Page 51 of Daddy's Double Surprise

I shifted in my seat, resting my hand over my stomach as the conversation started to settle. The tension in the room had eased—at least a little—and now felt like the right time. I glanced at Carter, who gave me a small nod like he knew exactly what I was about to say.

“So,” I said casually, looking between my parents and Luna. “I had my first big ultrasound the other day.”

Mom’s eyes flicked up from her plate, her expression brightening. “Oh? How did it go?” Her warm smile was so welcoming. I’d missed that for so long. It felt like things were back to normal now.

“Good,” I said, suppressing a smile. “Really good. The doctor says everything is looking great. Heartbeats are strong, measurements are right on track.”

Luna sipped her drink, nodding along. “That’s good,” she said, clearly waiting for me to get to the point.

I smirked. “Bothheartbeats.”

There was a brief pause. The soda in Luna’s straw froze halfway to her mouth. Mom’s eyes narrowed slightly, like she was trying to process what I’d just said. She looked at me with confusion as my smile grew brighter.

Then Dad spoke. “Both?”

I nodded. “Yes. There are two.”

Luna nearly choked on her drink. “Wait.What?”

“Twins,” I said, this time letting the full smile break through. “I’m having twins.”

Mom blinked, then exhaled a small laugh. “Oh, Sunny.”

Dad set his fork down and just shook his head. “Well,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face, “that’s…something.” I was certain that wasn’t what he wanted to say because he looked like he was controlling himself. I guess Mom really had reined him in.

Luna, of course, was the loudest. “You’re telling me you went in expecting one and came out with two? That’s insane. That’s what you’ve been keeping from us?”

I chuckled. “It wasn’t exactly intentional.”

Carter just leaned back in his chair, amused. “Surprised us too.”

And just like that, the tension snapped. I was no longer the black sheep and Dad didn’t hate me anymore. He started asking questions about the babies and how we’d manage. Carter and Dad fell into relaxed best-friend type conversation while Mom and Luna daydreamed about each having an infant to be their favorite, and I felt the growing sense of warmth that Carter had been right all along.

A little time to process was all my parents needed, and they were already growing more comfortable with the idea of me and Carter, and I was glad. I planned to keep him around for a very long time.

EPILOGUE: CARTER

The photo album rested on my lap, the leather cover soft from years of handling. It was one of the few things I still kept out in the open, even after all this time. Some days, I could flip through it easily, smiling at the pictures, remembering the joy. Other days, like today, it hit a little differently.

Sunny sat beside me, her swollen belly pressing into my side, one hand absentmindedly rubbing at it as she turned the pages. She was quiet, absorbed in the pictures.

“She was so little,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the image of Hope in my lap, barely a few months, looking up at me like I’d hung the moon.

“She was,” I said, swallowing the familiar tightness in my throat. “Not even six months when…” I let the sentence trail off. It wasn’t something I needed to say out loud.

Sunny turned her head, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. “She looks just like you,” she said, her voice warm but careful.

I let out a quiet chuckle. “She had my smile. But she had her mom’s nose, and her stubborn streak.” I smirked. “I don’t care what anyone says, that was all Misty.”

Sunny laughed, leaning into me. “I don’t know, Carter. I think you’ve got a pretty stubborn streak yourself.”

“Maybe,” I admitted, resting my chin against the top of her head.

She flipped another page, this one showing Hope clutching a stuffed rabbit, her tiny fingers wrapped around its worn ears. I exhaled slowly. “I just hope I do better this time.”

Sunny squeezed my hand. “You will.”

I wanted to believe her. But fatherhood wasn’t just about love—it was about fear too.

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