Page 94 of Secret Twins for My Ex's SEAL Best Friend

I glanced at Delia, and I could see that her eyes were blurred with tears. She was looking at Corinne with such ferocity, and with a tentative grin, she said, “You can call me whatever you want. It’s not up to me or your dad.”

Corinne, ever empathetic, saw the change in Delia’s demeanor and the tears in her eyes and put her tiny fingers on Delia’s cheeks. “Is it okay, though? If I call you Mom?”

Delia’s own eyes were misty as she cupped Corinne’s cheek. “Of course you can, Corinne. I’d be honored.”

Corinne threw her arms around Delia again, her little body shaking with happiness.

“This is the best day of mywhole life!” she declared. Then she pulled back and looked between us. “Wait. When’s the wedding? Can I help plan it? Can I be the flower girl?”

“Whoa, slow down,” I said with a laugh. “We haven’t figured all that out yet. But yes, you can help. And yes, you can be the flower girl.”

She grinned, clearly pleased. Then her face lit up with another idea. “And I can help pick the cake! And the dress! Oh, and we should have balloons! Lots of balloons!”

Delia laughed, brushing a strand of hair out of Corinne’s face. “I think you’re going to be the best wedding planner ever.”

Corinne nodded, satisfied. Then she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.

“I’m so happy, Dad,” she said, her voice muffled against my shirt. “I always wanted a mom. And now I get the best one.”

I held her close, my heart full to bursting. “I’m glad, sweetheart. I’m so glad.”

As Corinne pulled back to excitedly start planning the wedding out loud, I glanced at Delia. She was watching Corinne with a soft, teary smile, her hand resting on her belly. I reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

This was my family—messy, loud, and bursting with love. And I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.

forty-seven

Delia

The auditorium buzzed with the quiet hum of families, faculty, and fellow graduates. The echoes of clapping hands, muffled voices, and an occasional cheer floated through the large room. I stood in line backstage, my cap feeling heavy on my head and my gown far too stifling for the nerves thrumming in my chest.

I couldn’t believe I’d made it. After all the late nights, the lost hours, and the countless times I thought I’d have to give up, I was finally here. Graduating.On time.

The journey hadn’t been easy, far from it. Robert’s PTSD had gotten worse, then better, with some intensive therapy.

Jeremy had been convicted of assault as well as criminal sabotage. However, he only got a few months of community service and a fine in the low thousands, though he did, thankfully, have to give up his position. His license was also suspended, resulting in his moving back home to live with hisparents, last I’d heard from Linda. Everything had gotten worse before it had gotten better.

Between losing my hours, almost being derailed by Jeremy, and everything with Robert and the pregnancy, I felt like I’d fought for this moment like my life depended on it. Maybe, in a way, it did.

I looked down at my belly, my hand instinctively settling on the unmistakable curve of twins that had been gestating for eight months. They were huge, and I’d taken to talking to them in my quiet moments, whispering promises to them: that I’d make something of myself, that I’d give them a life worth living. And now, here I was, finally keeping that first promise.

“Delia Sturgess, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology.”

The applause was deafening to me, somehow louder than it had been for anyone else. I knew it was all in my head, but in that moment, I didn’t care.

When I reached the center of the stage, I shook the dean’s hand and turned to face the crowd.

My eyes instinctively sought out my family. My brother Tyler was the first face I saw, grinning like an idiot and whistling far too loudly. My mother sat next to him, clapping daintily, but I could see the pride in her eyes. For once, she wasn’t criticizing me or offering ‘advice’ I hadn’t asked for. She was just…happy.

Kassandra was next to her, a happy grin spread across her face, her silky brown hair in demure braids, wearing a white dress to be ‘on theme.’ I loved her for it. God knows I’d look ridiculous in white right now.

And then there were Robert and Corinne. He was standing, towering over the seated crowd, his hands clapping steadily, his gaze locked on me with a mixture of pride and something softer that was only for me.

Beside him, Corinne sat with a bouquet of flowers almost bigger than she was, her smile wide and bright as she waved at me.

I waved back, my movement so wide that my whole body moved back and forth. That was my family.

My family.How I loved the sound of that.

---