Epilogue

Ayelet

Three babies were the most wonderful thing in the world but also the most exhausting. My paternity leave was three months, and at the end of that time, all I could think of was that when I got to my desk, I could put my head down on it and take a short nap. I imagined how great it was going to feel all the way to the office, then when I got there, all I wanted was to get home and be with my family.

For a guy who’d been all about work for so long, what a change. My job was still great, my coworkers so glad to greet me. The woman who’d filled in as supervisor had added my department to the responsibilities she already had for hers without a complaint. At least, none I’d heard of. It was time for me to pick up my work again, but it was going to be awfully hard not to keep thinking of them all day. I didn’t want to anyway, but if I didn’t, I’d do a terrible job and get fired and be a bad influence on our children.

Perhaps in the future, I would be able to go fully remote or maybe I’d change jobs, but today, I would have to survive a few miles away from home where Magnus and Harbor cared for our triplets. I felt a little pouty about it then laughed at myself.

Lots of fathers went out to work, and some were even great dads when they got home. I promised myself right then I would be that. A great dad when I got home. For now…a better than average employee.

I could always stop on the way home and bring my mates a treat, buy a toy for the baby… I could make the best of having to go out of the house.

We were still in the penthouse, which had, as it turned out, been available for purchase. We all loved it. The time would come when our children would need a big yard to play in, but for now, the penthouse was the perfect nest for our family to grow in.

For now, it was home. But so would anything be as long as the six of us were together. As I was thinking about this, my phone chimed a notification for a text.

I picked it up and swiped. A picture of all three of the kids came through, at a rare moment when all three were laughing and kicking and being utterly adorable.

Thought you might be missing us a little. XOXO Your Family.

My family…and didn’t that make a man’s heart swell.

Love you all. I hit send and turned my attention to my work. I had a lot to catch up on before I could go home. But I left the picture of the triplets open on my phone.

For inspiration.