Page 86 of The Sweetest Chirp

“And I’m yours.”

“All mine,” she agrees, just as someone shouts that we’re ready to board. She sighs deeply, and I give her a sad smile. “I gotta go.”

“I heard.”

“Did you approve the plans for the house?”

She nods. “I did. Construction will start in the new year.”

I think that over as I start for the gate. “So, we’ll have to keep quiet as I fill you with babies.”

She sighs dramatically before she teases, “Won’t be too hard.”

“It’ll be hard, trust me,” I say, waggling my brows at her and getting a few sideways looks, not that I care. “I love you,dushen’ka.”

Her lips curve up, her eyes brightening just for me. “I love you,moy.”

God, I love when she calls me that. She blows me a kiss, then I send her one for herself and one for Arwen before we say goodbye. I board the plane, and when I go to turn off my phone for the flight, I notice a text from Anya.

I take in the photo she sent. It’s of Audrina, in my away IceCats jersey, with Arwen asleep in her lap, also in my jersey. Her legs hang limp, as do her arms, but Audrina is holding her tight to her chest. Audrina is grinning widely at her phone, and you can see me on the screen. Did Anya take this when we were just talking? Shit, did she hear what we said?

I notice the photo was taken from the kitchen, so maybe not. But when I read her next text, my heart jumps into my throat and I couldn’t care less if she heard us or not.

Anya: Thank you for loving my girl. I have never in my life seen her this happy, and I know you are to thank for that. I will always be indebted to you for not only bringing her back but also giving me my granddaughter. I love you, Thatcher. Thank you.

My heart swells a bit as I write back that I love her too. I don’t tell her she’s welcome or tell her she doesn’t have to thank me, but I do hold her words close to my heart. What she doesn’t realize is that I’m thankful for her, for adopting the baby who was in the bed beside mine in the nursery.

Because I’m pretty sure our parents always knew the girl next to me was my soul mate.

EPILOGUE

Life has been a whirlwind.

Instead of waiting until the new year, Dad paid to start construction early. I’m super excited about that because it’s getting harder and harder to keep it down when my man is home. He is as wild for me as I am for him. I can’t get enough ofhim, and I don’t think that will ever change. Things are just that good between us. I never thought I could love him even more than I did, but I do.

Oh Lord, do I.

Arwen has started speech therapy, and it’s so amazing to watch her grow daily. On Ingrid’s campus, they have a little day school for children who are deaf, and Arwen has been going twice a week when I’m teaching at the school for students who want to become physical therapists. I was going to go back to the IceCats, but after everything that happened, I thought it was too much for me to be involved not only in Thatcher’s home life but also in his work life. Not because I think he’d get jealous again; I know he would. He’s possessive as hell, but I’d rather keep things separate. Plus, hockey players can whine a lot.

Mine included.

On days when I have to work and he’s home, he comes with me for me to demonstrate on, and then he complains that I pulled too hard or twisted him in the wrong way. While he makes me laugh, along with all my students, I can’t help but call him a baby. I usually kick him out, and then he’ll go hang with Arwen and Ingrid at the day school. Ingrid volunteers on the days Arwen is there, because living together isn’t enough. Not that I’m complaining. I love how close Arwen and Ingrid are.

How close we all are.

I glance down at my phone, checking the time to see if I have a minute for a quick cup of herbal tea. My lock screen is a photo of me holding Arwen up while she kisses her daddy through the glass. Her hair is in pigtails with huge red bows, and she has her daddy’s number on her back. Not only does Thatcher look dream-worthy, but the smile on my face in the photo shows how happy I am. How completely in love I am with that man.

With our family.

Our growing family.

I feel a hand slide up under my jersey, cupping my belly as he presses his body into mine. He kisses my neck then the spot below my ear before he whispers, “How are you feeling?”

I lean into him, letting my eyes drift shut. “Nauseous.”

He lets out a little sound of distress before holding me closer. “How can I make it better?”

“Just like this,moy.”

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