Page 46 of Twins with Daddy’s Bestie

Olivia looks at her father and squeezes his hand with tears in her eyes. “If they're girls, we're going to name them Maria, after my mother, and Mae.” Leonard's lip quivers and emotion overwhelms him. He covers his mouth and turns away to avoid crying. “If they're boys, we're thinking of James and Jonas.”

Everyone gathers around the bed talking about how excited they are to see the babies, and Olivia is getting antsy. After a couple of hours, a nurse walks in the room and everybody perks up, excited about the prospect of finally seeing the babies.

“Are you ready, Mom and Dad?” she says, dragging a wheelchair into the room for Olivia to use.

I help Olivia into the wheelchair and walk beside her as the nurse pushes us toward the NICU. Then, we enter the room and meet our children for the first time.

Olivia cries as she lays eyes on them. My eyes burn, too, as the nurse delicately lifts a baby girl and places her into my arms. Two baby girls, each just under 6 pounds. All the fear I had before is gone, and all I care about is giving my daughters the best possible life I can.

“They're so beautiful,” I say, feeling the small hands of my baby. I take a seat in a chair next to Olivia, and we look at our children.

“This is our family,” Olivia says as if she can't believe the words. “It's so beautiful. I'm so happy.”

Tears stream down her face and she does nothing to stop them as she leans forward and kisses Maria on the forehead. I look at Mae and smile, seeing a future I never imagined ahead of me.

I can't wait to celebrate their first birthdays, and kindergarten graduation, and stand next to them in their prom dresses. One day, I'm going to get to walk them down the aisle, and I can't wait. There's a life ahead of me I never thought I would get to have, and I'm more thankful than I've ever been.

“I love you so much,” I say to Olivia as I reach forward and squeeze her hand. “You've given me the world today.”

“I love you,” Olivia replies, her mouth shaking as she tries to hold back more tears. I kiss her carefully with the babies in our arms. “I love our family.”

Epilogue

TWO YEARS LATER

Who says you can't have it all?

When I found out I was pregnant, I was worried that everything I'd worked so hard for in my life would fall by the wayside. That couldn't have been more wrong. Sure, for about eight months after I gave birth to two human beings, I was focused entirely on being a mom, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't get the restaurant dream out of my head.

All my life, I have lived and breathed food, and my dream didn't die because I became a mother. While Maria and Mae are the greatest things I have ever created, a year ago I turned my attention toward my dream of opening a business.

Raising two daughters is difficult. A lot of things in this world aren't made for women, and I want them to know that dreams do come true. That's why it's important to me to make sure my restaurant thrives.

“Are you ready?” Drake asks as I stand on the curb outside the new restaurant, ready to flip on the light for the sign for the very first time.

Maria and Mae are on either side of me, gripping my hands tightly as they look around the sidewalk curiously. They want to go out and run, neither fully understanding the significance of what's happening. I take a deep breath with them by my side and nod to Drake.

He flips the switch on the light and a bright pink neon sign in the window reading “Maria Mae’s” turns on, making me cry. Right before me is everything that I have ever wanted, and I couldn't be happier. I have a partner who loves me unconditionally, two beautiful, healthy daughters, and the restaurant of my dreams is having its soft launch in a matter of hours.

Drake picks up Maria, and I bend down to hold Mae in my arms as we stare at something we've worked so hard on. “I can't believe this is happening. You have no idea how long I've wanted this.”

“This is going to be one of the best restaurants in the city,” Drake says as he wraps an arm around me, and the four of us stand together soaking in the moment.

I say goodbye to the three of them as Drake piles them in the car to go home while I tend to my first service at the restaurant.

My new kitchen staff is already inside prepping the menu for tonight. The soft launch isn’t public, but open to family and friends. It's basically just letting the staff get used to how service works before we officially open the doors next week.

Prep goes smoothly as everybody falls into sync. It its surreal knowing this is my first service in my restaurant. Just saying the words my restaurant is unreal.

I open the doors at 5 p.m., and Callie is the first person to show up with Steve. After I moved out, Steve moved in, and I’ve gotten to know him very well over the past couple of years. Callie has never been happier, and I’m waiting for an engagement announcement any day.

“I'm so happy for you, Liv,” Callie says in my ear as she hugs me. She hands me a bouquet of flowers, and I happily take it and find a vase in a storage room to display them.

My dad arrives with his date, a woman from his gym named Amanda whom he's been seeing for a few months. It was a little awkward finding out he was dating someone at first, but I'm happy for him. I want him to find someone who makes him as happy as Drake makes me. I know it might be hard because he'll always be comparing people to my mom, but Amanda seems lovely.

He wraps his arm around me as I give him a tour of the restaurant, introducing him to the staff as I go. He wears a wide, proud smile that reminds me of the look he had the first time he held his grandkids .

“I'm so proud of you, Booger,” he says, hugging me before looking around at my accomplishment. “Your mom would be, too.”