching at an at-risk youth nonprofit. I made some investments when I was younger, so while we aren’t rich, we are more than comfortable. I love my wife more and more each day. She’s pregnant again and today we get to see what we are having. Either way, happy and healthy is all we care about.
Doctor Evans is waving her magic wand and seconds later our baby’s strong, loud heartbeat fills the room.
“Are you guys ready to find out the sex of your baby?”
“Yes,” we day at the same time.
“Hmm… have we talked about the possibility of multiple births?”
Mads and I look at each other in shock.
“No,” I say.
“Okay. Let’s talk about the possibility of multiple births. You’re having twins,” she says circling two separate blips on the screen. “This one,” she says pointing to the circle on the right, “is another girl and this one,” she points to the other, “is a boy. Congratulations!” Doctor Evans exclaims.
I look at Mads, who has tears running down her face. A boy. I can’t believe it. We’ll still be outnumbered, but I’ll take it.
“Jimmy, two at once,” she says as Doctor Evans slips out so I can help her get dressed again.
“I know, baby.”
“Marjorie will flip out,” she says laughing.
Over the years, I’ve let go of my anger towards my father and begun to see Marjorie as the mother I missed out on. Having children of my own helped me see what an asshole I was, even as a child. When I was nine, she stepped in and has been more of a mother to me than my own ever was. I took her for granted and that was wrong of me. She loved me when she didn’t have to, and I’ll never apologize enough for not realizing that.
“Yea. Ma will get a kick out of it.”
She smiles at me and we leave the office, baby pictures in hand. Ma is watching the kids until we get back, so I am glad she’ll be the first to hear our good news.
A little less than six months later, our twins are born five weeks early, but happy and healthy. She is my only love, my wife, and the mother of my children. My life changed forever when she walked into my lecture hall and I thank God every single day that she’s mine. Mine to protect. Mine to love. Mine to make happy.
Mine.
Epilogue
Mads
Eleven Years Later
“Jimmy!” I shout, hopping around with one heel on, looking for the other. The annual Savannah Women’s Association Christmas party is about to start, and I can’t be late. As the newly elected president, I can’t miss one second of it.
“Yea,” he shouts from downstairs.
“I need Christy,” I yell. My oldest daughter bursts into the room. She’s fifteen going on forty and pissed that I had her grandparents come over for the night to help her babysit. I got us a room at the hotel where the party is being held. We need a break. Six kids in fifteen years and no vacations that didn’t include them. I justify myself by saying it’s only one night.
“I’m still mad, Mama, but you look beautiful. Daddy won’t know what hit him,” she says reaching out to touch the hem of the flouncy dress. It’s red and tight until it flares out at the knee. I have one black strappy stiletto on.
“Thank you, Christy. I need your help to find the other shoe that matches this one,” I say pointing down at my feet. Her eyes widen.
“Jesus, Ma. Those are some killer shoes,” she says.
“I know, but for the life of me I can’t remember where the other one is.”
“Oh God. Are you pregnant again?” she asks making me pause to think. I do the math.
“Oh fuck,” I whisper causing her to laugh.
“You might wanna lock that up, ma.”
“I know you’re right, but I can’t worry about that now.” Christy nods and then bolts around the room until she finds it, in the bathroom. I slide the shoe on and look in the mirror. “What do you think?”