My attention is stolen again by Mirabelle’s moment with Javi. “I think Theo’s going to need a big brother to look out for him. What do you think, Henry?” she asks, bringing Henry out of his daze with Clem.
“But I’m not his brother.” Javi’s expression is one of confusion, and my jaw drops. I totally forgot Mira and Henry were going to ask Javi if they could adopt him.
“Do you want to be?” Henry asks, sitting down on the edge of Mira’s bed.
“Would that make you my mom and dad?”
Oh my god. This is the cutest fucking moment ever.
“Only if you want us to be,” Mirabelle says, and Mom covers her mouth with her hand, emotion clearly overcoming her.
Javi’s face lights up, understanding they mean it. Still, he turns to look at Bailey, silently asking for permission. I really can’t help the happy tears that slide down my face when he nods his approval.
B has done so much for Javi, but I think the most important thing he ever did was help give Javi a family to call his own.
“I do.” Javi beams at them, and I’m not surprised to see that nearly everyone else is crying at the moment.
We all deserve happiness, but I don’t think anyone deserves it more than the wonderful man standing next to me and the little boy who brought him home.
Epilogue
BAILEY
This time,when I’m in therapy, I talk instead of staying silent in defiance. The time zone difference between France and the United States makes it a little rough, but it’s important. I can’t ignore the past if I want to move forward.
With the birth of the twins and the backlash from the interview Kiera gave, the media was relentless. It didn’t matter Henry and Mirabelle were at their house and I was at my parents’; the opportunity for a paycheck from a single photo featuring any of us was too great.
JJ and Hunter had it easier since they were on the other side of the country, but all of us were on edge.
By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, the twins and Javi had their passports and everyone flew to France for a much needed break. Mirabelle and Henry had officially received legal guardianship of Javi until the adoption went through so there were thankfully no issues regarding him coming.
Thirteen flew into France at the beginning of the week, but by the end of it, only six went back.
I could breathe so much easier without feeling like I wasjumping out of my skin every time I left the house. Mirabelle was desperate to shelter her kids as much as she could, especially Javi, after it came out they were adopting him. There are enough people out there who will find something within seconds once something is public record.
Henry had previously decided to go against league standards by taking FMLA to help with the babies, so there was no rush for him to get back.
The first reporter who asked him about it—and what his teammates thought about him abandoning them during the season—was also the last reporter to ask about it, when he asked her if he should abandon his kids. He followed up with a question of his own, asking if the reporter knew any of the statistics surrounding postpartum depression.
The clip went viral, and Henry’s approval ratings skyrocketed higher than ever before with jersey sales at a record high—especially once all his new fans realized he bucked tradition by taking his wife’s name.
Kaitlyn stayed because she wanted to be near the kids, but also because she was still determined to find herself during the gap year. Where better than Europe where you can take a train and find yourself in another country the same day?
I don’t know how I’m ever supposed to want to go back, but maybe by the time Christmas is over in a couple of days, I’ll be ready to rejoin society and everything that comes with it.
JJ invited Marley’s parents to come stay with us, and I was a little surprised he would willingly put them in the same room as our parents, especially knowing how they get around the holidays. Actually, how they are all the time, but who knows? Maybe they’ll be on their best behavior.
I started to connect the dots after walking into the library yesterday looking for Mirabelle, only to findJJ on one knee with a little black box and Mirabelle helping him correct his posture.
Kaitlyn shifts in my arms, her soft hair tickling my neck. “What time is it?” she mumbles and I look at the window to see how much light is coming in.
“It’s early. Go back to sleep.” I comb a hand through her dark hair as she sighs, inhaling a deep breath.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“I guess you don’t have to go back to sleep. I’m just saying the demons aren’t screaming yet, so there’s still time for some peace and quiet.”
Kait lifts her head as I stifle a laugh, knowing exactly how she’ll react to my nickname for the twins. “You did not just refer to our adorable niece and nephew as demons.”
