Epilogue One

AUTHOR

Today was a special day for the CARTER family. It was the third birthday of Adrian and Brianna’s twins, Evelyn and Evan. They had been eagerly anticipating this day for quite some time because it meant they could finally reunite with their loved ones. It had been a while since they had all gathered together—busy schedules and various commitments to work, school, and family had kept them all apart for too long.

“Walk quietly!” Brianna whispered urgently to Adrian as they tiptoed toward the twins’ bedroom.

“I’m trying!” Adrian quipped, rolling his eyes as he followed closely behind her.

A few moments later, they reached the door of the twins’ room, and Brianna slowly pushed it open. They entered the room as quietly as they could, careful not to wake the children. Adrian stood still in the middle of the room, holding a small birthday cake in his hands. The cake was decorated with the twins’ favorite colors—white and purple. Atop the cake was a small birthday candle in the shape of the number “3,” waiting to be lit.

Brianna made her way across the room toward the French window, which was directly opposite the door. The twins’ beds were on either side of the window: Evelyn’s bed on the right and Evan’s on the left. Brianna gently drew the curtains open, allowing the soft rays of the morning sun to pour into the room, banishing the dim light. The room brightened instantly, filling with warmth as the sunlight flooded every corner.

The twins’ room was a true sight to behold, a perfect blend of elegance and playful charm that mirrored Evelyn and Evan’s distinct personalities. Picture this: soft shades of white and purple everywhere you looked, creating a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. Evelyn’s side of the room was adorned with delicate floral patterns and plush lavender accents, giving it a soothing and whimsical feel. On the other hand, Evan’s side was bolder and more geometric, with vibrant splashes of royal purple scattered throughout the room. Little touches—Evelyn’s twinkling fairy lights by the window, and Evan’s superhero posters proudly displayed on the walls—added character and charm to the space. It was like stepping into a magical world, where anything seemed possible. The twins couldn’t have been happier to call this room their own, and Adrian and Brianna had done their best to decorate it according to their tastes.

“Happy birthday to Evelyn and Evan, our twins so dear,

With love and laughter, we celebrate another year.

May your day be filled with fun, joy, and delight,

As we gather ‘round to make your birthday bright!”

Brianna began to sing, and Adrian quickly joined in, both of them singing a special birthday song they had created the night before. They didn’t want to go with the usual birthday tune, so they had made up their own song to make the moment even more personal.

Evelyn was the first to wake up. When she realized what was happening, she jumped out of bed and rushed to wake up her brother. Evan stirred awake and, within seconds, figured out what was going on. Both of them jumped with excitement, their eyes sparkling as their parents sang for them, and Adrian lit the birthday candle on the cake.

“The cake is so pretty!” Evelyn exclaimed after their parents finished singing.

“I know, right?” Adrian replied with a proud smile, his chest puffing up slightly. “It’s pretty because Daddy made it.”

Evelyn and Evan could hardly believe their ears.

“Are you serious, Daddy? You made this?” Evan asked, his voice filled with awe as he stared at his dad in disbelief.

“Yes, I did,” Adrian said, beaming with pride.

“You did a great job, Dad. Let’s just hope it tastes as good as it looks,” Evelyn teased, her playful smile lighting up her face.

“Oh, it tastes good, alright,” Adrian replied smugly, and Brianna rolled her eyes, her patience for their daily banter starting to wear thin. This was just another typical day in the Carter household, with Evelyn and Evan always quick with their smart remarks.

“Okay, kids, enough of the banter. How about you both close your eyes and make a wish before you blow out the candle?” Brianna suggested, stepping closer to Adrian.

“Yes! Let’s make a wish!” the twins shouted in unison, exchanging an excited look before shutting their eyes tightly. A few moments later, they opened their eyes and blew out the candle together.

“Yay! Good job, kids!” Adrian cheered, clapping his hands as they blew out the candle.

“What did you wish for?” Brianna asked, her curiosity piqued as she smiled at her children.

The twins exchanged glances, their mischievous grins betraying the secret they shared.

“Are you sure you want to know, Mummy?” Evan asked playfully, his voice filled with teasing.

Brianna raised an eyebrow, amused by his antics. “Yes, I do,” she replied, her tone light but eager to hear their answer.

“Well, Mummy,” Evelyn began with a dramatic pause, “we wished for a baby sister.”

Evan shot her an exaggerated glare. “Don’t listen to her, Mum. We wished for a baby brother,” he countered with a frown.

Before the playful argument could escalate further, Adrian stepped in.

“It’s pretty clear you two didn’t wish for the same thing. There’s no need to argue about it,” he said calmly, his voice steady, and the twins quieted down, both nodding in agreement.

“Mummy and Daddy have to go check on how the decorations are coming along,” Brianna said, gently steering the conversation in a different direction. “Diane will be here to help you both get ready for the party, okay?”

The twins nodded enthusiastically, clearly excited for what the day would bring.

“When you’re all ready, you can have as many slices of cake as you want, alright?” Adrian added with a wink, earning a round of cheers from the twins.

“Yay!” they shouted in unison, practically bouncing in excitement as Brianna and Adrian walked out of the room, heading downstairs. They called for Diane, their live-in nanny, who was already preparing for the party. Diane had been an essential part of the family, helping take care of the children whenever Brianna and Adrian were busy. The twins adored her, and she was incredibly good at her job.

|ONE HOUR LATER|

An hour later, the party was in full swing. The grand living room of the Carter home had been transformed into a vibrant celebration space, decorated with balloons, streamers, and a variety of other colorful decorations, all in line with the theme for Evelyn and Evan’s birthday party.

Lively music played in the background as the twins enjoyed the company of their friends from school, laughing and running around. The adults, a mix of family and friends, were mingling, chatting, and enjoying the festivities. Among the guests were the parents of the twins’ school friends, who were also close to Adrian and Brianna: Mariana and Tyler, Cherry and Manuel, Vanessa and her boyfriend James, Caroline (Brianna and Mariana’s mother) and her boyfriend Nathan, who had been dating for seven months, and Rachel (Adrian’s sister) with her new boyfriend, Mason. Unfortunately, Adrian’s parents, Stella and Hudson, couldn’t attend the party as they were away on vacation.

Mariana and Tyler had been dating for over three years, both in their second year of college. Cherry and Manuel had been married for two years, and Cherry was eight months pregnant with their first child. Vanessa and her boyfriend James had met in college and had been together for a year. Caroline had met Nathan at her grocery store, where he had been a regular customer, and they had hit it off the first time they met.

“Attention, everyone! We have an announcement to make!” Adrian called out, raising his wine glass and tapping it with a spoon to get everyone’s attention. The music stopped, and all eyes turned to Adrian and Brianna, who stood in the middle of the room.

“We just want to thank each and every one of you for coming today to celebrate Evelyn and Evan’s special day. Your presence means so much to us, and we’re so happy to have you all here,” Brianna said, her voice warm with gratitude. The guests smiled and clapped, showing their appreciation.

“And now, we have a little surprise announcement for you all…” Adrian and Brianna said in unison. “We’re pregnant!”

A wave of excitement filled the room, and everyone burst into cheers and applause, celebrating the wonderful news.

“Mummy, Daddy, what’s going on?” Evan asked, walking over to his parents with a puzzled expression.

“Mummy’s pregnant,” Adrian said, a wide grin spreading across his face.

The twins looked confused, their little minds working to piece together what this new information meant.

“What does that mean?” Evelyn asked, her curiosity piqued.

“It means that Mummy is expecting a baby,” Adrian explained, and the twins’ faces lit up with joy.

“Does that mean our wishes are coming true? When is the baby coming?” the twins asked eagerly.

“Yes, kids, your wishes are coming true,” Brianna confirmed with a smile. “And the baby will be here in a few months.”

“Woohoo! I’m going to have a baby sister!” Evelyn shouted, her voice filled with excitement as she danced around her parents.

“How do you know it’s a baby sister? What if it’s a baby brother?” Evan argued, crossing his arms and puffing out his lips.

“There’s no need for the two of you to start arguing again,” Brianna said, her voice light but firm. “We’ll find out whether it’s a boy or a girl in a few months, and no matter what, we’ll love the baby just the same.”

The twins nodded, content with their parents’ reassurance.

Adrian stood to the side, watching the exchange between his wife and children with a proud grin on his face. He couldn’t help but think to himself, “Yes, I made it in life. This is the best thing I will ever do.”