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“Love you, Heather!” Micah said, giving me a hug. Dustin and Cora quickly did the same, and then the three of them went running through our white picket fence and down the street to the bus stop. I grabbed Mark’s little hand and waved it for him at his older siblings.
We had moved into a big house in the valley. Aside from morning bus shenanigans, it was more peaceful. And it was a real neighborhood, as opposed to a residence above the security offices.
I waved to Georgette and Clay next door, who were getting in their car to go to work. They smiled and waved back. In general, we had great neighbors, although they raised their eyebrows when they realized there were three men and one woman living together. Nobody had been blunt enough to ask yet, but I knew the question would probably come up at the next book club.
Oh, did I mention I joined the neighborhood book club? I was becoming domesticated.
When—not if—the question was asked, I would tell the truth. I had a polyamorous relationship with three men. I had a feeling most of our neighbors would be accepting of our lifestyle. I doubted that would be the case if we lived in the deep south, but here in California? No problem at all.
At least, I hoped so. I would cross that bridge when we came to it.
Just as the triplets disappeared from sight, a Jeep came around the corner and pulled up in front of our house. Maurice and Jason hopped out and came walking up our driveway.
“How was he last night?” Jason asked. “More trouble?”
“No—he was so good last night! He didn’t get up once!”
Jason smiled. “I wore him out with playtime yesterday.” He took the baby from my arms. “We’ll do it again today, won’t we, little man?”
Mark giggled and held up a hand. Jason returned the high-five. That was something he taught him a month ago, and Mark loved to give high-fives to everyone he saw.
Jason and Maurice had been helping us with the kids—not just the triplets, but Mark, too. Jason was a natural with children. I wouldn’t have expected it from the huge, hulking former SEAL, but he was as loving and caring as anyone I had ever seen. Maurice had taken to calling him Mary Poppins, which always made Jason roll his eyes.
“You ready to go?” Maurice asked me.
I nodded and told Jason, “He’s already eaten. I changed his diaper when I woke up, but lately he’s been needing another change mid-morning.”
“No problem. Say goodbye to mommy.”
I leaned in and kissed Mark goodbye. There was a special glimmer in the baby’s eyes that only appeared when he was looking at me. He may have been surrounded by loving men, but there was only one mom.
I’m such a lucky woman,I thought as I climbed into the Jeep with Maurice.
The William Morris Agency represented both of us now. Shortly after I gave birth, they offered me a recurring part on a Hulu pilot. I would have had to audition for it, but they said it was just a formality. The part was mine, if I wanted it.
Rogan had been true to his word. I nannied the triplets, and in return they boosted my career.
But while I was pregnant, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Mr. Howard had told me: that I needed to work my way up steadily rather than having someone pull strings for me. Those words resonated with me. I wanted toearnmy way up, and know that if I got a part on a TV show, it was because I deserved it.
So I turned down the Hulu pilot and asked my agent to get me some smaller roles for the first year. Maurice told me I wasinsane, but I was happy with my choice. I wanted to build up my resume, and get some real experience.
There were no shortcuts in life, or in relationships. You had to put in the work. But it was so much more rewarding when you did.
I realized that, now.
Maurice and I were working together on a commercial for a new brand of athletic clothes. It was my first project since before I was pregnant, and I felt like a little girl on the first day of school. We arrived on set and were sent to the wardrobe trailer to be fitted with the athletic clothes and sneakers. Then we went out to a college track to begin filming.
There were several takes involving running. Maurice and I sprinted down the track, then walked back, then sprinted some more. The director gave us some guidance in between takes, but they were all reasonable critiques.
“We’ll definitely be done today,” he told us. “Keep up the good work!”
“I’m out of shape,” Maurice complained to me. He was bent over with his hands on his knees, dripping sweat down onto the track surface. “It’s no fair that you’re so much fitter than I am.”
I barked a laugh. “I had to work my ass off to lose all my pregnancy weight. So I don’t want to hear about how you think things areunfair.”
“I’m going to tell my agent to find me a cookie commercial,” he panted. “One where I sit down and eat cookies all day. I wouldn’t mind doing multiple takes.”
We worked all day, and eventually the director called a wrap on filming. Everyone shook hands and thanked everyone else, and then Maurice and I went back to the wardrobe trailer to change.
