Page 85 of My Big Fat Shifter Wedding

“Thankfully, no heart attacks on my account. At least not any that I know of. Will I be meeting your husband today?” As far as I knew, he hadn’t been at the house for what was possibly the most eavesdropped casual lunch that had ever been planned.

“Sure. He’s a bit more introverted than a lot of my family members, so right now he’s been squirreled away at the very back of the yard helping with the grill stuff, but eventually he’ll wander around for some light socialization.”

A man after my own heart. Nothing like a fellow emotional support introvert at a boisterous party.

“I look forward to it.”

We chatted idly, bouncing the twins. I was delighted when there wasn’t so much as an errant cry from either of them. While that bitter voice that was always running commentary in the back of my head whispered that it was because they were recently fed, the part of me that looked on the bright side chose to take it as a subtle endorsement.

While we were discussing the incredible force that was required when it came to bouncing as opposed to the gentle rocking that was always portrayed in media, I finally heard the voice I had been waiting for from around the corner.

“Do I hear Keith? He texted me that he got here.”

Olivia!

The sound of her voice regulated my very soul. My anxiety dipped, that bitter voice got easier to ignore, and everything got a little brighter and a little easier.

“I’m here,” I said, trying to hit the balance between loud enough for my voice to carry around the corner and not disturb the baby.

I must have gotten at least close, because Castor only let out a slight gurgle, and a moment later, Olivia was rounding the corner.

“There you are!” she said, relief washing over her features. I loved that I could be a place of respite for her as well. I would go from one end of the earth to the other to keep Olivia as safe as I could. “I see you’ve been conscripted into babysitting duty.”

“I’ll have you know he volunteered,” Serafina said primly before shooting me a wink. “I didn’t even have to ask.”

Olivia narrowed her eyes at her sister, and I saw years of interaction pass between them. Inside jokes, fights, and fondness. Having a sibling seemed great in a lot of ways. Then again, I supposed it depended on what kind of sibling you ended up with.

“Is this your way of guilting me into asking you to hold Pollux?”

I blinked for a moment, wondering if the twins were color-coded in a way I hadn’t noticed, because certainly Olivia hadn’t been able to tell which was which at a glance. Even parents occasionally mixed up their twins, if I wasn’t mistaken.

“Olivia! I am shocked and appalled that you would accuse me of such a thing!”

“Is that a yes?”

“Oh, you better believe it.”

“Hand the little cretin over so I can continue being his favorite auntie.”

The two women shared a laugh, and even though their voices were so different, they almost sounded like a chorus. If Olivia and I ever had kids, was this the kind of warmth they could expect? It was almost overwhelming, and it made the future that much brighter.

I really was the luckiest man in the world.

I was grinning so hard that I thought my face might crack as the exhausted mom handed the baby to her sister, leaving her arms free.

“Do you guys mind if I go sit down in the kitchen for a minute? If I don’t rest my back and chug something with enough calories to feed an army, I might actually cease to exist.”

“Please, by all means, rest!” I said, comfortable with the baby now that Olivia was present. She had more experience with the recently born than I did. “We’ve got this.”

“Bless you, both of you. I will remember this when they both are weaned and sleep fully through the night. You’re gonna wake up to the most delicious jam on your doorstep when that happens. Mark my words!”

“Don’t worry about it. Hurry up and take some time for yourself before they change their minds,” Olivia assured, already bouncing her nephew at the exact same pace her sister had.

“Sei un tesoro!”

“Remember that the next time you’re mad at me.”

“Marmocchia…”