Page 62 of Fate on the Ice

That’s when her eyes widen and her lips part. “News?” Grace asks, her mouth suddenly sounding very dry.

She looks down at her desk, then slowly lifts her eyes back up to meet my own. I hold my breath, waiting for her words. I am pretty sure I know why her doctor was looking for her. Last night, when I tasted her, I figured it out. I know that taste, that scent. But I want to hear it come from her lips.

“I’m pregnant, Otto,” she murmurs.

I want to shout from the rooftops. I want to scream with excitement. Another baby with the woman I love? I can’t fucking control myself. But she lets out a heavy sigh, and that catches my attention.

She isn’t finished.

“Grace?” I ask.

Her eyes are focused on mine. They don’t move as she speaks her next couple of words, and for some reason, I feel faint, almost weak in the knees. What the fuck did she just say?

“Can you repeat that?” I ask.

“I’m pregnant with twins, Otto.”

“Twins?” I rasp.

She lets out a dry laugh, then pushes up on her desk and stands. I watch as she moves around her desk and makes her way toward me. She lifts her hands and places her palms in the center of my chest while I attempt to catch my breath. I feel like I might actually pass out.

“Twins,” Grace whispers.

“How?” I ask.

She laughs softly, shaking her head, a smile playing on her lips. “Double the love, Otto. It will be double the love.”

Dipping my chin, I curl my fingers around the side of her throat as my lips touch hers in a kiss. “Double the love,” I say, repeating her words.

Fuck.

I’m the luckiest man in the whole world.

I dared to dream of having a big, healthy family. And my dreams have come true. From a family of just the two of us to three, to four, and now six. I can’t believe this is my life. My real fucking life—it’s as perfect as Grace is.

I could not have dreamed of a better life than this, not in my wildest fantasies… and yet, it’s my reality.

Just the Six of us—and Love

OTTO

ONE YEAR LATER

Walking into the house, I stand in the kitchen and listen. It’s quiet, which is odd for our house, full of four children. The twins are only three months old, Camille is eighteen months, and Henry is three years old—so, four under four.

It’s been quite an exhausting journey—but also the most amazing one of my life.

Checking all the doors and ensuring that my family is locked in safely, I make my way upstairs. I stop at Henry’s room first, slowly opening the door to peek my head inside. He’s asleep, his arms and legs spread in a starfish position.

Moving toward Camille’s room, I do the same and quietly open the door to find her lying on the bed, her knees beneath her pulled up and her baby booty in the air as she sleeps on her chest with her cheek pressed against the mattress.

With a silent chuckle, I close her door and move toward the babies' room. They are sharing a room, their cribs on either side of the space. I walk over to one, looking at her with her fists by her head, her eyes closed and her lips pursed together as she sleeps.

I move toward the other baby. She’s swaddled tightly in a blanket, her eyes closed as well, and she looks cozy and warm. I can’t believe how they can look exactly alike, and yet their personalities are completely opposite.

One is reserved, while the other is wild and free. I love it. I can’t wait to see them grow into their little personalities.

Satisfied with their levels of happiness, considering both are asleep and neither has even twitched at my presence, I leave the babies and head straight for my wife. It’s late, and I don’t expect Grace to be awake.

---