Page 145 of Beautiful Thing

I laugh. “Happy birthday, Lover Man,” I say for the hundredth time today. I wrap my arm around his waist, staring at him adoringly as we go.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he rumbles, happiness making his dark eyes shine as he opens the front passenger door for me.

I shrug a shoulder. “I have this niggling feeling that life is about to get pretty freaking awesome from here on out.”

He smiles at me. “I’ll make sure of it, Belle. Our happy-ever-after’s gonna be a beautiful thing.”

EPILOGUE

LAYLA

Eight years later…

Iwaddle into the living room once I’m sure the kids are in bed. I find Archer crouched quietly in the corner of the room, pink balloons and streamers looming over his head.

“How’s it going out here?” I whisper, ambling up beside him.

He looks at me over his back, the biggest smile lighting up his face in the dark. “I think everything is ready,” he whispers back. His eyes move to the wooden rocking horse with the big pink bow around its neck. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

I set my hands on his big, tense shoulders, squeezing and massaging. “I think she’llloveit.”

He takes my hands, kissing my knuckles as he rises to his feet. “Can’t lie. That kid makes me nervous.” He chuckles. “You know Little Miss is a bossy queen with a taste for the finer things in life.”

“Your fault for spoiling her rotten,” I scold him. Then I grin. “In any case, I’m confident that this rocking horse will meet all her expectations.”

It’s painted a glossy shade of pink with stars on its saddle and a crown on its head. I don’t think we could go wrong with that. And the fact that her dad and big brother poured so much effort into building it will only make her love it more.

Archer and Sky adore that sassy, little girl. I can’t tell which of them spoils her more. When it comes to Luna, Archer’s protectiveness has definitely rubbed off onto Sky. Our boy won’t even let a mosquito fly near his sister. I pity the fools who will try to date Luna Brighton in the future.

But what touches my heart the most is how Sky models everything Archer does. I know he’ll grow up to be such an amazing man. Because Archer takes his role as a father so seriously.

My husband is kind, patient and understanding. He spends so much time with our kids, he corrects them in the most loving ways when they go off track and he never leaves any doubt in their minds as to how much he loves them.

But maybe the best thing about raising children with Archer Brighton is getting to show them how we are crazy about each other. Sky is getting to the age where he gets annoyed with how sappy his parents are with each other. He gets embarrassed whenever we show up, hand in hand, to get him from school. But deep down, I know it makes him feel secure, knowing that his family is rock solid.

Every day, it’s so apparent that finally letting Archer love us is the best thing I could have ever done for Sky and me. Life before Archer is a distant memory, although every now and then, I get flashbacks to the constant anxiety and instability I used to experience every day.

But whenever those ghosts pop their heads out of the grave, I crawl into my husband’s arms and he instantly brings me back to a place of peace and serenity. Nowadays, everything is solid and stable and secure in my life.

That’s why I’m so excited to be expanding our family even more in this little house with Archer.

Well, the house won’t besolittle in the near future. We’ve got some guys from Hartley-Montgomery-Jones Construction coming by next week to explore how we can make the place bigger. Archer is considering tearing down the library and extending the house so we can add another two or three rooms.

I don’t know—I’m hoping we can find an alternative that doesn’t include saying goodbye to the library. We have so many great memories in there.

But if that’s what we have to do for our growing family, so be it.

Staring lovingly at me, Archer’s hands drop to the sides of my bulging tummy. “How are you feeling tonight, Belle?”

I’m only halfway through, yet I can already say that this has by far been my most challenging pregnancy. But for a very obvious reason.

“A little uncomfortable,” I confess, feeling bad for complaining. I know how lucky I am to have this life. “But I guess that’s to be expected. After all, there arethreelittle humans tussling for space in there.”

Archer grins, leaning in to kiss my face all over, all over. “My poor Belle. Do you forgive me for putting three babies inside you at once?”

I laugh. “I think I’m still in shock that we’re having triplets.”

Archer shrugs a corded shoulder. “What can I say? I’m a Brighton. Of course I have super sperm.”

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