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Harrison rubs his hand up and down his torso. “Grandpa or not, I still got it.”
“Hey!” Katelyn shouts.
“Too far, Harrison,” I say quietly to Peyton.
“She’ll kick his ass later.”
Harrison puts his arm around Katelyn’s shoulders and pulls him to her. “You’re one hot grandma.”
“Time to go, Noah,” Peyton says, laughing.
I heed her demand and take her back to her room. Once she’s settled, there’s an army of people who come in and out all day. It’s mostly our family bringing flowers and presents. Peyton had opted not to have a baby shower, mostly because we could afford everything and with the grandparents buying anything not nailed down in the store, there wasn’t any need. Not to mention, Christmas is less than a month away.
Still, that doesn’t stop the gifts from coming in. Everything from matching outfits for the boys, to frilly dresses for Juniper. While people visit, I begin to return texts and messages, and with Peyton’s permission post a photo of three pairs of baby feet. Within seconds, my notifications go crazy. Also, with my wife’s consent, I send the family photo I took of the five of us earlier in the NICU to our friends, knowing they won’t share it with anyone.
While I’m checking my emails, I receive one from People, asking for an exclusive. “Peyton, the magazine wants an exclusive. It says here, they want to come to the house, interview us and take pictures. They’d like to be the ones to introduce the babies first.”
“How much?” Elle asks without looking up from her phone.
“Say two mil.”
“Nah, send it to me. I’ll negotiate something better. Two is peanuts. They’ll move the needle or we’ll go with some other mag.”
“Uh, Peyton?” She hasn’t said whether she wants to even do this.
She shrugs. “Something to consider. We can donate the money though like we talked about, you know helping others with fertility.”
“See, that’s at least a five million dollar offer,” Elle says. “I’ll get you at least that.”
I wait for Peyton to tell me what to do. She nods and I forward the email to Elle and let her do her thing.
Peyton asks for my phone. I give it to her, and she brings up Instagram. “All these comments. I’m glad they’re all positive.”
“Of course they are, you just had triplets. If anyone has anything nasty to say Paige will delete them.” My sister is very good at managing my social media. Of course, she gets paid to do it and takes her job very seriously.
“Paige is dynamite on the socials,” Elle adds. “We hired her to run the agency’s account, as well as the FMG Records. Smart cookie.”
I make a mental note to tell Paige about what Elle said, hoping to ease what she feels on the name sleight.
There’s a knock on the door, which is surprising. It opens before we can say for whoever to come in. I see the cradle first and then Nick, in his white doctor’s coat.
“I thought we’d stop by and say hi to mom and dad for a bit.” Nick gives me a hug and then kisses Peyton’s cheek. “We just took some vitals and did some testing. Things are looking great.”
“When can they go home?”
“Juniper probably by the end of the week. The boys, I’d like to keep them for two weeks, but if they keep improving the way they are, end of next week at the earliest.”
To be honest, I’m pretty damn happy Nick is their doctor. There isn’t anyone else I’d trust with my children.
“Are they healthy?” Peyton asks. “Any longterm issues?”
Nick shakes his head. “None that I can see or even predict. It’ll be a bit before the boys catch up with Juniper, but they’re eating well and gaining slowly. You did everything right, Peyton.” He gives her a soft smile.
There’s another knock and this time Mack and Amelie, followed by Talisa come in.
“Can I hold them?” Amelie asks and then frowns when Nick shakes his head.
“Not until they go home, then it’s up to Peyton.”
