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Ava wiped them away with her little hands. “I’m so glad I get to have a mommy again,” she said.
I bit back a sob and looked quickly at Harrison to see how he took that, since he still remembered his mother. I didn’t want to rush him. He ran back around and threw his arms around my neck, hugging me again so hard that I nearly choked.
“I’m ready for a new mom, too,” he said in my ear. “I think you’ll do okay.”
He scraped away his tears, and I looked to see that Will had a few on his cheeks as well. We were all such happy ninnies.
“Family hug,” Will commanded.
We gathered together on one side of the table in a huge embrace, poor Ava getting squashed in the middle.
“We’re really a family?” Harrison asked, holding on tight.
I knew I needed to savor this because it would probably be mayhem in less than an hour, all this gooey affection a long distant memory to them.
Will caught my eye over their heads and we shared a long look. “We’re really a family,” he said. “I don’t know what could possibly make this day any better.”
“Ice cream would make it better, Dad,” Harrison said, as a matter of fact. Ava instantly agreed and they started to chant.
Will cut them off with a swipe of his hand. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s go get ice cream.”
They ran out ahead of us to get their shoes on, and we followed them to head for the nearest bodega to get ice cream. As a family.
Epilogue - Bailey
Five years later
I took a deep, cleansing breath and let it out. Everything seemed to be going to plan for the twins’ third birthday. The little patch of Central Park that we reserved had plenty of shade and the caterers did a great job with the pink and gold balloons and streamers, along with the shiny plastic gems hanging off of every available branch. It was like being inside a Genie’s bottle but even more sparkly. Gemma and Lottie’s big round eyes and dropped jaws when they saw everything told me they were more than thrilled with it. Their little friends were due to arrive soon, but for the moment it was just us Crenshaw crew.
I let myself fall into one of the lounge chairs near the barbecue area, watching Will and his brothers poke at the meat, probably doing little more than annoy the caterers. Harrison, tall for his age at thirteen, stood with them, looking shockingly close to being a man. He had his moments now that he was one of the terrible teens I warned him about when we first met, but mostly he was a protective and helpful big brother.
Ava, still bossy at ten, but surprisingly sweet with her little sisters, was busy trying to get them and her toddler cousin to do the dance routine she made up for them the night before when we hosted a pre-party sleepover. They all looked so cute in their layered tulle skirts and plastic tiaras, and even though they weren’t anywhere close to doing the routine properly, Ava seemed to be having a good time laughing at them.
My sister-in-law Laurel flopped into the chair next to me with a happy sigh. “I can’t believe my little tomboy is so delighted to be wearing that tutu and a princess crown,” she said, smiling fondly at her two-year-old trying to keep up with Ava’s commands.
Violet sat down on the other side of Laurel, taking a sip of the frozen pink and purple smoothie the caterers concocted just for the girls’ party. It was called the Twintastic, and I thought it was over the top, but one thing I’d learned about Will over the last five years was that he went all out for the people he loved. And I knew he loved the kids and me most of all, so I learned to accept being spoiled.
“There’s no going back once you have a taste of wearing a crown,” Violet joked, grabbing one of the plastic party favors off the pile behind her and slapping it onto her head.
She handed one to each of us and we both put on our tiaras, then leaned back to enjoy the relative calm before the storm when the twins’ preschool class showed up. Will, Ben, and Eli gave up their post by the barbecue and came to sit with us, while Harrison started a game of fetch with Freddy, who’d been napping under a tree. My little furry friend moved more slowly these days, but he was still spry and kept up with the kids like a champ. Will pulled up his chair beside me and reached out for my hand. I happily took it, smiling at him as he squeezed my fingers.
They chatted about the magazines for a while and even though I didn’t have much to do with their publishing empire, I still found everything to do with it fascinating. Eli and Violet were practically moguls in their own right, having launched three very successful magazines in the past five years. They always seemed to be working, but since they were always together, they said it didn’t feel like work.
It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Ben and Laurel would be staying in New York for longer than they normally did before heading back to Montana.
“Don’t you have a busy schedule of flinging yourself off the side of a cliff back home?” Eli asked with a slight shudder.
I mostly agreed with him. I’d gone on a few climbs with Laurel over the years, and her fearlessness was unmatched. There was no way I’d ever attempt some of the things she did as easily as I did the grocery shopping.
Ben and Laurel linked hands and exchanged a secret smile. “I’m going to cut back on my stunts for a little bit while we try for another baby.”
“And we’re going to open a rock climbing gym so she can keep busy a little more safely afterwards,” Ben said.
We all congratulated them and wished them luck, and I felt that slight but heady tug toward wanting to have another baby. I knew Will would be up for it, but I wanted to hold off a little while longer, happy to focus my attention on Harrison, Ava, and the twins for now. I admired my sisters-in-law and their ambitions, but I was more than fine being a stay-at-home mom. I often joked with Will that it was like being a nanny but without any pay. He always got indignant, because he’d adorably offered to keep me on a salary, saying that he knew moms worked harder than anyone. Maybe when the kids were all in high school, I’d find something new to keep me occupied, but I was perfectly content with my very important, unpaid position as a mom to the best four kids in the world.
Freddy waddled over, worn out from his game of fetch, and sniffed at Will’s hand. Will absently leaned down and helped my old dog onto his lap, then stroked his wiry fur. I laughed out loud and pointed to Freddy when he looked at me in confusion.
“You’re that quintessential dad who didn’t want a dog but ended up being the dog’s favorite,” I said.
