33. Epilogue - Emily

33

EPILOGUE - EMILY

I held Hunter to my breast as he eagerly suckled, nursing for the fourth time today already. Daniel sat on the sofa and held Willow, talking softly to her. Less than twenty-four hours old, both babies were healthy and happy, despite being born at thirty-five weeks. I was exhausted, head bobbing as we waited on our parents to arrive. The nurses tried to let me sleep last night, but with two babies and my decision to exclusively nurse, I hadn’t slept a wink. It would be challenging, but I knew it was the best choice I could make for my children.

“You look so sleepy, Momma,” Dan said, keeping his voice low.

“I am. Last night was rough. Imagine when we don’t have a full staff of nurses to help with crying babies in the middle of the night.” I chuckled, but he thought I was serious.

“You name it, it’s yours. If you want me to hire a few nurses or aides to move in and help with the difficult parts of motherhood, I will. Just say the word.” He stood and walked toward me. The double bed was such a blessing, not having to be separated from Dan for even a night. It was a new feature the hospital had brought in for all new parents. I patted the bed, and he sat on the edge, swaying back and forth with Willow nestled in his big arms.

“We’ll see. I want to try to do this on my own. You know?” Hunter whimpered, pushing my nipple out of his mouth, and I got the hint. He was satisfied. I pulled the nursing bra back into place and laid him across my lap as I fixed the hospital gown.

“I love that you are so independent, but please be sure to ask for help and not get overwhelmed. You aren’t superwoman,” he said, watching me fix myself.

“Oh, yes, she is!” I looked up to see my mother standing in the doorway, Dad behind her holding a slew of balloons and flowers. She had a proud smile on her face as she walked right in, not even shy that I was only half dressed.

“Hey, Mom,” I said, pulling the covers up, “come meet your grandbabies.”

I didn’t have to tell her twice. She hovered over the bed, giddy, staring down at Hunter. He fussed and squirmed. and I picked him up. “He’s so tiny,” she cooed, setting her purse on the floor. “Can I hold him?”

“Of course.” I handed him over. “Nana and Pop-pop, meet Hunter Daniel Jacobs.”

She scooped him up, putting him to her shoulder immediately, and patted his back. I saw tears fill her eyes as she shuffled to the rocking chair in the corner of the room and sat down.

“He’s absolutely perfect.” Mom rocked, and Dad set the balloons and flowers on the counter across the room before coming to kiss my forehead.

“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” he said, then walked over to lean over Mom’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Dad.” I pushed myself up on the bed and got more comfortable and noticed another smiling face in the doorway. I nudged Dan, and he turned and looked at his parents as they walked in. I’d gotten to know his mother a bit better as she helped my mom put the baby shower plans in order. I really liked her a lot, despite her pretentious tendencies.

“Mom, Dad, come on in.” He stood and turned, bouncing Willow in his arms.

“And who are these precious angels?” his mom asked, stretching out her arms to reach for Willow.

“This is Willow Grace Jacobs, and over here we have Hunter Daniel.” He was such a proud father, announcing their names. “Hunter was born seven minutes before Willow, so he’s a big brother. But Willow weighed in at five pounds seven ounces, and Hunter is a bit smaller. He was four pounds ten ounces at birth, and he lost an ounce already.”

Mom looked up at him and shook her head. “Is that normal?” she asked, clicking her tongue. “You’re not having issues nursing, are you, Emily?” She looked at me with concern, and I waved off her worry.

“Doctor said it’s totally normal for babies to lose an ounce or two when they have their first bowel movement.” I gestured at Willow. “Dan, let your mom hold her.” I wiggled my fingers, and he handed Willow over to his mom then sat back down next to me.

“She’s just a doll, Daniel. She looks just like Emily.” His mom sat in the armchair next to the rocker where my mom sat, and they chatted quietly about how much the twins looked like me, and Dan stood to the side, talking to his dad.

I felt sadness rising up. I hadn’t talked to Evelyn in months. After the dinner where Dan proposed to me, she had called me only twice to discuss how I was handling being pregnant, but those calls were short, the conversation stunted. She was still upset that I’d chosen to move forward with a relationship with Dan even after everything she’d tried to do to break us up.

I picked at a stray thread on the hospital blanket and tried not to let my feelings show, but Dad sat on the edge of my bed and took my hand and held it. “What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, squeezing my fingers.

"Oh, I wish Eve were here. I sort of hoped that she’d stop in. We haven’t really spoken, and I just miss her. I want to put all this behind us because with you and Mom living so far away from me, I’m going to need someone around to help me and give me advice.”

“Well, your mom is only a phone call away. You know? And Evelyn will come around. You’ll see.” He patted my leg and sighed.

“Oh, dear, I told Evelyn you had the babies last night. She told me she’d think about coming to visit.” Mom’s tone was bright, as if Evelyn and I hadn’t had a falling out. Daniel gave me a reassuring look, but he knew how much my heart hurt over this. When Evelyn stopped talking to me, a huge part of my life felt empty. Even Charlotte had been shocked at how she’d just vanished.

I tried to make the most out of the visit, though, before our parents left, I had nodded off twice. Daniel got the twins laid in their bassinet and let me rest for a while. I had a fitful nap, not resting well at all, and when I woke I was shocked to see Evelyn seated in a rocking chair holding Willow. Daniel sat next to her, talking softly.

“Eve?” I asked, rubbing my eyes. I couldn’t believe she had actually come to visit. She smiled at me and rose, coming to stand next to the bed as I forced myself to a sitting position. My boobs hurt so bad, full of milk and ready to nurse if the babies would wake up.

“Em, they are absolutely perfect. God, I’m so in love already.” She nudged my knees over and sat next to me, facing me. “I’m so sorry I’ve been so noncommunicative.”

I rubbed my eyes again and yawned. “It’s okay. I think we both just needed some time to process…” I glanced at Daniel, who looked calm, given the situation. I expected him to have some sort of residual anger left from what Evelyn tried to do to us, but he looked happy enough to have her here visiting.

“Look, I need to say I’m sorry to both of you.” She looked at Dan, then back at me. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved. I just didn’t want you to make the same mistake I did.” Her eyes looked sad. I noticed the puffiness and wondered if she’d been crying.

“What do you mean?” I asked her, worried.

“I mean, I’m not happy in my marriage. I haven’t been since the beginning. He’s so demanding when he’s around—if I can get any time with him at all. I just hated the thought of your being locked into a loveless relationship. I was really worried that Daniel was just using you, and I couldn’t stand that thought.”

“Eve, I never knew you were struggling. I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize that.” I reached out and rested my hand on her knee, and she patted Willow’s back. “It’s bad?”

“Yeah, honestly. I am going to file for divorce, but it means I’ll have to move home, and I’m not sure how that will work with custody and everything.”

I thought of Eve’s little girl and my heart broke. She’d need both parents around even if her father wasn’t a huge influence. It was one of the reasons I knew even if Dan and I hadn’t worked out, I’d have stayed in the city. Children need their parents.

“Well, then it’s perfect.” Daniel clapped his hands on his knees and stood, strolling over to the bed. He rested his hand on the side rail. I thought the remark was a bit callous until he continued. “Emily was just saying how there will be very challenging things about having two babies. Lack of sleep, a crazy feeding schedule.” He looked straight at Evelyn. “You are welcome to live with us as long as you need to get back on your feet. Emily needs her sister around, and you and your daughter will have a safe place to recover and grow.”

Evelyn’s eyes welled up. She glanced at me and then turned back to Daniel. “You’d do that after everything I put you through?”

He smiled and nodded. “You’re family. And believe me. My mother has put me through worse.” He chuckled. “You’re welcome any time.”

Evelyn cried, tears dripping onto Willow’s blanket. She apologized and handed her to me just as she was waking and rooting around for food. I put her to my breast, filled with such love and hope for my future. Daniel was right. Everything had worked out for the best even when I feared the worst. I was sad that Evelyn’s marriage was probably over, but I was thrilled that she was speaking to me again, and having her live with me was the best solution to both problems.

“I’m going to need help planning a wedding too, so my maid of honor living with me is an added bonus,” I said, winking. Evelyn nodded, smiling through her tears.

“I’m the maid of honor?” she asked, and I nodded.

As one marriage was ending, a new one would start, and this one would be a love for the ages. I looked up at Daniel, so in love, and he kissed my forehead. I couldn’t wait to be his wife and fill his house with children. And I couldn’t be happier that my family was finally whole.