Epilogue
Many, many months later…
There was something special about watching Bradley hold the babies when he didn’t know I did so.
Our children had arrived screaming into the world two weeks early by c-section.
One boy. One girl.
Our son was a minute older than his sister.
And both of them at only a few weeks old held their daddy wrapped around their tiny little fingers.
He sat, cradling one in each arm, in a chair by the window.
Each night he would take this time with them, no matter how busy his schedule became at work, talking to them about everything and nothing.
He continued to work a lot because it was his passion, but had definitely stepped back a little, making sure to make time for his family.
A family that, as of this morning, grew on paper when Annalina had officially been adopted by Bradley.
“I know you’re there, Lucy.”
His voice jarred me out of my head, and I smiled, walking toward him. “How’d you know?”
“Reflection in the window,” came his amused reply. “I know you stand there every night.”
“Damn, and here I thought…”
I stood behind him, putting my hands on the back of the chair, gazing down at our sleeping children in his arms.
“So beautiful.”
“Yes, you are. And so are they.”
“Let me help you put them to bed.” I gently took Nadia from his arms, and watched as he stood with Ian. “Such angels.”
As we laid them in bed, Bradley chuckled and said, “You know, I asked Annalina why she chose these two names for her brother and sister. She smiled and told me to look them up.”
He put an arm around my waist as I asked, “And did you?”
“Yes.” I remained silent, gazing down at the children, closing my eyes when he brushed a kiss against my cheek, before whispering in my ear, “She’s a sneaky one. Do you know what the names mean?”
I did, but let him think I didn’t as I shook my head. “Why don’t you tell me?”
He leaned over the edge of their bassinets and stroked Ian’s cheek. “Forgiveness.” Then repeated the action on Nadia’s. “And hope.”
“Well, they are lovely names with lovely meanings from a girl who is smart like her mother.”
“Mmhmm.” He turned me in his arms and hugged my body against his. “Wouldn’t you know their middle names have the same meaning, as well?”
“Do they?” I couldn’t keep the laughter from my voice as I returned his embrace by putting my arms around his waist. “Imagine that.”
Ian’s middle name was David, while Nadia’s was Imogen.
Names both Bradley and I had chosen off a list of our favorites.
And yes, both had the same meaning.
Love.
It embodied everything they were to us.
Everything we would be to them.
And all the struggles we’d gone through to make it this far.
Nothing could make this moment any more perfect.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
He turned toward their beds, then leaned over and kissed them on their cheeks. Standing back up, he pulled a picture out of his wallet and handed it to me. When I looked down, Lucas’ beautiful little smiling face stared back at me.
“It would be his sixteenth birthday today.”
“I’m sure he would’ve adored his little brother and sisters.” A tear slid down my face as I took his hand in mine, giving him a watery smile. “And probably would’ve looked just like you.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” His smile saddened as he took the picture in his hand once more, then cleared his throat and put it back in his pocket. “Either way, I carry him around with me all the time.”
“I’m glad. There’s no need for anyone to miss a thing.”
He tugged me back to his side, and we stood there for a little while longer, appreciative for every moment we got to spend together.
~*~
A little while later, after my mother came in demanding it was ‘her turn’ to be there when the babies awakened, Bradley and I lay naked and cuddling in our bed.
I hadn’t been cleared to make love again yet, but that didn’t stop him from putting his hands all over me, or mine from him.
“What do you think we should aim for next time? Triplets?”
I knew he teased me from the tone of his voice, but my eyes widened at the thought anyway. “No way!” Then, my brow furrowed as I realized what he had said. “Wait. Those two are only a few weeks old and you’re already wanting another?”
“I want as many children as you’re willing to give me.”
I quirked a brow, smothering my smile before it had a chance to escape. “We’d have to buy a bigger house.”
“Fine.” He shrugged, grinning. “I’ll even pay for it.”
Okay, I laughed at that.
“Tell you what, Bradley. I’ve got an idea.”
He hauled me close as we could be, rolling onto his back, and sat me atop him. “I’m all ears, Lucille. Make it good.”
“Someone once gave me some really great advice.” I placed the tip of my finger on his chest, tracing down slow and steady, my amused gaze never leaving his rapidly darkening one. “And I think you should follow it, too.”
His fingers gripped my hips, and I felt him hard against me as I straddled him perfectly. I took advantage of my position by rocking against him, making his eyes slam shut.
“What’s the advice?” He gritted the words through his teeth. “And who gave it to you?”
I would’ve moved against him, teasing him once more, but knew we had to behave, so I leaned over until my mouth lingered over his. “You did.” I waited until he opened his eyes, then said, “You said, ‘one day a time’ before we got married, remember?”
“Yes. It was one of my better moments.”
“No such thing. Every moment with you is a good one, even when it could be deemed as bad.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned. “Lucy?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me you won’t get a job at Hallmark.”
I threw my head back and laughed, then once I caught my breath swore, “Okay, I promise.”
“Good.”
No more words needed spoken, and right before we drifted off to sleep, I kissed him softly on the lips and said, “I’m so glad I didn’t listen to you and broke rule number one.”
“Me too.” His mouth curved against mine. “As long as you acknowledge I was always the boss, sweetheart.”
I laid back down next to him, one leg tossed over him with my hand over his heart, and for old times sake, told him exactly what he wanted to hear.
“Of course you were, Bradley. Of course you were.”
The sound of his happy laughter was the last thing I heard before I drifted off to sleep.
It was all the proof I needed that becoming a sugar baby and meeting Bradley had been the best thing to ever happen to me.
And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
THE END