She hands me a muslin which I tuck around Noah’s neck to keep his special party outfit biscuit and milk free. “There you go, No No, it’s biscuit time.” He snatches it from my hand and rams it into his mouth so quickly he gags. “Hey, go slow,” I say.
“No,” he replies, stuffing it back in again.
And there it is. Noah’s favorite word and the origin of his nickname.
“This will be you next year,” I say, watching Ellie shake Noah’s sippy cup of milk.
“It will.” When she smiles, I see genuine excitement at the prospect of graduating, which fills me with relief. Dad was so definite about her completing her studies, and me, Colby and Seb were worried this was just another thing Ellie was allowing herself to get pushed into. I guess there is a difference between encouraging something and force, although dad still treads a very fine line.
Colby steps into the kitchen, laughing loudly with Dornan, and Noah scrunches his nose.
“Daddy noisy,” he says, spitting biscuit crumbs over the tray table.
“Yeah, daddy is noisy,” I laugh.
Dornan grabs Ellie’s hand and spins her around. “I hope these douchebags have told you how gorgeous you look today.”
“They have,” she says.
“Less of the douchebag talk,” Colby grumbles. “You might be Ellie’s best friend, but that doesn’t put you outside of an ass whooping.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Colby and Dornan face up to each other. Two huge guys, almost the same height, puffing out their chests like arguing birds, fighting over a prospective mate. It’s so funny that Noah starts giggling, and then we’re all laughing.
And it’s in moments like these that I know that this love between us all was meant to be.
SEBASTIAN
Don’t ask me how I keep the secret because I have no idea. It’s been burning my tongue for three months, and it is even worse now Ellie knows.
“Please, Seb,” she says, and I want to run away because when Ellie begs, I only want to give her what she wants.
“Ellie-Belly, now is not the time.”
“Oh, you didn’t,” she says, reaching out to pinch my pec.
Dornan told us his childhood nickname for Ellie when she was eight months pregnant. At the time, it was hilarious because she was just one giant belly. She hasn’t forgiven him.
“I, for one, think that nickname is cute. Better than Smelly-Ellie anyway.”
“Oh, hell no.” Shifting Noah on her hip, she licks her teeth as though she’s preparing for war. “You are not starting that stupid nickname. I swear I’ll start sleeping in my room and locking the door.”
That threat is enough to make me retreat.
“Are you guys ready?” Colby yells from the kitchen. “We’re done cleaning up.”
“Yeah, Noah’s in his PJs,” I call back.
Lara appears, reaching out for her grandson. “Come here, little man. It’s time for beddy-byes.”
Noah clings to his mom for a couple of seconds, then allows himself to be passed across. “Nana’s going to read your favorite story.”
“Belly button,” he yells.
“Yes. The one about baby’s belly button.”
We all laugh as Colby, Micky, and dad gather by the front door.
“I’m proud of you, boys,” dad says out of the blue. I guess it isn’t every day that a man watches his triplet sons’ graduate.
“Thanks, Dad,” Micky says, stepping forward to hug him. Dad claps him on the back with a flourish and does the same to Colby, too. Then he’s searching for me.
I don’t know why it’s always been a little awkward between us. Maybe because I try not to take life too seriously, and dad is all about control and focus. He’s always had lower expectations for me than my brothers, but thankfully that didn’t lead to me having lower expectations about myself. “Well done, son,” he says, hugging me tight and patting my shoulder.
“Not bad for the class clown,” I say, catching Ellie’s eyes and seeing them fill with tears.
“Funny and clever. That’s got to be a winning combination,” dad says. “At least you’ll be able to grease a few more wheels than I’ve ever been able to.”
Is he seriously complimenting me right now?
Seeing my discomfort, Ellie steps forward. “Are you finally going to put me out of my misery now?”
“I guess so.” Colby takes her hand, and I follow with Micky. I turn quickly, finding dad and Lara smiling at each other. It’s a far cry from where the family was all those months ago.
It’s funny that the very thing we worried had the potential to tear the family apart turned out to be what brought us all together in the end.
ELLIE
I glance across at Colby, who’s driving, trying to work out something, anything, from his stoic expression. This surprise really is just that. I have no clue where they’re taking me. I bite the corner of my nail, and Colby reaches to take my hand. “No nibbling,” he says softly. “This isn’t something for you to stress about. It’s something good.”