“I’m not jealous. I’m just... concerned about appropriate boundaries.”
“Julien, they’re being kind. That’s all. They know I’m pregnant, uncomfortable, and probably anxious about the timeline. They’re trying to help.”
“By making you laugh?”
“Yes. By making me laugh. By being friendly and warm and making this whole process less stressful.” She cupped my face with her free hand. “But you know what?”
“What?”
“They could all look like Chris Hemsworth and it wouldn’t matter. Because I’m married to you. And I love you. And no amount of charming contractors is going to change that.”
“They do kind of look like Chris Hemsworth,” I muttered.
She laughed. “Maybe a little. But you’re the one I chose. You’re the one I married. You’re the father of my children. And you’re the one I want.”
Something in my chest loosened.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you too.” She kissed me softly. “Now go tell Jasper about the windows. And try to relax. Everything is going to be fine.”
She was right.
Everything was fine.
Better than fine.
By the end of the second week, the house was transformed.
New kitchen. New bathrooms. New flooring. Fresh paint. The nursery was taking shape, with custom built-in storage that Chase had designed and that was, I had to admit, brilliant.
“This is incredible,” I said, standing in the nursery doorway.
“Thanks,” Chase said, stepping back to admire his work. “I figured, with three babies, you’d need maximum storage with minimum floor space.”
“It’s perfect.”
“Yeah?” He smiled. “Good. I’m glad.”
Mason appeared beside me. “We’re on track to finish by the end of next week.”
“Really?”
“Really. Barring any major surprises, we’ll be done with two days to spare.”
The second Mason said those words, I clearly heard the universe laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Julien
Monday morning meetings were sacred.
Not in the spiritual, cosmic, universe-was-speaking-to-me way that Athena would describe them. But in the practical, organizational, this-was-how-we-maintained-efficiency way that kept the clinic running smoothly.
Every Monday at eight AM, we gathered in the conference room to review the week’s patient load, discuss complex cases, and coordinate schedules.
It was structured. Predictable. Controlled.
