Perfect Embrace by Kaylee Ryan

Epilogue

Grayson

Five years later

“I can’t believe they’re nine,” my wife says as she settles next to me on the chaise lounge on the back deck.

Our twin daughters turn nine today, and they’re currently in the yard with their three-year-old brother, Kaden. They mother him to death, but he loves all of their attention.

“Come here.” I pull her into my arms. She’s holding our baby girl, Ella, who just turned nine months old. “Thank you for this life,” I say, holding her and our daughter close.

“You mean two more mouths to feed, a bigger mortgage payment, and a lot more stress,” she jokes.

“No. For being such an incredible mother to all four of our children,” I tell her.

Incredible really isn’t a strong enough description. She has patience with all four of them. She manages to work and watch the two littles and the twins after school. Our moms help, but it was important to Laken, so we hired additional help, finally, something she’d been talking about for ages, and that gives her the freedom to be close to the store and raise our children. Her apartment above the store works perfectly as a nap area for the kids and a place for the twins to eat a snack and do homework after school.

“The girls got their wish: a brother and a sister.” She laughs.

“And we got you,” I say, kissing her temple. She releases a contented sigh and snuggles closer.

“I should start putting out the food. Everyone will be here soon.”

“You need some help?”

“No, just watch the kids.”

“Come to Daddy,” I say, reaching for Ella. She comes to me easily, and why wouldn’t she? She’s daddy’s girl. Our son, on the other hand, he’s a momma’s boy, through and through. He’s three and thinks his momma walks on water, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Five years ago, I almost lost the chance to have this: a wife and two more kids to love. I still feel as though Holly brought Laken into our lives. She knew what we needed before I did. She knew Laken would love our daughters and me and that she would be able to bring joy into our lives again.

I like to believe she’s smiling down at us and is happy about the life we’re living. I know she’s proud of the girls and the way that they're thriving. Laken is a huge part of the reason they’re thriving. She’s giving them all the love and advice that only a mother can give as they become young ladies. I can’t count how many times I’ve walked in on the three of them sifting through old pictures. Even mine and Holly’s wedding photos. Laken insisted we keep every single photographic memory. She said the girls would want them someday.

She talks about Holly as if she was her best friend when the truth is she barely knew her. That’s not what matters. She’s keeping her memory alive for our daughters. Each day I think that I can’t love Laken more, and she does something that proves me wrong.

Yesterday, we went to the cemetery—all six of us. Kaden even calls Holly “Mommy in heaven.” just like the twins, and Laken just smiles at them. Not an ounce of jealousy from my incredible loving wife.

“Dad!” one of the girls calls out as the three kids come rushing up onto the deck.

“Is it time for cake?” Harlow asks.

“And presents?” Hayden adds.

“Almost. Why don’t we go inside and see if your mom needs any help?”

“Okay.” The girls take off with their little brother on their heels.

“What do you think, Ella? Should we go help Momma?” I stand and make my way into the house. Laken is standing in the kitchen with our three older kids wrapped around her in a hug, and I feel a tug on my heart.

I love her more today than I did yesterday.

* * *

Laken

Today was a good day. The girls got to celebrate their ninth birthday with our friends and family. My heart swells every time I look at them. They’re growing up so fast. I want time to stop moving. They will forever be the two adorable four-year-old girls who stole my heart, right along with their father.

“Mom!” Harlow comes rushing into the kitchen, where I just finished loading the dishwasher.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Hayden says, entering the room.

“We have a surprise for you,” they say in unison.

“It’s your birthday,” I remind them.

“We know.”

“Where’s your dad?”

“He’s in the living room with Kaden and Ella.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.” I finish wiping off the counter, dry my hands, and find my way to the living room. I’m shocked to see everyone is still here. “Oh, hi.” I smile brightly. “I’m sorry. I thought when you all said goodbye, that meant you were leaving,” I say with a laugh.

“Come here, baby.” Grayson holds his hand out for me, and of course, I take it. I would follow my husband anywhere.

“What’s going on?” I look to Lenora, who is holding Ella, and she shrugs. The smug look on her face tells me she knows exactly what’s going on.

“Gray?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“The girls have something for you.”

I turn to look at our daughters. “So,” Harlow says with all of her nine-year-old maturity. I swear she’s nine going on nineteen. They both are.

“We went to Dad with an idea,” Hayden adds.

“Okay.”

“We won’t be mad if you don’t want to. Dad said you would be happy, and we hope that you are,” Harlow tells me.

“No pressure,” Hayden adds.

“Girls, what’s going on?”

They nod to one another and pick up an envelope off the table. Each girl holds onto one side as they hand it to me. “Open it,” they say.

Lifting the tab on the manila envelope, I pull out the contents and start to skim the document. I see the word adoption, and I freeze. “What?” I whisper the words.

“We love you,” Hayden tells me.

“We want to make it official,” Harlow explains.

“Gray?”

“You’re already their mom, Laken. This just makes it official in the eyes of the law. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now but didn’t want to pressure the girls. They came to me, and I knew it was time.”

“This real?”

“Yes!” The twins laugh.

“Come here.” I pull them to me and crush them in a hug. “I love you both so much. I love you, and your mom in heaven loves you. Never forget that.”

“Will you sign them?” Harlow asks.

“Anybody got a pen?” I ask, and the room erupts in laughter.

“Here.” Christine steps forward with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for loving them. I know Holly would be proud.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, tears streaming down my face. Sitting down on the couch, I pull the coffee table close and sign my name beside all of the yellow tabs. My heart races, and it’s taking extreme effort to not show the slight tremble in my hand as I sign the papers. I slide the papers back into the envelope and hand them to Grayson.

I didn’t need these papers to know that the twins are my daughters, but to know they wanted me to have them, well, that leaves me speechless as I swallow back the love I have for them that’s clogging my throat.

“Group hug!” the twins call out. Grayson grabs Ella from Lenora, and Kaden follows his sisters as they wrap their arms around my waist. Grayson joins us, kissing me on the temple.

We stand in a huge circle in our living room, and once again, Grayson and the girls give me the perfect embrace.