“We’re pregnant,” he says, his eyes filled with excitement. “New Year’s right?” He tries to sit up straighter and I curl into him and gently press him back down.

“Yes, New Year’s, now behave. You’re supposed to be resting and staying calm. Do you want to get me thrown out of here?” I say, giggling at the huge grin on his face.

“We’re pregnant. You know what that means?”

“Yes, it means I’m going to get fatter and then in five months we’re going to have a baby.”

“Yes, that of course. But I need to get out of here so we can get married.” He excitedly whispers.

“Wait, you don’t have to do that.” I say biting my lip hoping that he ignores what I’ve just said.

“Are you kidding? I love you and you love me so why wouldn’t we get married? Okay, so I can’t get down on one knee, but Pandora Ann Phillips, will you marry me?” I look at him and tears fill my eyes.

“Yes! Of course I will.” I feel his arms surround me and his lips touch mine.

Epilogue

Waking up, I look at the clock. It’s three a.m. I listen for a sound, but nope, no crying. I do hear a muffled voice, so I get out of bed, putting on my slippers and satin robe. I move quietly to the nursery where I hear the voice coming from. Drew is standing by the changing table, expertly putting a diaper around our sweet baby girl.

So much has happened this past year: Drew and my wild week of passion, our separation, his accident, his recovery, Julie and Kevin’s bundle of joy arriving in July, our wedding, Liam and Jeff off in Australia for a few months, and the birth of our twins, Amanda Lynn and Jason Edward, two of the most beautiful babies in the world.

“Now, we have to be quiet. Mommy needs her sleep and we don’t want to wake up your brother either. At least not until I have your bottles fixed up. You know how impatient he is when he wakes up hungry. But you, my little angel, you’re the patient one, and you’re such a good girl, aren’t you? Of course, I love you both equally, but I hope you understand that I love your mom the best. She is, after all, the one who gave you guys to me. How was I to know the necklace I gave her last Christmas was a Mexican pregnancy ball?”

My hand reaches up to my neck to hold the little silver ball that chimes softly when I move.

“I guess it worked pretty well, huh? We got two for the price of one. Today is going to be a busy day, as it’s your first Christmas. You probably won’t enjoy it much this year, but just wait until next year.”

I see Mandy watching her father as he talks to her as if she understands every word.

“We’re going to see all your grandparents and great-grandparents today. Your aunts and uncle too. Now let’s be super quiet and we’ll go get the bottles ready, because I hear your brother moving in the crib.”

He picks Mandy up and kisses her cheek and she giggles. She keeps on giggling the more he shushes her. He turns and sees me standing in the doorway and his smile—yes, his smexy smile—totally makes me melt. Here we are, our own lucky group of four, and I couldn’t be happier. As I continue watching him tend to our children, a warm sensation washes over me. There’s really nothing hotter in my opinion than a gorgeous man who’s wonderful with kids. I know exactly what we’ll be doing once he finishes feeding our twins—yes, I do.

There she is, the woman of my dreams, the love of my life. We truly are our own ‘Lucky Number Four’. Judging by her beautiful warm smile, I have a feeling I know what we’ll be doing after I finish up here, and frankly I can’t wait.


The End