Josiah is there.
And so are the twins.
He grins at me, ushering me closer.
“They helped me set up everything,” he says proudly.
The girls are dressed in matching dresses, Kelsey in blue and Kira in pink.
“You both look so beautiful,” I blurt out. “Did you really help Josiah set this all up?” I ask, smiling so wide my cheeks are aching.
I never expected him to include them. I never expected him to consider that I would be missing them if I couldn’t see them on a Saturday.
“This is beautiful,” I say quietly, stepping close to him to hug him with one arm wrapped around his waist.
He hugs me back, a polite one-armed hug as well.
“Well, you two little rabbits, remember the plan!” he tells the twins.
Kira grabs my hand and pulls me onto one of the pillows. “Sit, mama. We are your fairy princess girls who are going to look after you today,” she informs me, then bolts off to fetch me a plate of food from the vast assortment of options.
I hear Kelsey telling her it’s too much food and she shouldn’t put the cupcakes on now because they are for after the real food. But Kira disagrees. Cupcakes are real food.
I sit next to Josiah, who reaches for the champagne. He pops the cork off with a loud bang, and both girls squeal with laughter. Josiah pours us a glass of champagne, then pours the twins sparkling apple juice in little pink plastic champagne glasses.
“To all three of you beautiful girls, I am so happy to be here with you to celebrate this moment. To celebrate your mom. She got a giant gold star at work, and she deserves her own special party.” He winks at me.
Kelsey cheers, spilling some apple juice. “Yay, Mama!” she shouts.
I drink champagne, and we snack on a huge variety of incredible foods, and I watch Josiah, laughing and playing with the girls.
It’s the perfect day.
It’s the perfect way to celebrate.
I could not have asked for anything better than this.
The longer I sit there with my little family, the softer my heart becomes. We really are a little family. He honestly deserves to be their father.
“Girls, come here quickly, I have something to tell you,” I call them to my side, and they huddle close, kneeling in front of me, eager to hear whatever it is I have to tell them.
My heart is hammering right up into my throat.
I glance nervously at Josiah, who looks confused. He sets his champagne glass down and gives me his full focus as well, as though he senses the importance of whatever I am about to say.
I turn back to my girls. “You two are my little angels, you know that?”
“Yes, mama!”
“And I love you always and forever. No matter what ever happens,ever,” I say. They nod, waiting impatiently. “I have to tell you something very special now, and I want you to listen carefully—and then you can ask me any questions you like, ok?”
“Okay.” Kelsey’s face is stern while Kira’s is bright with curiosity.
“Josiah isn’t just Mommy’s friend. Josiah is your father. He’s your dad.”
The words are out of my mouth and hanging in the air. They have brought a moment of silence between everyone asthey settle into the twins' minds, and they take a little while to process it.
After a while, Kelsey asks, “A real daddy or a pretend daddy?” as she glances cautiously at Josiah.
