“You gonna feed them both at the same time?” I ask skeptically.
Madison rolls her eyes, and right here and now, with her skin glistening with sweat from the hard labor of bringing our babies into the world, she has never been more beautiful. Never.
Rebecca laughs lightly while looking up at me from beneath her glasses. “That’s actually normal, and you’re both very lucky. It looks like you have one who is quite demanding and one that is placid.”
“Huh,” I joke, sitting where Saint was. “I wonder where she gets that from?”
Madison glares at me, but before we can take it any further, we both burst out laughing. She shakes her head. “We are so screwed.”
I lay Priest over the other side of her breast and watch as he finally latches on to her.
Picking my phone up from the floor, I open the camera app.
“Take a shot.” Madison smiles up at me, her lashes fanning out over her cheeks.
“You want me to?” Rebecca asks, gesturing for the phone.
I hand it to her and tuck back behind Madison. Rebecca takes a range of photos before handing me back my phone.
“I’m going to help you get them settled and you for a shower. Do you have everything here?” Rebecca asks Madison, and I stand from the bed, closing the camera app and opening the contacts.
“I’ll call Pia up to help.”
Madison nods, smiling at me. “Please.” I take both babies from Madison when they’re fast asleep, and Rebecca helps her off the bed as I move to the other side of the room where the fireplace is blazing and their two bassinets are set up and freshly made.
Taking a seat on the recliner in the corner, I rock them gently and wait until Madison and Rebecca are out of earshot and it’s just my two Kings and me.
“Don’t tell Mommy yet, but how do you both feel about being in a wedding in six months?”
I keep rocking back and forward, resting my head against the chair while looking down at both of them.
“Yeah… sounds like a plan, right?”
Six weeks later
Madison
WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THOSE halls all those years ago, nervously flicking my leather bangles around my wrist while thinking my life was about as prosaic as anyone else’s, I never would have thought I would be here right now. A mother to the most beautiful babies I have ever seen in my life and married to my best friend while being surrounded by the people I love most. Our family is big—so big you can’t do anything but feel love.
We are the creation of our own choices, and every single one of us chose each other along the way. That’s what family is, it’s not blood. Even through war, hate, arguments, and destruction, we all always chose each other.
I lean back against the chair, sparkling colored lights lining the courtyard and maze, and a big Happy New Year! banner in black and gold writing sitting over the entrance of it. Every single King and their partner are here tonight, and right now and right here, I’m at my happiest.
I find Bishop talking with Abel and his father and Elena, holding both babies in each arm and dressed in slacks and a button-down with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, showcasing all of his tattoos. Jesse came to visit us a couple of weeks ago and we inked more into his neck tattoo to add the twins, and I got a crown on the back of my neck. Bishop’s crown, the Hayes’ crown.
“You know, holding those babies looks so good on him.”
Scarlet nods her head at Tillie’s comment behind her glass of bubbles. “I’m glad he got some of that maternal gene.”
“I didn’t doubt that.” I cheer the cool air, taking a small sip of wine.
“You pumped tonight?” Saint asks, resting her hand on her bump. Her pregnancy has been rough. She hasn’t been able to eat hardly anything without spewing it up, and Brantley is about a second away from tearing the whole world apart.
“I did. It fucking hurt, but I need this wine. It’s been too long.”
Tate shuffles her chair around, her eyes zipping out into the crowd. “How is Abel?”
I find him instantly, near the chocolate fountain and champagne bridge that’s set up below the DJ stand. There’s a countdown clock hovering below the Happy New Year! banner and caterers shuffling among the sea of bodies.
“He’s not good, but has enrolled into REU to get his med degree.”
I run my hands down the little black sequin skirt I’m wearing, with tassels hitting my thighs. I dressed all of us in similar outfits, with Tate wearing the exact same skirt but in white, same with Saint, and Tillie and me in black. Matched with a little crop top with matching tassels hanging above my belly button, I’m being far too bold with this outfit considering I just had twins six weeks ago.