On our first night there, in front of a roaring fire, between sips of whiskey, and after round one of hair-pulling, toe-tingling, cabin-shaking sex, Levi had knelt before me with the ring and asked me to be his wife.
He said he didn’t expect me to be Scotty’s mother, but would be honored and grateful to have my help in raising him alongside any children we had. I’d nodded and cried, my heart too full to speak as he slipped the ring on my finger.
Later, when we were lying in bed, gaining our strength back after round two, he showed me a letter that Scotty had written for me. It was printed in pencil on lined paper, and there were a few holes in it where he’d erased mistakes too vehemently. Dear Jillian, it read. I hope you say yes. You make Daddy smile. I like you. It was signed, Scotty Brooks.
I put a hand over my heart, choked up again. “Oh my God, he’s so sweet. So he knows about this?”
Levi nodded. “He does. And he understands that means we will all live together and maybe at some point buy a bigger house.”
“So we’ll live in your house first?”
“I hope you will. And I hope you’ll move in right away…the past few months with you have been the happiest of my life, Jill. The days when I don’t see you are always…lesser, somehow.” He brushed my hair off my face. “That day you crashed into me at your sister’s wedding was the luckiest day of my life.”
I’d blubbered some more and agreed to move in as soon as I could, and when we got back, I’d called my realtor about putting my condo up for sale.
“Can we come in?” Skylar appeared in the hospital room doorway, Sebastian, Levi, and Scotty behind her.
“Sure,” said Natalie, motioning everyone in. “It’s a big room.”
Miles went over to shake hands with the guys, including Scotty. “Thanks for coming,” he said.
Sebastian thumped him on the back. “So happy for you guys. Congratulations.”
“How’s everyone feeling?” Levi asked, looking from Natalie to the baby. Scotty hung onto Levi’s hand, but he looked over toward the baby curiously.
“Amazing,” said Miles with a grin. “I’ve never felt better.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “We’re all good. I’m exhausted but running on adrenaline right now.” She turned to Skylar. “You checked in at the coffee shop, right? Everything was OK?”
Skylar laughed. “Yes, crazy. Everything is fine at work. Jeez, you just gave birth. Relax a little.” She went over to Sebastian and took his hand. Together, they walked softly over to my parents and peeked at the baby.
“So what’s his name?” Levi asked.
“Gotham,” announced Miles.
Natalie glared at him. “We’re still deciding that.”
“Right, so for now, we might as well call him Gotham,” Miles said, as if it made perfect sense.
“Let me have him now.” Our dad reached over and took the baby from our mother. “I need a turn.” Once the baby was in his arms, he looked up. “Hey, Scotty, come on over here and see my new grandson. Isn’t he small?”
Scotty looked up at Levi, who encouraged him with a nod. “It’s OK. Go see him. That’s how small you were once.”
Scotty twirled one hand in his hair as he walked over to the window, and my dad angled his body so Scotty could see the baby. My heart beat hard with love and gratitude for my dad, who’d been so good with Scotty over the last couple months.
My mother pouted. “Somebody better give us a second grandbaby, and soon,” she said, giving Skylar and me a look, “or there’s going to be trouble. One baby simply isn’t enough to go around.”
“Don’t look at me.” I laughed, holding up both hands. “I just got engaged a week ago.”
Skylar cleared her throat. “Actually…”
All heads turned in her direction.
“Actually, it’ll be me having the second grandchild.” She grinned deviously. “And the third.”
Jaws dropped. Eyes bugged. Silent seconds ticked by.
“Twins?” I finally managed.
Skylar looked at Sebastian, who appeared to be hoping the ground might open up and swallow him. “Yep,” she said, giggling a little. “It was confirmed by ultrasound this week.”
“Twins?” Our mother continued to gape at her, one hand moving to her heart.
“Twins,” she confirmed again, rising up on her toes.
“Guess the pressure’s off, huh?” Levi whispered in my ear.
I smiled up at him and whispered back. “Thank God. Now we can take our time.”
“I can’t believe it,” Natalie said, shaking her head, a huge grin on her face. “Twins!”
“Congratulations, you guys,” Miles said, sinking onto the bed next to Natalie. “And Sebastian, it’s the best feeling in the world, being a dad. I never thought I’d say that, but it is.”
“I’ll second that,” said Levi.
“And I’ll third,” added my dad.
“Twins,” my mother said again, her eyes misting. “I can’t believe it.”
“Well, you know Sebastian,” Skylar said, giving her husband an elbow in the side. “Two is always better than one.”
Smiling, I leaned back against Levi’s chest, feeling his arms come around me. I was surrounded by love, laughter, and three generations of family.