Secret Baby

Epilogue

Three Years Later

Working in the bank is the best job I could have asked for. Things have been going great in my life since I graduated college. James still trucks overnight, but he doesn’t leave until I get home from work in the afternoon for the most part. Kenzie is starting third grade in two weeks, and Eli is starting first grade. It’s so hard to believe that my babies are both old enough to be in elementary school.

I’m having lunch today with Sarah at our usual spot in town, which I look forward to every week now. She recently got married and had a baby boy, so she is on maternity leave from the bank at the moment. I arrive at the restaurant before her and sit in the outdoor seating while I wait.

I find myself gently stroking my stomach since I recently learned that I’m four weeks pregnant. James and I are so excited and currently debating if we want to know what the s*x is or want it to be a surprise. Since we have one of each already, and I saved everything with the plan to have at least one more kid, we don’t need to really know. Eli is getting so big, and his hair is darkening up, making him look more like Ryan. Kenzie still looks like my mini-me and has the attitude to boot.

“Hey, girl, I’m sorry I’m late,” Sarah said, sitting down in the chair opposite of me with a sigh. “I had to wait until Simon came home before I could leave, and then I needed to pump so that Tyler would have a couple of bottles to hold him over until I get back.”

“There is no need to apologize. I’ve been in your shoes more than once.” I chuckle. “In fact, I know it’s early, but I figured you’d want to know.”

“Shut up!” She shouted, looking at me in complete surprise.

“Four weeks. The doctor confirmed it yesterday.” I smiled.

“James must be over the moon.” Sarah cooed.

“We both are.” I smiled. “We’ve been trying for a few months now.”

“Finally, one you actually planned on having.” Sarah teased.

“I love my children no matter how much I planned to have them. They are perfect in every way, and they know how loved they are by both me and James.” I state. Honestly, I doubt my children will blame me for choosing James over Ryan when they are older, and I tell them the truth.

“You were definitely blessed with two beautiful children who are the best kids I’ve ever met.”

“You had a hand in raising them too.” I reminded her. “Tyler will be just as well behaved as my two. Kenzie gave you all your practice to be the best mom you could be.” I chuckled.

“Trial and error every step of the way with that little girl. Sometimes, I feel bad when Simon gets worked up over things when Tyler isn’t feeling himself. He’s currently sleep training, but Simon wants to cave after only five minutes. I keep telling him it's going to be best to sleep train Tyler now before I go back to work.” She replied.

“Man, I do not miss those days.” I sigh.

“Just think you're going to go through them all one more time.” Sarah teased.

“Ugh, remember the teething?”

“Screaming babies, fevers, and crazy diaper rashes. Who could forget those? I can already picture how freaked out Simon’s going to be when Tyler starts cutting his first tooth.”

“Come on, he’s new to all this. James was the same way with Eli’s teething. He was lost but listened to me as I walked him through it all.”

“Eli’s teething was nothing like Kenzie’s.” Sarah pointed out. “Eli very rarely spiked a fever. Kenzie had a fever for a damn week until the tooth broke through the gum.”

“Very true. I hope this one is easy like Eli was and still is.” I mused as I rubbed my stomach. The waiter brought out our meals as we reminisced.

“Don’t look now, but your worst nightmare just sat down behind you,” Sarah whispered.

“Which one?” I hiss with a smile.

“Sperm donor.” She states. I turned slightly in my chair to see Ryan sitting at a table behind me.

“Daddy!” A little girl who looks a lot like Eli came running over to him with her dark brown hair. He scooped her up into a hug and kissed her cheek.

“Hey, angel. How was your day?” He asked her.

“Good. Grammy took me to the beauty salon to get my hair done. Doesn’t it look so pretty?” The little girl asked, lightly patting her hair. I had to stifle a smile because Kenzie tends to do the same thing after my mom takes her to get her hair done.

“You look beautiful, baby.” He kissed her cheek lightly.

“Where’s mommy?” She asked him, looking around.

“Mommy is at the store. She’ll be meeting us in a few minutes.” He answered as his mother walked over.

“Did you see her hair?” Leslie cooed. “I love how full her hair is.”

“She looks like her mother more and more each day.” He muttered.

“Speaking which, where is Tessa” Leslie snapped.

“At the store, buying more things.” He mumbled. “Where else would she be, mother?”

“Hush, don’t talk about your wife in that tone.” She scolded him.

“She spends and spends. I haven’t gotten laid in six months, but she’s getting her rocks off.” He groaned. “How else should I speak of her?”

“You are ungrateful. Tessa is the perfect woman for you. Just look at how beautiful that little girl is.” Leslie hissed.

“I know another little girl that looks similar to Kira but is 3 years older.” He shot back. “I had to give all that up, though, didn’t I? I have a boy too.”

“They're not yours, and you know it. Look how easily she moved on.” Leslie reminded him. Clearly, they have no idea Sarah and I are like three tables away. “Your wife adores you; now stop acting like a spoiled child.”

“Tessa adores my trust fund. Always has, but as soon as she’s drained it dry, she’ll leave. I know this.” Ryan muttered back. “She may leave my kid with me, but I doubt it.”

“Poor you.” Leslie mocked. “When are you going to act like a man?”

“When you drop dead!” He snapped. “Then you won’t be controlling my life anymore. I live for that day, and yet I get the sense that you're going to outlive us all.” He growled.

“Watch yourself, Ryan. Your daughter is listening.” She hissed at him.

Sarah burst out laughing. “God, you can’t make this s**t up. I swear it’s like a real-life soap opera.”

“No kidding. Thank God I’m not living that life.”

“Girl, if you hung around for him, you’d have six kids by now still slinging drinks at the tavern.” Sarah pointed out.

“Eli was my wake-up call, that’s for sure,” I mumbled more to myself than to her. “Lunch and the show were fun, but now this girl needs to get back to work,” I reply, standing up from the table to give Sarah a hug.

“I love you, sis.” She said as she hugged me back. “Let’s set up a playdate this weekend. Kids and dads.” She chuckled.

“I’m not sure who would love that more, James or the kids.” I laughed. We paid our bill and left the restaurant. I headed back to work, thankful to have James in my life. Being with him was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I have never regretted it once.