I forget how to breathe.
“So what do you say?” His lips curve into the slightest smirk. “Annie Fox, will you marry me?”
I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head. “Are you serious right now?”
His smirksoftens into a smile. “Completely.”
Another contraction grips me, and I groan, squeezing his hand hard.
His face tightens, but he doesn’t let go.
When the pain subsides, I look at him again, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and so damn in love with this ridiculous man.
“Yes,” I whisper.
His brows lift slightly. “Yes?”
“Yes, Cole. I’ll marry you.”
His relief is immediate, and he leans down, pressing a kiss to my lips, lingering over the kiss.
“I was really hoping you’d say that,” he murmurs.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You love me.”
I roll my eyes, but my heart is full. “Yeah, I do. I love you.”
He kisses me again and slides the ring onto my finger.
For a few minutes at least because a nurse comes in and tut-tuts about it.
A few hours later, after screaming, swearing, and nearly crushing Cole’s hand, our babies are here.
Three perfect, tiny, wailing miracles.
Faith.
Hope.
Grace.
And just like that, our lives change forever.
Again.
Epilogue – One Year Later
Cole
The sun is high, heating up the backyard and reflecting off the rippling surface of the pool. The sound of laughter fills the air, the occasional splash breaking through as Robbie jumps into the water for what has to be the hundredth time today.
The triplets sit in the shade under the big striped umbrella, dressed in tiny swimsuits, completely oblivious to the fact that today is their birthday.
Faith gnaws on a teething toy, Hope babbles at a stuffed turtle, and Grace claps her hands together, grinning at nothing in particular.
Annie stands next to me at the barbeque as I try my hand at making the hamburgers for our family and friends, here to celebrate the triplets’ big day.