“Both measuring right on track,” the tech went on. “Strong heartbeats, good positioning.”
“You did say twins ran in your family,” Nash teased.
“I said it hypothetically,” I said. “Like—a fun fact.”
He squeezed my hand. “You good?”
I looked at the screen again: two distinct little blurs, side by side, each with its own heartbeat. Two separate heartbeats. Two separate people. Already existing in there like they’d decided together that they were coming whether we were ready or not.
Nash had said he would give me as many babies as I wanted.
He hadn’t been lying.
I started laughing, the sound coming out of nowhere. Nash looked at me sideways, then he was laughing too, his forehead dropping to my shoulder.
“I told you I wanted a full house,” I managed.
“You did say that,” he agreed.
The tech was still taking measurements. We were still laughing. Finally, we settled down enough to talk again…and I met Nash’s eyes, finding them just a little wet at the corners.
“We’re going to need a bigger house,” I said.
He nodded, his smile huge and bright. “And I think it’s high time we tell their big sister.”
TWENTY-TWO
nash
We foundthe perfect house in early December.
It was a big old fixer-upper off Main, right between the bar and the school—close enough to walk to both. Not that Maggie was doing much walking these days…twins meant that she was already showing in a big way, and it was so cold I didn’t want to risk her on the ice. Tourist season had settled, but the Christmas lights were out.
My favorite time of year in Juniper Falls—when it was still beautiful, but just for us locals.
It was snowing outside as I painted the nursery, Maggie sleeping in our bedroom, Nell playing with her dinosaurs downstairs. There was a big sunroom where Nell had all of her stuff…and Maggie had added a hell of a lot of craft supplies, new toys, a whole library. Nell was spoiled perfect.
She deserved it. Deserved to have the mama who loved her more than anything.
Maggie was all that and more.
I heard footsteps creaking on the wood floor down the hall, and Maggie appeared in the doorway—dressed in black leggings, soft pink socks, and a big cozy grey sweater that just barely covered her bump, her long hair down around her shoulders.She cocked her head at me, leaning against the door frame, her hand resting on her belly.
“How’s it coming along?” I asked.
I put the roller down in the pan, turning around with a sigh…just to look at her, not really because I needed a break. My ring sparkled on her left hand, a gift from Claire—one of our mom’s rings. She’d agreed to be my wife one night while I was still inside her, and I knew I needed to hop on getting the actual jewelry.
We’d kept it quiet. Courthouse wedding.
She wanted to stay Miss Laine, and I said that was just fine.
“Slow but steady,” I said. “Reid’s coming over with the kids later today so they can get some of their energy out running around the house and to help with repairs. Just trying to get this room painted in the meantime.”
Maggie stepped inside, looking at the blank wall. She had plans for a mural in here of some sort…I didn’t know exactly what yet, but I trusted her to make it perfect. She hummed, hand now idly stroking her stomach.
“I think it’s really good for him,” she said. “Reid, I mean—having a project? Growing something? I know you were worried about him.”
“It seems like he’s actually doing better,” I said. “Slow…but better.”
