My Dad's Rival

Lucy sits close by on a park bench, her stomach swollen with her second pregnancy. We’re having twins this time around. We didn’t ask to know the sex the first time around with Warren, but now, we know we’re having two baby girls. They’ll be identical, and if they take after their mother, then they will certainly be the most beautiful girls in the world.

“Can I go higher?” Warren asks and I laugh, running to him to slow the swing down.

“Not today, buddy. We don’t want you to go flying, do we? You’ve got to be fit and healthy for when you meet your sisters in a few weeks' time.”

Warren folds his arms over his chest grumpily. “I still don’t want to.”

I smile. Warren hasn’t taken the news of having two baby sisters well. He loves the attention from both me and Lucy, and I know he feels like he’s being abandoned in the process when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I kneel down in front of the swing as it slows to a halt.

“You’re going to have to be a big brave boy and look out for your sisters,” I tell him softly. “That’s what us men are supposed to do. They’re going to need you to be there to protect them. And hey, just because there’s going to be two new babies in the house, it doesn’t mean that we love you any less. You’re our whole world, Warren. That’s never going to change.”

Warren pouts for a moment longer before nodding to let me know that he understands. “Okay…but do I still get to name one of them?”

“Of course. They’re your family too.”

His eyes glimmer with mischief. “How about we call one Barf?”

I struggle to hold back my grin. “Warren, don’t be cruel. Go on and play. Mommy and I are watching. We want a name when you come back from playing, okay?”

Warren nods and runs off to play on the roundabout. I shake my head as I sit beside Lucy.

“I can’t believe he thought of naming one of the girls Barf.”

Lucy giggles. “That’s nothing. The other day, he told me he wanted to call her Poop.”

I laugh. “He’s a little tyke, isn’t he?”

Lucy smiles, reaching for my hand. “He’s our little tyke.”

I smile back. Things have been so perfect these past few years. Sure, there were hard times. Warren’s birth was hard on Lucy, and she spent a while recovering after he was born. He was a restless baby, and we barely slept that first year. And yes, Warren can still be a handful sometimes…

But we love every moment of it. So much so that I stepped back from the company a few months ago. I check in every now and then, but the business practically runs itself now. Ever since I merged with Lucy’s father’s business, things have been smooth sailing. More clients, more workers, more money. Lucy and our family are never going to want for anything. And now, she and I can focus on raising our family.

Besides, I’ve had my time in business. It’s time for Lucy to get a shot at the career of her dreams. She works when she’s able, taking on a few hours here and there. She has the flexibility to work around Warren and his schedule, which means that she never has to miss a thing at home. It’s the perfect setup.

But with the twins on the way, things are going to change again. I guess the thing about life is it never truly stays one way. Once we have three children to care for, things will never be quite the same again.

But we’re ready for the next stage in our adventure. Beside me, Lucy squeezes my hand and I know she’s prepared for whatever comes our way. Our love is strong enough to get us through anything. That’s what makes this, and us, so special.

We spend the entire afternoon at the park, watching Warren play in the sunshine. It almost feels too good to be true. It almost feels like a life this good should be unattainable. Like I’ve somehow ended up somewhere I shouldn’t be. But even if this is a fantasy to most, I get to live it.

In all my life, I’ve never known such bliss. Not even when I was sitting alone on mountains of cash, having made my fortune and achieved my dreams. No, this is better. A family is the true core of happiness, and mine is only growing.

As we’re about to leave the park for the evening and head home, Warren runs up to me with something held behind his back. He smiles up at me cheekily.

“I know what I want to call the baby,” he says, jumping up and down in excitement.

“Oh yeah? What’ve you got for us, Warren?”

From behind his back, Warren produces a slightly crumpled-looking flower that he’s been holding in his clammy fist. Lucy and I exchange a look, smiling.