Page 79 of 7+Us Makes Nine

I watched her jaw drop open as tears welled in her eyes.

“Do the kids know?” she asked.

“They haven’t even gotten up. I have no idea how I’m going to start that conversation with them, or even if I should. But my lawyer’s advice was to stay away from the television for a few days. To let the story die down. So I figured I could take you and the kids somewhere.”

“What do you mean?”

“A vacation. Some time for all of us before the quadruplets come along.”

“I’m seven months pregnant. I can’t do much, Jace.”

“Then we’ll sit on the couch while the kids run amok somewhere. I’ve spent your entire pregnancy so focused on this shit with Anya and what she was doing to Michaela and the boys that you’ve taken a backseat during one of the most incredible moments of your life. And I know I can’t make that up to you. I know I can’t take back all of the times I had to drop time with us to deal with the backlash of her. But I’d like to try. I’d like to start making this about you, if you’ll let me.”

She brought my hand to her lips to kiss and fire rushed through my veins.

“I’d go anywhere with you,” she said breathlessly.

“Then I’ll start making the plans. I thought we could go north. Get a cabin in Washington State or something and just be lazy. Eat in. Sleep. I could get one with a hot tub for the kids and we could load up their toys. Two weeks, all of us, and no work or Anya or news or telephone calls from lawyers.”

“Sounds like a dream,” she said with a whisper.

The tears brewing in her eyes broke my heart.

“I love you, Catherine. And I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you through.”

“You didn’t put me through anything. You played defense. Anya was the one that came at us. At this family. At our family.”

Our family.

Our. Family.

Maybe my children did still have a mother after all.

“I love you too, Jace,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I reached out to catch it with my knuckle before I leaned up to kiss her.

“Now, you eat that breakfast and feed those children of mine. I’m going to go downstairs and start making plans. If I can arrange it, we’ll be leaving tonight.”

“Tonight?” she asked with a giggle.

“Yes. Tonight. I’ll drive, you sleep, and the kids will wiggle in their seats until we get there. It’ll be the perfect impromptu trip we all need after this fiasco.”

“Sounds wonderful,” she said.

I bent down and kissed her stomach four times. One for each of my growing babies. Then I kissed Catherine one last time before she reached for her breakfast plate. I made my way downstairs and got on the phone, arranging the time off so I could plan the greatest vacation ever.

And after the plans were solidified and the cabin was booked, I woke the kids up so they could start packing.

Two weeks with no one but my family.

I couldn't fucking wait.

Twenty-Six

Catherine

“It’s so awesome!” Dmitri exclaimed.

---