Epilogue Two

BRIANNA

I stirred awake, letting out a yawn as I peeled my eyes open. My eyes first drifted to the open window, and I saw that it was still dawn. The sky at dawn was a gentle wash of colors, soft pinks and warm oranges blending seamlessly into pale blues, with the faintest traces of lavender lingering at the horizon. The world outside the window was bathed in a delicate golden glow as the first light of morning filtered through, casting everything in a serene, dreamlike hue.

A cool breeze drifted in through the open window, brushing against my skin and carrying with it the faint, earthy scent of dew.

I turned my head, expecting to see Adrian sleeping beside me, but his side of the bed was empty, and it seemed like he had been gone for a while.

I shifted awkwardly, trying to sit up, one hand instinctively cradling my rounded belly. A small grunt escaped me as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, each movement slow and deliberate. The mattress dipped under my palms as I pressed against it for leverage, my breathing a little heavier than usual as I pushed myself upright. Once I was on my feet, I placed a hand on the small of my back for support, pausing for a moment to steady myself before taking a careful step forward.

I slipped my swollen feet into Adrian’s flip-flops; I started wearing his flip-flops at the beginning of my third trimester as I had outgrown mine. Adrian’s flip-flops were the comfiest thing ever.

The house felt strangely quiet as I made my way toward the bedroom door. Usually, mornings were filled with the chaotic symphony of Evan and Evelyn’s laughter and playful arguments. But the twins were spending the week at their grandparents’ house, and their absence left a gaping silence that Adrian and I both felt deeply.

I was about to reach out to twist the doorknob when it got pushed open. I stepped aside, my hand on my waist as I waited to see who was coming inside.

It turned out to be Adrian. He strolled into the bedroom, his eyes lighting up as he saw that I was awake. He was with a platter of food, and he set it down on the nightstand with a huff.

“Good morning, Gorgeous.” Adrian uttered with a grin as he came to meet me.

“Good morning, Honey.” I responded as I met him halfway. I instinctively stretched out my hands, and he engulfed me in a hug, his hands resting on my hips.

“How are my babies doing?” He asked, his voice low as he dropped a kiss on my forehead.

“We are doing fine, thankfully. But my waist is hurting so bad.” I responded with a groan, and Adrian kissed my forehead once again.

“I’m sorry about that, Baby. It’ll all be over soon.” Adrian murmured as I rested my head against his chest, the steady beating of his heart like music to my ears. “What can I do to ease the pain? Should I give you a massage? Hmm?”

“Yeah, a massage sounds nice. But right now, I’m hungry.” I said as I looked up at him. “What did you make for breakfast?”

Adrian grinned, his brown eyes twinkling with pride. “Only the best for my queen.” He gently took my hand and led me back to the bed. “Sit down and get comfortable. Let me spoil you today.”

I eased myself back onto the bed with his help, propping a pillow behind me as he carefully set the platter on my lap. My mouth watered as I took in the spread before me.

“First, we’ve got a protein-packed omelet—your favorite—with spinach, tomatoes, and a little cheese.” He pointed at the golden perfection, still steaming slightly. “Then there’s some whole-grain toast, lightly buttered, with a side of avocado. And I didn’t forget the fruit salad—mangoes, berries, and oranges. Gotta keep my girls healthy.”

I glanced at the colorful bowl, smiling as I picked out a juicy strawberry to taste.

“Oh, and this!” He held up a glass of deep green smoothie. “Banana, almond milk, spinach, and a little peanut butter. Energy and nutrients in one.”

“Adrian,” I murmured, touched by the effort he’d put in. “This looks amazing. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Bree.” He sat on the edge of the bed, watching me take my first bite. “How’s the omelet?”

I closed my eyes, savoring the warm, fluffy texture and the burst of flavors. “It’s perfect.”

He leaned closer, resting his hand gently on my belly. “Good. You need to keep your strength up. Our little one’s already got a big appetite, I bet.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “At this rate, I’ll have to wear your clothes instead of just your flip-flops.”

Adrian smirked, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “You’d look amazing in anything, Bree. But for now, just eat and let me take care of everything else. After breakfast, that massage is still on the table.”

I took another bite, my heart full, knowing that no matter how tough the days ahead might be, Adrian would always be by my side, doing everything he could to make me feel loved and cared for.

“I can’t finish this alone. Join me.” I said to Adrian as I gestured for him to sit beside me on the bed.

“Are you sure? I want you to eat to your fill. I can always eat later.” Adrian responded, and I shook my head.

“I’m sure. Just sit and eat with me.” I spoke, and he sat beside me. I placed the platter in the space between us before telling him to eat. He dug in, and over the next few minutes, we had our breakfast in silence.

“My goodness, that meal was delicious.” I exhaled after taking the last sip of the smoothie, a low burp escaping my mouth.

“I know, right? I’ve gotten so good at this cooking thing. I should probably start working as a chef at one of the restaurants.” Adrian joked, and I chuckled.

“You should consider it. You’ll totally kill it.” I replied, and he laughed.

“My heart is in the office, though, so it’s really not an option.” Adrian said with a chuckle.

“I’ll take the dishes to the kitchen. What are you doing next?” He asked as he got up.

“I’ll freshen up and get dressed. You know Mom and Nathan are coming over, and they’ll be here anytime soon.” I answered. “What are your plans for today? Are you going to the office?”

“Nope. I’ll be at home today. I took care of everything that needed to be taken care of at the office, and I’m free for the rest of the week.” Adrian said as he headed to the door.

“Oh, that’s awesome! Does that mean you’ll work on the baby’s nursery while I go shopping for baby things with Mom? You can work with Nathan while we go out, so you won’t be bored.” I suggested, and he bobbed his head.

“Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. It’ll be nice to have them around.” Adrian responded.

“Alright then. I’ll go take a shower.” I said as I slowly stood up and headed to the bathroom.

Simple things like getting up from bed and walking had become more challenging as I neared my due date, and honestly, I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I loved being a mother, and the idea of having a life growing inside of me was nice, but I was exhausted and ready for it to be over. I had thought that pregnancy would become easier since I had carried twins before, but it wasn’t easier at all. If anything, the only thing I gained from my last pregnancy was experience.

As I stepped into the bathroom, I paused, leaning against the doorframe for a moment. The quiet stillness of the house settled over me, and I couldn’t help but feel its weight. Normally, this time of day would be anything but serene. Evan’s boisterous laughter would echo down the hall, and Evelyn’s high-pitched giggles would follow as they argued over who got the last piece of pancake or whose turn it was to pick the cartoon channel.

I missed their noise, their endless energy, and their constant chatter about everything from superheroes to dinosaurs. Adrian and I had agreed to let them spend the week with his parents, knowing it would give us a chance to rest and prepare for the baby. But their absence left a silence that felt too loud.

“You’re thinking about the twins, aren’t you?” Adrian’s voice startled me, and I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, a knowing smile on his face.

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I can’t help it. The house feels so empty without them.”

Adrian crossed the room to me, wrapping his arms around my waist gently. “I miss them too. It’s too quiet around here without their chaos.”

“It’s like... I want the peace, but I also want them here, making a mess and arguing about the silliest things,” I confessed, resting my head against his chest.

“They’ll be back soon enough,” Adrian reassured me, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. “And when they do, we’ll be wishing for this peace and quiet all over again.”

I chuckled softly, imagining their little faces lighting up when they ran into the house with stories about their grandparents’ place.

“Come on,” Adrian said, pulling back slightly. “Go freshen up. You’ve got a big day ahead with Mom and shopping for baby stuff. And don’t worry—we’ll call the twins later and check in on them.”

I nodded, feeling a flutter of excitement mixed with the lingering exhaustion that pregnancy brought. A day with Mom meant shopping, and shopping meant getting closer to preparing for the little one’s arrival.

“I’ll be quick,” I promised as I smiled at Adrian, who gave me a playful wink before heading toward the kitchen.

The sound of his footsteps faded as I stepped into the bathroom, allowing myself a few moments to take in the quiet. I quickly freshened up, brushing my teeth and splashing cold water on my face to wake myself up fully. When I emerged, I heard Adrian’s voice coming from downstairs, speaking to Nathan, who had apparently just arrived.

“Are you ready to meet the new kid, huh?” Adrian’s voice had a teasing edge as I made my way down the stairs, hearing Nathan’s hearty laugh in response.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped into the living room, where my mom and Nathan were already chatting.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite daughter,” Mom beamed, standing up as I entered. She was the picture of grace, her blonde hair bouncing lightly as she moved, her wide smile matching her personality. “You look radiant this morning, Brianna.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I smiled back, my hand instinctively moving to my belly. “Just trying to survive this last stretch.”

“Oh, I know the feeling!” Mom laughed softly, moving forward to give me a hug. “But let’s not talk about aches and pains today. We’ve got baby shopping to do! Nathan’s got his own set of aches with all the work he’s been doing, huh?”

Nathan chuckled, nodding. “You could say that. But I’d trade any pain for the joy of watching you chase after grandkids.”

“Watch it, big guy,” I teased, crossing my arms with a grin. “I’m not in the mood for your jokes today.”

“Well, I’m sure Adrian’s keeping you busy enough, huh?” Nathan winked, and we all shared a laugh.

Adrian appeared in the doorway at that moment, raising an eyebrow. “What’s all this? Talking behind my back?”

“Of course not,” Mom responded sweetly. “We were just talking about how you’re going to keep us entertained today.”

“Entertained?” Adrian gave a dramatic sigh. “I’m just going to help Nathan with whatever he needs and then get out of your way. I’m just the muscle.”

“You’re always welcome, my dear,” Mom said with a wink, before turning to me. “Alright, let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

I nodded, walking toward the door with my mom, feeling an unexpected tension in my stomach.

As we stepped outside, a sharp discomfort hit my lower back. My breath caught for a moment as I tried to keep my composure. It wasn’t anything alarming, but it was enough to make me pause.

“Bree?” Adrian’s voice called from behind, his concern clear as he caught up with me. “Are you okay?”

I put on a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, just a little cramp. It’ll pass.”

But as we continued down the path to the car, the sensation came again—stronger this time. My hand instinctively went to my belly, a flutter of unease creeping in.

“Mom, I think something’s starting to happen,” I whispered, trying to keep calm as another wave of discomfort rolled through me.

Mom’s face shifted, her gaze immediately serious. “What do you mean, honey?”

“I—I’m not sure,” I stammered, but the sudden tightness in my stomach made it harder to think clearly. “It feels like—like labor pains, but I thought I still had more time.”

Adrian’s eyes widened, and he stepped forward, his voice low and calm. “Bree, let’s get you inside. We’ll call the doctor.”

But just as I tried to take another step, a sharp pain cut through me, leaving me frozen in place, unable to move.

Mom’s hand flew to my arm, her voice thick with worry. “Brianna, this is it, isn’t it? You’re going into labor.”

I nodded, panic starting to rise in my chest. This wasn’t how I imagined it would start. Not today.

Before I could say anything more, Adrian was already pulling out his phone, ready to make the call. It was happening. I was going to have my baby.