Page 110 of Nanny for the Doctor

“Here’s to beginnings.”

Extended Epilogue

Mae

Twelve months later

Warm sun shines on my face as I lie back in my chair. The light breeze is a welcome respite from the heat, and it’s all made that much better because I can hear the delighted squeals of Grace playing with Sophie.

“You going to fall asleep over there?” Stevie’s teasing voice cuts through my near dozing off, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Bit of a rough night with this one. She woke up so many times last night.”

I smile over at my little piggy playing in the grass with Stevie’s little girl. They’re so close in age but couldn’t be more different.

“Oh, Gracie, give your momma a break. Think she’s going through a growth spurt?”

Straightening in my chair so I don’t fall asleep, I consider that and nod thoughtfully.

“Very possibly. Twelve months was a big milestone, right?”

Stevie takes a sip of her beer, nodding in agreement, while I’m rocking a mimosa.

“Oh yeah. Lots of big things going on in their little brains and bodies.” She sighs. “But I feel you. Sophie has never been a good sleeper. I swear, I might have to go off to college with her.”

I laugh, but it’s damn near possible from what I’ve heard. Poor Stevie can barely get a moment to herself because her tiny munchkin enjoys taking naps only on her chest or near her.

With a sympathetic frown, I pat her shoulder. Sometimes I wonder if it’s karma since her pregnancy was so easy.

As we relax into easy conversation again, the girls play with a turtle toy they’re obsessed with, chasing it around the playpen by using a hilarious combination of crawling and wiggling.

“I just hope all this work we’ve been doing to get her more used to her crib pays off.” Stevie sounds as exhausted as me, and I remind myself she’s been dealing with rough nights from the beginning.

“Good luck, babe. Hang in there. I keep telling myself, they’re only this little for so long.”

“That’s a good reminder. Thanks.”

We offer each other that insider’s smile of mothers understanding one another’s plight, then return our attention to the babies.

They’re so very cute, and they seem to get along well, which, of course, was not a guarantee.

And we were worried at first. Sophie is a shy baby and doesn’t trust strangers right away. Grace is the complete opposite, always waving and smiling at every new face she sees.

Thankfully, Gracie seems to help Sophie out of her shell, and they’ve become quite the pair.

“Score! You both lose!”

Henry’s voice booms from across the yard, and Stevie and I look over at him doing the goofiest touchdown dance as he spikes the ball to the ground.

Reed and Johnny are both totally out of breath, and we can’t help but laugh as Henry literally runs circles around them.

“You’re much younger than us, buddy! And you’re not the one who’s been up with Gracie half the night.”

He stops and considers, then Henry tosses the ball to Reed, grinning wickedly at his dad.

“Is that why you had, like, a million cups of coffee this morning?”

“Why yes, it is.” Reed huffs in a breath, walking toward Stevie and me. “Alright, time for a break.”

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