Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Krissy and I never pay much attention to it, but seeing a few familiar faces on a breaking news update catches my eyes.
“Isn’t that…?” Krissy asks, peering at the screen.
“Uh, yeah, it is,” I remark, the mugshots of my former accountant and his casino boss partner in crime flashing during the bulletin.
They were hiding out in Mexico, a big surprise.
And by ‘hiding out,’ the story explains that Levenson was busted running an illegal casino.
His one stateside magically appeared, then disappeared from the market shortly after the last time I saw him.
“Looks like they’ll get what’s coming,” I shrug, ready to switch the channel over, but Krissy wants to watch and hear the whole story.
I yawn and looking down at the twins, I see both their tiny mouths making little ‘O’ shapes.
The final part of their strategy is to get both mom and dad up and then fall back to sleep once they are wide awake for the night.
“The comforter’s back here,” I murmur to Krissy.
My hands are full, but she reaches over for the coverlet and makes sure the babies and their mom are plenty warm.
“You sure you’re okay?” I ask her again, slipping the remote from her hand and switching the TV off.
Her eyes flash to mine for a second, annoyed at first, but then she smiles, nestling herself back into me.
“Of course I am,” she mews.
“I mean, are you happy?” I ask her, which has her sitting, looking into my eyes with all seriousness.
“Ethan, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I love you. I love our babies…I love my life,” she says, as a matter of fact.
“Our life,” I agree, and kissing each of my family in turn, we settle back to watch the crackling fireplace instead of the TV.
“You really are my lucky charm, Krissy…I love you,” I whisper to her before she falls back asleep.
“I love you too.” Come the only words until she opens her eyes the next time.
EPILOGUE
SEVEN YEARS LATER
Krissy
“Mom! Zak’s hogging the paint again,” Emily hollers from the next room.
“Zak? Share the paint, sweetie,” I call back, giving Ethan a sideways glance.
“Can’t I help them?” he asks, chewing at his lip, bouncing little Isaiah on his knee.
Zak, Emily, and Bridget are painting Zak’s room.
That’s what we agreed to, anyway. But the kids were insistent they do it all on their own.
“We could’ve had someone come in and had it done in an hour,” Ethan sighs, looking edgy again, but I know it’s because he’s so used to doing everything with them.
And I mean everything.
After seven years, though, the twins are breaking up. Emily wants her own room, and Zak’s decided he wants a red room.
Bridget’s not fussy about having no set room of her own at all, choosing to sleep wherever she falls, keeping her stuff here and there.
A room of your own isn’t really required in a place this size, but Zak’s determined. He’s a lot like his dad, making decisions and sticking to ‘em, even if it means painting his bedroom blood red with only his sisters to help.
“That’s what he wanted, Ethan. I guess we just have to let him do it and see how it turns out,” I reason, but Ethan still looks antsy about it.
“Is the paint?” I ask him, “I mean, will it damage the walls or something?” I ask, not meaning to sound sarcastic.
Ethan groans and then mumbles something I don’t catch.
“I said it’s because I can’t be in there doing it with them,” he says louder when I coax him.
And having a mini huff of his own that lasts about ten seconds, at least I know what’s at the bottom of it.
“They’re growing up, Ethan,” I tell him, pointing out the obvious. “And they’re gonna wanna do a lot more than just paint their rooms by the time they’re old enough to have kids of their own.” I remind him.
“They don’t stay sweet little innocent babies for long,” I hear myself say. It sounds like I’m starting to nag him. But I’m really telling myself all this too.
I reach for Isaiah, hugging him close.
“Wouldn’t it be great if they did stay little forever, though?” Ethan asks, making me smile when I notice how happy the thought makes him.
“Or we could just have one after the other. Kinda like what you’ve been putting me through for five years now,” I reply dryly, poking my tongue out to let him know I’m not serious.
“Are you…?” he starts to ask me, but I shake my head.
“Nope,” I answer him flatly. Almost defiantly. “I’ve been given a break from pregnancy duty for a while now,” I say aloud, but secretly I actually do miss it.
Having a baby in my arms and another one growing in my belly. There’s nothing like it.
“And you’re sure nothing’s wrong? I mean, could it be me?” Ethan asks suddenly, looking concerned again.