Page 18 of Her Jealous Valentine

Eight Months Later

“Who’d have thought my big brother would get hitched?” Vance asks as he cracks open a can of beer. He does two more, offering one to me and the other to our youngest brother, Vaughn.

“I did,” Mother says, raising her empty glass to Vance, waving it through the air until the remnants of ice inside clink against the sides. Vance takes it and begins preparing another gin and tonic. “‘Mother knows best’ is a saying for a reason, isn’t it?”

“And here I thought it was a coincidence that I happened upon Olivia’s path that day.” I raise a brow as the pieces finally start falling into place.

This entire thing was by Mother’s design. I probably should’ve seen it sooner, considering how that morning started and where it ended. But blinded by the bombshell slowly making her way out of the living room, with her belly stretching the front of her baggy dress, I missed all the signs.

“Then I suppose I should thank you, shouldn’t I?” I turn to Mother while getting up from my chair.

“No need, my boy. I’m just happy to see you smiling,” she says.

I make my way over to my fiancé and wrap my arm around the small of her back. She giggles as I dip her low and kiss her as if no one’s watching.

“How are you feeling, my love?” I ask. She excused herself to go to the bathroom, and where I have no reason to believe it was for any serious reason, I can’t stop myself from worrying.

She’s the most important thing in my life right now, and how can I ignore the fact that she’s carrying precious cargo in that beautiful, round tummy of hers?

“Like a million bucks,” she answers as I slowly ease her back into an upright position. “Now, who’s ready to get this party started?”

“I love planning weddings,” Mother says, accepting her drink from Vance.

“I’ve never done it before.” Vaughn stares at all the paperwork scattered across the table. “So, you’ll have to point me in the right direction.”

“Vaughn, you haven’t done anything before.” I rib my youngest brother and pull Olivia’s chair out so that she can sit. “But pay attention because someday you’ll be able to use these lessons to your advantage.”

“He’s right, son,” Mother says, giving me a sly smile. “After all, I still have two wishes left with that genie.”

While confusion runs rampant across the table, I find myself smiling brighter than ever.

Here’s to the rest of our lives together, in harmony.

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

OLIVIA

One Year Later

With one child on my hip and another in the oven set for release in less than a month, I can’t say I’ve ever truly felt happier than right now. As I drift through the enormous house Victor bought, believing that his four-bedroom apartment was far too tiny to fit the family he plans on building, there isn’t anything else I could ever really ask for.

“There they are,” my husband says as I step into the kitchen, where he’s in the process of preparing our supper. Both an attentive husband and a brilliant father, Victor has done everything in his power to make this process of child-raising and rearing as easy on me as he can.

Today is no exception as he prepares a meal of steak, pickles, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw. It isn’t the strangest request I’ve made from my pregnancy cravings, but no matter the order, Victor’s always here to fulfill it.

“How are my two favorite ladies doing?” he asks, cleaning his hands on a cloth hanging off his shoulder.

“My feet are killing me, and this little lady refuses to take a nap, but otherwise, no complaints.”

“Then how about once we’ve eaten, you take a long hot bath, and I take the little monster for a drive?” he says, making his way over to me.

“How do you do it?” I ask, pressing my forehead against his chest.

“How do I do what?” He slings an arm over my shoulder carefully to hug me without disturbing our daughter, Rebecca.

“Every time I think you’ve done all you can, you pull another trick out of your hat to make me fall deeper in love with you.”

“Hmm.” Victor turns his eyes to the ceiling as if getting lost deep in thought. “You’ve stumped me with that one.”

---