“I know,” I whisper in her ear. “It’s because I’m irresistible.”
Regina laughs now, and her mellifluous voice makes my heart contract. I pull her tight, and sweep her into a deep, drugging kiss that has us both aroused within seconds because this is the woman I was meant to be with. Regina is my heart, my laughter, and my love, and with a new baby on the way, my life is complete.
Epilogue
Regina
Two years later.
A gentle breeze pushes a tuft of fine black hair into Royce’s face. The baby frowns and rubs his forehead, not quite sure what’s tickling him. I gently brush the hair out of his beautiful blue eyes, and he smiles up at me. I smile back, amazed beyond words that I’m so lucky.
“Hi baby,” I coo, as my son sits on the blanket. “How are you feeling today?
But before Royce can answer, a voice pipes up from my left.
“Mommy!” Rachel calls. I love my new name now. I turn to see the little girl scrambling up the little hill where Royce and I are sitting. “Mommy!” she calls again, stopping a few feet in front of me. “Mom-” the third cry is interrupted when Rufus barrels into her, knocking both of them headlong into me. I pull Royce out of harm’s way just in time. At nine years old, the twins are still as incorrigible as ever.
“Guys, be careful!” I say laughing. “You almost hit your little brother!”
The twins instantly turn to Royce and begin fawning over him.
“Oh, poor baby!” Rufus says, wrapping him in a bear hug. The baby chortles and waves his little arms in the air.
“We’re sorry, Roycey-Woycey, we’d never hurt you!” Rachel says, smothering him with kisses. “We love you!”
Royce giggles at the attention and returns Rachel’s kiss with his own wet, open-mouthed baby version. Rachel pulls away and wipes her cheek comically.
“Ewww, Royce! You’re gross!” she says. She and Rufus start laughing, and then Rachel gives Royce a peck right on the tip of his nose to show him she didn’t mean it.
I can’t help but laugh. They’re so adorable it hurts, and I can’t believe I’m so fortunate. Most people would only be a mother to one child at this stage of their lives, but instead, I’m a mother to six. Even though we’re not technically married, Rico, Rufus, Rachel, Rebecca, and Ronnie were thrilled when Ryan and I told them they’d soon have another sibling. They jumped up and down with glee, and immediately began to ask questions.
“Can I name him?”
“How do you know it’s a him? It could be a girl.”
“I’ve always liked the name Rover! Can we name him that, Daddy?”
“Daddy, Rover is a dog’s name.”
“Well, Rufus is a dog’s name too!”
I met Ryan’s eyes over the heads of the children, and we both smiled. Our house will always be raucous and rowdy, but this is how we like it. We have six children together, and it’s pure heaven.
At that moment, Rachel comes running back.
“Mommy, Rico said he’ll take us out on the boat! Can we go, please?”
Rufus bounds along behind his twin sister, bouncing with anticipation as he joins her pleas.
“We’ll be super careful!” he says. “We’ll wear our life jackets and we’ll listen to Rico and we’ll be really good! Can we go, please, please, please?”
I look up to see Rico approaching us, a sheepish smile on his face. My oldest son is getting more handsome every day. He’s almost fifteen now, and looking more and more like his gorgeous father with those broad shoulders and bright blue eyes. And yet, the smile Rico shoots me is that of a boy.
“They’ve been bugging me all morning to take them out on the lake, but I told them they had to ask you first.”
I laugh, and pull Rachel in for a hug.
“Hmmm,” I say. “I don’t know. Sailing on the lake is for big boys and girls. Do you two really think you’re ready?”
“Yes, yes, we’re ready, Mommy, please?” the twins plead in unison. Rufus stands on his tiptoes, stretching his head as tall as he can to show just how big he is. I can’t help myself. I laugh and gather them both into a big bear hug. Royce crawls over and coos, wanting to join. I release the older twins and pick him up. “Alright,” I say. “You can ride in the boat, but be careful and listen to your brother!”
They yelp with excitement and immediately run to the dock where Ryan’s new boat is tied. It’s gorgeous. It has a gleaming white hull, and he named it the Regina, after me. I’d giggled at first.
“Oh no, that’s too much,” I said. “Why don’t we name it after your mom instead?”
But Ryan shook his head, and merely dropped a kiss on my nose.
“No, because I’m naming the other boat after my mom. This one is for our new lake house, so it’s going to be named after you.”