Chapter 12

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Stanley

This is the life. Our bellies are full, having just finished dinner. My wife is curled up in my arms on the couch as we watch our sons play on the living room floor. Just as we knew he would be, Royce is a great big brother. Owen tries to mimic everything his big brother does. At three and one, they're a handful, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

"Royce, be careful," Lena warns.

"I's am, Mommy," our oldest son replies sweetly.

"Uh-huh." She chuckles. He's being a little rough with Owen as they play with their trucks on the living room floor. Namely, crashing his into Owen's foot. Owen doesn't seem to care, but it's better to get a handle on it now before Royce decides he needs to crash harder. He loves his little brother, but he's also ornery.

"How's that project you were working on at the office?" I ask Lena.

"It's going. Just lots of red tape."

She used to love her job, and I think she still does, but I know her heart's here at home with the boys. I've mentioned a few times since Owen was born that I think she should stay home with the boys full time. Riggins Enterprises is soaring. We can afford for her to stay home and raise our boys. That's what she really wants. I just need her to understand it's okay. I want her to be happy, and being with the boys does that.

"You know, if you were to stay home with the boys, that red tape would disappear. Instead, you'd get red crayons," I tease.

She laughs, just as I hoped she would. "You work so hard. I need to contribute to our household too."

What? I do a double take. "Wait a minute. Hold up." I sit up and turn sideways so that I can see her face. She does the same so that we're eye to eye. "You contribute to this household every damn day, Lena Riggins. You are the glue that holds us together. That has nothing to do with your day job. It has everything to do with the mother and the wife who keeps her family running like a well-oiled machine while working a full-time job."

"I… would just feel guilty. I wouldn't be using my degree, and you'd have to support us."

"No." I'm shaking my head as I speak because I need her to understand. "No. No. No. Baby, listen to me." I take her hands in mine, bringing them to my lips for a kiss as I collect my thoughts. "This business, it's both of us. I might be the one who goes to the office at Riggins Enterprises every day, but, baby, it wouldn't be this successful without you. You helped me get it off the ground and running. You're there to bounce ideas off, and even if your support is more silent since the boys came along and we've expanded, I know it's there. I can feel it with me every single day.

"Why don't you take over at Riggins, and I'll stay home with the boys?" I offer. I'd do it in a heartbeat, but I know my wife. That's not what she wants.

"What? No. I want to stay home with them."

I smile, and she rolls her eyes. "Was that so hard?"

"I just feel guilty."

"Guilty? For raising our sons? For nurturing them? That's what you've always wanted, Lena. To be a mom, to have a family of your own. We're lucky that we can afford for you to raise our boys. I'm not pressuring you, but, baby, I know you. I know this is what you want."

"I really do."

"Especially with this one on the way." I reach out and place my hand over her belly.

"What are you talking about?"

"We're pregnant," I tell her.

"Did you fall and hit your head today at the office?" she asks.

I wink at her. "Nope."

"We're not pregnant."

"Want to make a wager?"

"Yep. What are the terms, Riggins?"

"You do what you want without guilt. Stay home with them or don't, but really look inside your heart and do what will make you the happiest."

"I already told you what I want to do."

I shrug. "Then we both win. Three babies, you'll have your hands full. I promise I'll do everything I can to help and be here for all four of you."

"Stop." She laughs.

"Prove me wrong."

"Fine. I will. I'll grab a test tomorrow on my way home from work."

"I have one. Or five." I shrug.

"Really?"

I nod. "I can just tell."

"How?"

"These." I reach over and tweak her nipple lightly.

"Stanley! The boys."

I glance down, and the boys are still playing and ignoring us. "You asked," I tell my wife.

"You can tell from my boobs?" she whispers.

"Baby, I know your body better than I know my own. So, yeah, I noticed. I knew you hadn't. You're so busy at work and taking care of us that you've missed the signs."

"Another baby?" Her eyes well with tears.

"The tests are in the bathroom under the sink."

"That's why you rushed straight upstairs to shower when you got home from work?"

"That, and tonight, you get to relax. Go take that test while I give the boys their baths. Soak in the tub, and I'll be in when the boys are in bed."

"Don't you want the results?"

"I already know, Lena. We're having another baby." I kiss her quickly and stand. "All right, boys, time for a bath." I pick Owen up and offer Royce my hand. I should make them clean up their toys, but it's getting late, and my wife and I need to celebrate baby number three as soon as they're asleep.

"Stanley?"

I stop and turn to look at her. She scrambles to her knees to stare at me over the back of the couch. Tears swim in her eyes. "You've made all my dreams come true. I love you. I love our life. I'm so glad it was you. That day, I'm glad it was you."

I can't help it. I need to kiss her. I walk the boys back to her. "Kiss Mommy goodnight." They do as they're told, and then it's my turn. "You're my magic, Lena Riggins." I kiss her softly. Forcing myself to stop, I take my boys upstairs to get them ready for bed.

"Let me tell you a story," I whisper to my newborn son. Lena is sleeping after fourteen long hours of labor. This time, she was induced. She was ten days past her due date, and the doctors decided this was the best course of action.

My wife is a fucking rock star. "Your mommy worked so hard to bring you here safe and sound," I tell our son. That's right, three boys. He's sleeping and doesn't have a care in the world, which is how it should be.

I lift my son to place a kiss on his cheek. Damn, three boys. I know I'm smiling, and I can't help it. Married six years, three sons, a thriving business, and a beautiful home. A home we've quickly outgrown. We moved Owen into Royce's room to leave the nursery open for the new baby. Lena and I have been talking about moving to another house, a bigger one.

As our business grows and the media gets wind of a husband-and-wife duo who built an empire with one small box truck, well, it tends to bring the vultures out. We'd like a place with more land for the boys to run and play. That's our next adventure as soon as Lena is feeling up to it.

"I love watching you with our boys."

I glance up to see a sleepy, exhausted smile on my wife's face. "Three boys."

Her smile widens. "Three handsome boys just like their daddy."

"We'll keep trying for a girl," I promise her.

"We can keep trying, but I don't care if we have girls or boys. Happy, healthy babies. That's all I want."

"We have three. Does our family feel complete to you?" I ask her.

"I think we have at least one more in us." She laughs.

Warmth fills my chest. "You're not going to hear me complain." I love making babies with her. I love seeing the result of our love grow and thrive in our boys.

"Is there a name from our list you like more than others?" she asks.

"Yeah, actually, I like Grant. Grant Riggins." I stand and walk toward the bed, lowering our son into her arms.

"Grant Riggins. Royce, Owen, and Grant Riggins. Yeah, I like it."

"Me too. It's a strong name to match his older brothers'."

"Speaking of, we need to introduce them." She offers me an exhausted smile.

"Your mom has Owen, and my parents have Royce. They're here with them. Let me go get the boys first so they can meet their little brother."

"We'll be here," she says, smiling down at Grant.

I rush out to the waiting room, say hello to our parents, thank them for keeping the boys, and tell them I'll be back to get them soon. With Owen on my hip at two and Royce, who's four, holding my hand, we make our way back to the room.

"Are you ready to meet your little brother?" I ask the boys.

"I'll teach him all the things, Daddy," Royce tells me.

"I teach too," Owen adds.

"I know you will. Now, remember, he's tiny, and Mommy is real tired, so we need to be easy with both of them, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," they both reply.

Slowly, I push open the door.

"There's my boys." Lena smiles and pats the bed next to her. Royce looks up to me for permission.

"Easy," I remind him. He nods and rushes to climb on the bed. I move to the other side and place Owen there while I watch over the four pieces of my heart in the hospital bed.

I lean over, kissing Owen's head, then Royce and Grant. Lena smiles and turns her cheek to me as she giggles. I kiss her the same as I did my sons. Kiss by kiss, I show them they are the best parts of me.

We're now a family of five.