“Okay, so meet back down in five minutes.” I turn to walk up the stairs. “Everyone, wear black.”
“Are you in mourning?” Gabriella asks me, and I stop walking up the stairs.
“Okay, fine. Everyone, wear white.” I shrug, walking up the stairs and to the duffel bag where my stuff is in. Grabbing the white tank top dress I brought over, I walk to the bathroom and change. Walking out, I see Tristan come out of the walk-in closet wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
“Gabriella says for us to be in jeans and a T-shirt,” he informs me, and I just look at his blue eyes.
“Are you okay with Penelope being in the picture?” I ask him quietly. “I want her included, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable about it. She’s part of this journey with us,” I remind him, “and she needs to be front and center also.” I smile. “But I also don’t want to exploit her.”
“I love that you love her as if she was your own.” He walks to me, grabbing my face in his hands, bending his head to me to kiss me softly. That is the way Penelope finds us when she walks in the room, wearing the same thing her father is wearing.
“I’m ready,” she announces, not even caring she caught us kissing.
“Okay,” I huff, “let’s get the show on the road.” I slip my hand in his and then in hers and we walk down together.
“Look at how cute you guys are,” Gabriella gushes. “Okay, so I have a couple of ideas. The sun is almost going down, so can we get outside to take some shots in the yard?” She walks to the backyard. “Do you guys have an ultrasound picture?”
“Yes,” Tristan says, walking over to the living room and grabbing the frame on the fireplace mantel. I didn’t even see it there beforehand.
We walk outside, my hand back in Tristan’s. “Okay, so I want Tristan and Abigail in the back and Penelope in the front.” We get into our places. “Penelope, I want you to hold the frame in your hands and hold your hands out in front of you.” She grabs the camera around her neck as she snaps some shots. “Okay, you two in the back, kiss each other.” I look at Tristan, and all I can do is smile, and I hear the clicking sounds when he leans in and kisses my face. “That’s good.” She looks around for a bit before instructing us on the next picture. “Okay, I want Tristan to hold the frame.” Penelope hands him the frame. “And I want Penelope to stand beside Abigail with your arms around each other.” I put my arm around Penelope’s shoulders, and she wraps her arm around my waist. “Now, Penelope, put your hand on Abigail’s belly and, Abigail, put your head on Tristan’s shoulder. Tristan, look down at the baby and the frame.”
I can hear the clicking every single time she takes a shot. She looks down at her camera, making sure she got some shots.
“Can I go now?” Penelope asks us, and Gabriella just nods at her. “I’m going to watch my show.”
I watch her skip into the house and then look back at Gabriella. “Okay, this is what I want next.” She looks at us. “I want you two to look at each other; put your forehead on hers,” she instructs Tristan, “and then put one hand on her stomach. Abi,” she turns to me, “hold the picture in your hand.” We do as she tells us, and I look into his eyes, “Abi, put your hand on his neck, around his shoulder.”
“You’re beautiful,” he tells me, and I just smile at him, leaning in and kissing him.
“Did I tell you guys to kiss?” I hear Gabriella. “You’re lucky it’s a good shot.” We laugh at her.
“Okay, Tristan, sit on the grass with your legs open, and Abi, sit in the middle of his legs.” I get down on my knees before turning to sit with my back to his chest. “Put your hands on her stomach,” she tells Tristan as she comes over and props the frame up beside us. “This is good,” she says, and I lean my head back on his shoulder and look up at him smiling as he leans forward and kisses my temple.
“Okay, I think I got it,” Gabriella turns to walk inside. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” She closes the door behind her, and I just sit here for a second in his arms.
“Have I told you I love you?” he asks, and I look up at him, the smile on my face getting even bigger, making my eyes almost squish closed.
“Not lately,” I reply honestly.
“I love you,” he repeats, and my heart literally flips in my chest. My hand comes up to hold his cheek as he bends his head to kiss me. My tongue slides into his mouth, the both of us needy. I turn in his arms, getting on my knees in the middle of his legs. My hands go from his chest up to his neck, while his hands go from my hips to my ass, pulling me into him. He turns his head to deepen the kiss when I hear Penelope yell from behind us.
“Gabriella says stop making out and come see the pictures!” I let go of his lips, looking over my shoulder for Penelope, who isn’t even there anymore.
“One of these days,” Tristan vows, getting up now and holding out his hands to help me up, “I’m going to make out with you and fuck you without worrying about being interrupted.”
“Promise?” I say, standing and slipping my fingers with his.
“You can bet on it,” he kisses me softly, and I believe him.
Fifteen minutes later, we both post on Instagram at the same time. Two pictures, one of the four of us and the other one of just the two of us.
My caption reads, Baby makes four.
I hand him my phone, and he hands me his as I read his caption.
Made for Us.
EPILOGUE ONE