And then, another pair of feet.
Eight small feet, each with ten little toes.
“Oh my gosh,” Catherine said with a whisper.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re having quadruplets,” the doctor said.
I stared at the screen as they continued to flip around. It wasn’t until Catherine squeezed my hand that I came back to reality. I looked down at her and saw a massive smile crawling across her face as tears flooded her cheeks. And as if my entire world had stopped, I bent down and kissed her lips. I held her head cradled in the palm of my hand. I held her as close as I could get her. Joy filled my heart and elation permeated through my gut.
“We’re having quadruplets,” I said with a smile.
I kissed her over and over again as the doctor clicked buttons in the background.
“We’re having quadruplets!” I exclaimed.
I slid my arms around Catherine and pulled her close. She smiled into my neck and I couldn't stop laughing. Quadruplets.
Holy shit, we were having quadruplets.
“Do you want to know the genders?” the doctor asked.
“Yes,” Catherine said immediately. “Yes. Yes we do.”
“I would start saving back Michaela’s clothes,” the doctor said, “because you’re having three girls and a boy.”
Tears streamed down my face. My body felt as if it wasn’t its own. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine, drifting through space in an endless abyss of warmth. I smoothed Catherine’s hair from her forehead as she looked up at me, and my heart felt like it was going to burst with pride.
“I love you,” I said.
Her eyes widened as my admission stopped me in my tracks.
But it was true.
I loved this woman.
I was in love with Catherine Faust.
“You are the most incredible woman alive. And I love you with everything I am,” I said.
She started laughing through her tears as she reached up and grabbed the back of my head. She pulled me in for a kiss, plunging her tongue deep into my mouth. I felt all of her. The whole of her. I felt her pulse beating in her tongue and her hand sliding into the tendrils of my hair. I felt the softness of her hand bleeding strength into my body. A strength I felt Anya ripping from me every second of every day. She filled me with emotions I’d never experienced before. With a strength and willpower I didn’t think I possessed any longer.
“I love you too,” she said into my lips.
I cupped her cheek as the doctor cleaned off her stomach.
I opened my eyes and saw panic quickly rush through Catherine’s eyes. My gut clenched with worry as I helped her sit up. I cupped her cheek and smoothed my thumb over her paling skin, and even the doctor jumped up to help.
“Miss Faust, are you okay?” he asked.
“Seven kids,” she said breathlessly.
I pressed my forehead against hers as her hands grasped mine.
“I’m going to be raising seven kids,” she said.
“You won’t be alone. I’ll be here.”
“That’s enough for a soccer team,” she said.
I chuckled as my eyes danced between hers.
“We’ll have enough kids for a soccer team, Jace.”
“Do you know anything about soccer?” I asked.
“Not one damn thing.”
“Me neither,” I said, laughing.
She joined me in my chorus of blissful anxiety before her body fell into mine. I cradled her close as the doctor printed out picture after picture of our children. Quadruplets. I couldn't express the joy that filed my body in that instant. A massive family with all the love in the world to give. Every bedroom my home would be filled by the time they grew up and wanted their own space. And the laundry alone. I didn’t even want to think about it.
I’d have to hire help for Catherine.
I’d have to find another nanny to help her around the house.
“I love you,” I said as I kissed the top of her head.
She nestled into me as the doctor began to pack up his things.
“I love you too,” she said breathlessly. “I love you, Jace. I do.”
And as the doctor made his way quietly out of the room, I snuggled us both underneath the covers of her bed. I wanted to hold her close to me. I wanted to feel our children kicking against my abs. I wanted to smooth my hands over her stomach and talk to them. Reassure them. Tell them how much I loved them.
How much I loved their mother.
The two of us drifted off to sleep, enjoying the silence of the house. The kids were off at school for another five hours and I’d taken the day off at the theater. No television. No lawyers. No custody battles and no tears. Just myself, Catherine, and the four children her beautiful body was growing.
I wasn’t going to let anything spoil our moment. Because Catherine had been right all those months ago. She deserved some of the attention to be on her.
And if there was anytime to give her all of my attention, it was now.
Twenty-Four
Catherine
“Have you talked with your parents at all?” Jace asked.
“I haven’t yet, no,” I said.
“Do you think you will?”
“I’m not sure. Is that something I can do?”
“Catherine…”
“That wasn’t a dig. I promise. I’m sorry if it came off like that. But, Hannah. If my parents find out, then she will. Are her and Anya still…?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. But at this point, I can’t worry about it. I’ve hired the best lawyers and I know they’ll protect our family. We can’t keep allowing her to dictate our every move on this. Not anymore. We need to be celebrating and preparing and rejoicing.”
Oh, how my heart soared to hear him say that. I was almost six months into my pregnancy and things were getting hard. I couldn't bend over to do laundry anymore, so that was a chore Jace had to take on. The kids were ecstatic about having a new brother and sisters, especially Michaela. She kept wanting to play dress up and have tea parties with me, saying she was already bonding with her sisters. And the boys? They were a mess. They were already picking out clothes for their brother to wear home and ‘donating their toys’ to their nurseries so they would have things to play with, too.
And every night, the kids kissed my stomach before going to bed.
“I think you should call them and tell them,” Jace said as he sat down next to me. “I think you’ll feel better knowing you aren’t hiding it from them.”
“What if they react poorly?” I asked.
“Then I’ll be here to help you through it. I’ll even take the phone from you and put them in their place. But I know this is taking a toll on you, not telling them. So, for you? I think you should do it.”
“Will you sit here with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
I’d been bouncing back and forth with the idea ever since Jace and I had made up and found equal footing with everything. I felt bad, not telling my parents I was pregnant. But at the same time, did they have a right to know? After everything we had been through and the hell they put me through during my childhood, did I want them to know?
The little girl inside of me did. The optimist that hoped my children would bridge the gap between myself and my family hoped they would be happy for me.
“Hello?” my mother asked.
“Hey, Mom. It’s me,” I said.
“Catherine? Is everything all right?”
“Why would something be wrong?”
“Because you never call,” she said.
My heart sank to my toes to hear my own mother say that.
“Everything’s fine,” I said.
“You don’t sound fine. What’s wrong? Do you need something?”
“Who is that, honey?” my father asked.
“It’s Catherine. She sounds upset.”
“I’m not upset, Mom.”
“Ca
t, what’s wrong?” my father asked.
“Could you put me on speakerphone?” I asked.
I heard a small click before the call started to echo.
“Okay, we’re here,” my mother said. “Now stop being so secretive. What do you need?”
“Don’t be so harsh with her,” my father said. “She’s going to hang up.”
“I’m not going to hang up,” I said with a sniffle.
“Are you crying?” my mother asked.
“Honey, what’s wrong? You’re worrying us,” my father said.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to,” I said.
Jace took my hand and reached over to wipe some of my tears away.
“Where are you? We’re coming to you,” my mother said.
“I’m pregnant.”
The phone call fell silent until my father cleared his throat.
“Come again?” he asked.
“I know there’s a lot of history between all of us. And I know Hannah’s still struggling and I know I haven’t been the best daughter. I know our family isn’t… isn’t what it needs to be but…”
I looked over at Jace as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“You’re pregnant?” my mother asked.
“I am,” I said. “With quadruplets.”
“With what?” my father asked.
I heard my mother giggling in the background, and at first I didn’t recognize the sound. I furrowed my brow and put the call immediately on speakerphone as my eyes connected with Jace. My mother’s giggle grew to laughter, and soon my father followed suit.
Laughing.
For the first time in almost a decade, I was listening to my parents laugh.
“Quadruplets!?” my mother exclaimed. “How far along are you?”
“Who’s the dad?” my father asked. “Is it that Jace fellow?”
“Hello sir,” Jace said.
“Oh! We’re on speakerphone, too!” my mother exclaimed.
Never in my life had I heard her as joyous as she sounded over the phone.
“Son, are you the father of my daughter’s children?”
“I am sir,” he said. “And I can assure you she’s properly taken care of.”
“Well if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather come see that for myself,” he said.
“You’re more than welcome anytime into my home,” Jace said.
“How far along are you?” my mother asked. “Give me answers! Details! Do you know the genders yet? Oh, I need pictures. I bet you look adorable pregnant, Catherine.”
I smiled as I began to rattle off answers to her questions.
“I’m just shy of six months along.”
“Six months!? And we’re just now hearing about it?” my mother asked.
“His ex-wife has been in the news a lot lately. You know how that is,” my father said.
“Oh, I could ring that woman’s neck. Especially for what she did to Hannah,” my mother said. “I’m glad the two of them aren’t hanging out any longer.”
“Wait, what?” I asked.
“Is that Catherine?”
My eyes whipped up to Jace’s as I heard my sister’s voice in the background.
“Your sister’s pregnant!” my mother exclaimed.
“Mom, I don’t think that’s-”
“With quadruplets,” my father said.
“Dad, maybe we shouldn’t-”
“Can I talk with her?” Hannah asked.
I heard the phone shuffling around as Jace slid his arm around me.
“I’m right here,” he said into my ear. “Let me know if you need me to jump in.”
I nodded against his lips as he pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear.
“Catherine?”
“Hey there, Hannah.”
“So, you’re pregnant,” she said.
“I am.”
“Is Jace the father?”
I paused, hesitant on whether or not I could tell her.
“I’m really sorry,” she said.
I heard her sniffle and it brought tears to my own eyes.
Fucking pregnancy hormones.
“I’ve been a terrible sister, and I know that. And… um…”
I leaned heavily into Jace as he wrapped his arms around my body.
Well, as much as he could, anyway.
“I want you to know that I’m not hanging out with Anya any longer. In fact, I’m sober now.”
“What?” I asked.
“I mean, it’s only been, like, a month. But I got through the worst of it with Mom and Dad. I’m going to meetings and I just met with my sponsor for the first time.”
“Hannah. That’s… that’s great. I’m really happy for you.”
“Are you really pregnant?”
“I really am,” I said.
“Do you, um…”
“Put me on speakerphone,” I said.
I heard the telltale click before I jumped in with all the answers I knew they wanted.
“I’m just shy of six months along. Jace and I are having three girls and a boy. We already have the nurseries set up, and now it’s only a matter of getting diapers and wipes and clothes and things like that.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that. I want to get some things for my grandbabies,” my mother said.
“And I’ll have some diapers sent your way. Jace, I’ll need your address,” my father said.
“I’ll get it over to you,” Jace said.
“Catherine?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah?”
“I know it’s probably premature to ask, but if I can stay on this train of sobriety and all… could I see the kids when they’re born?”
I covered my mouth and closed my eyes as a small whimper escaped my lips.
“I’d really like that,” I said breathlessly. “I really would, Hannah.”
“I love you so much. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay. Hannah, it’s okay.”
“I didn’t know what Anya was going to do. I didn’t understand the gravity of what she was pursuing. I blocked her number the second I figured it out. Please forgive me. I’m sorry, Catherine. I’m sorry Jace.”
“It’s okay,” Jace said. “Anya’s persuasive and selfish. A lot of people get trapped in her web.”
“Jace?” my father asked.
“Yes sir?”
“Whatever support you need from us on our end, you have it.”
“I appreciate that, sir. Thank you.”
“Can I come see you soon?” Hannah asked.
“Can we all come see you soon?” my mother asked.
“You guys are welcome here anytime you want to be here,” I said.
Jace kissed the nape of my neck and it brought a smile to my face. For the first time in my life, I was truly ready to move on. Hannah sounded happier than I’d heard her in years, and my parents sounded as if they’d put their malicious intents somewhere else other than between all of us. And me? I was ready to forgive them. All of them. Because they were my family, and I missed them dearly. I wanted my mother there for the birth of my children. I wanted my father to be surrounded by his grandchildren. I wanted my sister to have a relationship with her nephew and nieces. I wanted my family to be whole again.
I was ready for that.
We were all ready for that.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
The phone call fell silent as I wiped my tears away.
“I’m sorry for all the times I hung up. For all the holidays I missed. For all the Christmases I didn’t come home and all of the anniversaries I never called you guys on. I’m so sorry, Mom and Dad. I’m sorry, Hannah.”
“It’s okay,” my mother said. “It’s all right. I’m just… you have no idea how happy I am right now.”
“I think she does,” my father said. “I think we all do.”
“Does this mean I get to spoil the babies come Christmas?” Hannah asked.
I giggled through my tears as Jace dropped
his lips to my neck.
“You guys can do whatever you want for them come Christmas,” I said.
“Will you come home for Christmas?” my mother asked.
I looked over at Jace as he raised his head from my skin.
“Whatever we do for Christmas,” Jace said, “we’ll do as a family. One big, happy family.”
And we all rejoiced before we started making holiday plans for the first time in eight years.
Twenty-Five
Jace
“Breaking News: Anya Petrov, Hollywood’s favorite Fallen Angel from grace, has been caught scoring drugs off an undercover cop. According to authorities, Miss Petrov was arrested at-”
My cell phone rang out as I stared blankly at the television. Footage of Anya being arrested rolled over the screen. No one was up yet. Catherine was still sleeping and the kids had stayed up so late the night before that I could still hear their snores permeating the hallway. I sat on the edge of my bed and reached for my phone, watching as my ex-wife’s face was plastered on the television screen.
“This is Jace,” I said.
“It’s me,” my lawyer said. “I have good news.”
“No you don’t,” I said. “Something like this is never good news.”
“Are you watching the television?”
“I am.”
“Turn it off and listen to me.”
I reached for the remote control and promptly turned the television off. I didn’t want to digest the heartache of that news story any longer.
“That happened last night,” my lawyer said. “And the second it happened, I got a call from Anya’s lawyer. He was panicked, to say the least.”
“Attempting to hammer out a last-minute deal?”
“Yep. So this is what’s happening. Anya is currently in jail. She’s been there since last night. And when they drug tested her, they found that not only was she high on pills and heroin, but she had an extensive blood-alcohol level. They won’t be releasing her anytime soon, which means she won’t make her court appearance.”
“Which puts her in contempt,” I said.
“I’ve been on the phone all night back and forth with this lawyer and a very good friend of mine who happens to be a judge. He’s willing to see the case with just counsel, and it’ll probably be quick. With Anya being in jail for intoxication, public indecency, the use of drugs, as well as buying them off an officer, they’re not likely to release her.”
7+Us Makes Nine: A Nanny Single Dad Romance (Baby Makes Three) Page 15