Five Years Later
The warm summer breeze drifted through the open back doors, rustling Natalie’s hair as she dozed on the couch. The sun’s rays were so comforting on her body, she didn’t want to move. Not that she needed to. The girls were well looked after. She heard their high-pitched squeals of laughter from the patio, followed by the boisterous sounds of their dad.
She peeked one eye open, unwilling to miss seeing Vincent at play with their three little girls. Triplets, just as Doris dreamt. Each one had light blue eyes like their mother but dark-brown hair like their daddy. As she watched from afar, Vincent lay on the patio, a blanket spread out beneath him, as his three daughters crawled over him, tickling him and squealing when he captured them in his arms for hugs. Natalie smiled at the sight, one she never grew tired of seeing.
Stretching her arms over her head, the sun glinted off the gems on her wedding ring and she was reminded of another wonderful day. Lana’s wedding turned into a double, and not long after, she announced she was pregnant, too. They were supposed to come over today. Everyone was.
Natalie sat up suddenly, and Vincent turned towards her. “Momma’s awake. Go get her!” he told the girls.
Lenny, Louise, and Nikki tumbled over each other in a rush to climb up onto the couch and tackle their mother. She kissed each one in turn, nibbling on their fingers and toes as they squirmed and laughed in her lap.
“Did we wake you?” Vincent asked as he sauntered in, bending over to kiss her.
“No, not at all. But I think I have to finish cooking for today,” she said, frowning. “Not that I can remember what.”
“Cupcakes,” he called out helpfully.
“Right, cupcakes!” all three girls repeated excitedly and ran into the kitchen. She followed her girls, mixing up the batter as Vincent held Nikki and set the other two on the counter so they could all help. When Lana, Alex, and their little boy Henry showed up an hour later, the triplets were covered in icing, rushing to tackle their little cousin.
“Hey, how you doing, momma?” Lana asked as she hugged her sister. “That smells amazing. Vincent’s been baking it all, right?” she mocked.
Vincent grumbled as Natalie smirked. “Always. You know how well he cooks.”
“Oh, like that turkey at Thanksgiving. It was to die for. As in it literally made me want to die.”
“Ha, you’re so funny,” Vincent muttered. He kissed Natalie so her toes curled. He reached around her for two beers out of the fridge and held one out to Alex. “We’re taking the kids to the lake.”
“Be back in time for dinner. And for the love of God, do not let Nikki try to catch fish with her bare hands again!”
Vincent shrugged one shoulder. “What can I say? She takes after you.”
“Oh, that man,” Natalie whispered but couldn’t stop smiling. “You know, sis, I’m not sure I thanked you lately.”
“For what?”
“For leading me to the man of my dreams and my three little girls to go with him.” Natalie and Lana stood arm in arm at the back door, watching their husbands and the kids run after their fathers. Life would never get any better than this. She had the man she loved, her beautiful children, and a home that embraced them all with open arms. “Yeah, I think we’re going to make it.”
“You’re welcome,” Lana whispered in her ear. The sisters laughed as they opened a bottle of wine and sat out on the patio, watching the day go by and finally happy with their place in the world.
