AllFreeNovel
Share Us
LILI, ANOTHER YEAR LATER
Pink, white and yellow flowers of every kind fill the hospital room. I wrap my arms around a tiny bundle of blue and just take in the moment. I etch it into my memory and hold it close to my heart. It took a minute for us to get pregnant, but we’ve finally started our family.
I raise my eyes to find my husband smitten with his tiny bundle of pink a couple of feet away. I didn’t think my heart could swell any bigger, but I am happily wrong.
He’s tucked into a chair near my hospital bed. Birthing twins isn’t something I ever want to go through again. Or at least for a while. But I’m so grateful our babies are finally here.
Bastian comes to my side and places a kiss on top of my head. “Are you okay, baby? That was a rough few hours.”
Try twelve of them, but looking at the results has my heart overflowing with love for my new family.
“Yeah, just a little sore and tired.”
“I’m here to take care of you. Now and forever.”
I smile up at him. It’s about all I have the strength to do at the moment.
“Have you settled on names?”
I kiss the top of our son’s head just as Con, Arthur and James walk knock on our hospital door.
“Come in,” Bastian offers in a light voice as not to wake up our sleeping babies.
All three of the mafia men have teddy bears, dolls and flowers spilling out of their arms.
“Hello, beautiful.” Con is the first one to drop his loot in Bastian’s empty chair. James and Arthur are right behind him. The next several minutes are a chaos of kisses, hugs and baby nose kisses. I’ve never seen bad ass men turn so soft so quickly. But put a baby in their arms and they turn into teddy bears themselves.
James has our baby girl in his arms. He places a kiss on the top of her head and the instant love in his eyes is a marvel to witness. Before Bastian I didn't have a family, but with him and his enforcers I’ve found my family. My home.
“You will never know a day where you are not loved, little angel. I swear to protect you from a mean daddy when he won’t give you candy, knee scratches and evil men. Your three uncles have your back,” he whispers.
Beside me Bastian chuckles softly but I see the love he has for his men—his brothers—shine in his eyes, too.
I can’t help my tears. Con holds our baby boy and his sentiments mirror his brothers. “You are protected as long as we draw breath, little one. You and your sister will know what it is to have a loving family and loving uncles.”
I clear my throat and draw everyone's attention to me before I bawl like a crybaby. “On that note, I was thinking of naming our son after Maddox.”
Silence fills the hospital room and then all three of my friends step to the edge of my bed. “It is an honor. Thank you.”
That is James. There are tears in his eyes when he hands my daughter to me.
“Little Maddox,” Bastian says. “I love it. And our girl?”
“After mom. Deep down she was a good woman. We lost her before the babies were born, unfortunately. I remember the good mother she was to me when I wasn't old enough to care for myself. Before the drug addiction took hold. I would like to honor that woman.”
“Emily. I think she would love that, too.” Bastian draws me into his arms and we stay like that long after our friends excuse themselves.
As the years went by, Con, James and Arthur kept their promise to our babies. Our children couldn’t have asked for better uncles. And Bastian…he is a good father and the perfect daddy for me. He didn’t ruin me. He gave me a home and gave me a family. And I gave it right back to him.
Love wins. Always.
* * *
