Chapter 27: 2: Twins

SHAY

Thursday, February 9th

“Ethan,” he said, extending his hand.

Time seemed to slow as Adam reached out, his grip firm. Shay watched her husband, his nod slow and deliberate.

“Adam. The husband,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Shay’s heart pounded in her chest. “Why are you here?” she asked, turning slightly inward. Now she felt exposed, her baby Nate nursing at her breast.

“I hired a private investigator. I’ve been searching for you,” he admitted.

She raised an eyebrow, wondering what he could possibly want. “Why don’t you come in?” Adam suggested, his expression softening.

“What?” Shay exclaimed, taken aback by his invitation.

“Join us for dinner,” Adam repeated.

Shay fixed him with a stern look, hoping he would catch her silent plea. Adam leaned in, whispering in her ear. “It’s for the twins,” he reminded her.

She understood then—it was better to be welcoming than risk a custody battle with Ethan. She couldn’t bear the thought of putting the twins through that.

“All right,” Shay said, turning to Ethan. “Come in. Join us for dinner.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

She opened the door wider, allowing him to enter. As she returned to her office, she caught sight of Adam closing the front door, Ethan taking in their home.

She looked down at Nate, fast asleep. She wiped the milk from his lips and gently placed him in the crib in her office.

She had converted her office into a part-playroom, part-office. It was easier than running up and down the stairs every time Nate cried.

She checked on the twins, sitting at the kitchen island, sipping their milk. She was proud of them for pouring their own glasses.

“How were the brownies?” she asked the twins.

She felt a pang of anxiety at the thought of them meeting Ethan. She prayed they wouldn’t notice the resemblance.

“They were yummy, Mama,” Liam replied.

“Can I have another one, mom?” Elijah asked.

She laughed, shaking her head. “Not until after dinner,” she said, tapping their noses.

The boys giggled. “Go wash up for dinner,” she instructed, turning back to the stove.

She could hear their little feet scampering away. She stirred the ragu sauce for the lasagna, wondering what Adam and Ethan were discussing in the living room.

She trusted Adam implicitly.

She turned off the stove and began layering the lasagna. She spread the ragu sauce over the noodles, sprinkled cheese on top, and repeated the process until the dish was full.

She placed the lasagna in the preheated oven.

While the lasagna baked, she chopped lettuce for a salad. She always made sure to serve salad with dinner.

Her boys were good eaters, always finishing their plates.

Once the salad was ready, she put it in the fridge to chill. She set the table, her heart pounding as she wondered what Adam and Ethan were talking about.

She walked into the living room, where the two men sat in silence, engrossed in their phones.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” she said, breaking the silence.

They both looked up at her. She twisted her fingers nervously, walking over to Adam.

“You look good,” Ethan said, interrupting her thoughts.

She nodded, old feelings stirring. She pushed them aside.

“Why are you here?” she asked, wanting to get to the point.

“I needed to talk to you,” he began.

She nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“Are they mine?” he asked, glancing around the room.

She tensed, looking at Adam.

“Yes, they’re yours,” Adam answered for her.

“You said you had an abortion,” Ethan said, his gaze fixed on her.

“And you said you loved me,” she retorted, her anger flaring.

She could feel the old emotions resurfacing. He looked the same, just a bit more muscular.

She felt a small hand on her waist. She looked down to see Eli.

“Where’s your brother?” she asked.

Eli shrugged just as Liam ran into the room. Both boys stared at the stranger in their living room.

She took a deep breath.

“Boys, this is Ethan,” she said.

Ethan’s gaze softened as he looked at them.

“Ethan, meet Elijah,” she said, then turned to Liam who was just standing there, staring.

“And this is Liam,” she added, her heart pounding in her chest.

She would give anything to know what they were thinking. She wondered if they would feel an immediate bond, if they would somehow recognize each other.

These thoughts swirled in her mind, questions she wouldn’t have answers to until much later in life.

“Hello, Elijah and Liam,” Ethan greeted them, his smile genuine and warm.

It tugged at her heartstrings. Liam darted in front of her, shyly hiding.

She chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle their hair.

“Boys, remember what we talked about when meeting someone new,” Shay reminded them.

Their wide eyes looked up at her, and they nodded in understanding.

Elijah and Liam approached Ethan, extending their hands. Ethan looked surprised but quickly recovered, shaking each of their hands in turn.

“Nice to meet you, Ethan,” they said together.

She felt a surge of pride. Usually, she was proud of their manners, but today was different. Today, she was proud to show Ethan how well she had raised their sons.

“Nice to meet you too, boys,” Ethan replied, his gaze lingering on them.

She suddenly realized how much they resembled him. She had always known her twins looked like Ethan, but she hadn’t realized just how much.

“Okay, now go pour the drinks and set them on the table,” Shay instructed.

Her twins scampered off toward the kitchen.

“You’ve done a great job raising them,” Ethan said, and she nodded in acknowledgment.

“She’s an amazing mom,” Adam chimed in.

She glanced at Adam, momentarily forgetting about her husband. Just then, baby Nate started crying from her office.

She sighed, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

“I’ll get the baby,” Adam offered.

She nodded, running a hand through her hair to smooth it down.

Ding!

“Dinner’s ready,” she announced, catching Ethan’s eye.

Adam rose to tend to the baby, and Ethan followed her lead, heading toward the kitchen.

She saw her twins setting out the iced water and felt a warm smile spread across her face. The aroma of lasagna filled the house, making her stomach growl in anticipation.

She glanced back at Ethan, who was taking in the kitchen and dining area.

“Just grab a seat,” Shay said, feeling a bit awkward.

She didn’t wait for his response, quickly grabbing the oven mitts from the countertop and carefully lifting the first dish of lasagna out of the oven. The dish was hot and heavy in her hands. She carefully carried it to the dining table, setting it down before repeating the process with the second dish.

Ethan had taken a seat at the other end of the table, where she usually sat. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Her boys were already in their seats, eagerly waiting for dinner. She knew they were excited for dessert—brownies and a scoop of ice cream. She turned back to the fridge, retrieving the large bowl of salad she had prepared earlier. As she walked back to the table, she noticed Ethan engaging the twins in conversation.

Despite her nerves, a part of her felt relieved. Adam entered the room with baby Nate, who was wide awake. She set the salad bowl down, her smile widening as she reached out for her baby.

“Hello, my little one,” she cooed in a soft, babyish voice. Baby Nate grinned, wide awake despite having just been asleep from his milk.

She held baby Nate for a moment, gently pinching his chubby cheeks before setting him down in the playpen they had set up in the corner of the dining room. It was a small space where Nate could play while they ate or while Shay was busy in the kitchen.

“How long are you in town?” Adam asked Ethan as he began to serve the salad to the twins.

“I’m staying at the Sheraton, but maybe we should discuss this later,” Ethan suggested, glancing at the boys.

The adults nodded, understanding the unspoken message. Adam quickly changed the subject. During dinner, Ethan and Adam chatted about various topics. It was a bit awkward at first, but they relaxed when Adam offered Ethan a glass of scotch.

She was tempted to join them, but she refrained. She hadn’t had a drink since the accident, and she wouldn’t drink while she was still breastfeeding. After dinner, Adam cleaned up while Shay got the twins ready for bed.

She made sure they changed into their pajamas and brushed their teeth.

“Who’s that man, Mom?” Eli asked.

She smiled, brushing his hair out of his face. She glanced at Liam, who was lying quietly next to his twin.

“That’s a friend of Mommy’s from when I lived in New York,” Shay explained.

They nodded in understanding, and Liam let out a big yawn. She chuckled softly, kissing them both goodnight.

“Sweet dreams,” she said, turning on the night light and leaving the door slightly ajar.

She heard their mumbled goodnights as she descended the stairs. She could hear the clatter of dishes and the sound of running water. She knew Adam was washing up.

He was the perfect husband, and she felt incredibly lucky. As she entered the dining room, she saw Ethan staring into his glass of scotch, which appeared to have been refilled. She took a deep breath and sat down next to him, knowing it was time to address the elephant in the room.

“Why are you here?” Shay asked.

She knew Adam could hear them, and she had no idea what to expect.

“I tried to find you after you left,” Ethan said, his fingers absently twirling his glass.

She remained silent, watching him. Memories of their past relationship flooded back, hitting her like a ton of bricks.

“I got your thumb drive,” he said.

She nodded, knowing exactly what he was referring to.

“You told me you had an abortion, and it tore me up for months. I was furious,” he confessed.

She had seen this vulnerability in him before. It was what had made her fall for him so effortlessly. Over the past seven years, she had questioned everything he had done for her. She had doubted their relationship, scrutinized his every action.

She had eventually convinced herself that he didn’t care about her, that he was using her for his own benefit. For the twenty percent stake in a company he had gambled for, her virginity traded for his financial gain. She had doubted every emotion he claimed to feel for her.

“You used me,” she accused him.

“Let me explain,” he immediately responded defensively.

He leaned forward, his gaze intense as he looked at her. It felt as if they were the only two people in the house.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, shaking her head.

She swallowed, pushing down her emotions. Shay crossed her arms over her chest, nodding slowly.

“How long will you be here?” she asked.

“Who’s the older twin?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Elijah is older by a few minutes,” she replied, the memory of their birth still fresh in her mind.

“Elijah Alaric Ramsay-Haze and Liam Hank Ramsay-Haze,” she told him their names, watching as his eyes widened in realization.

“They’re named after our fathers?” he asked, surprised.

“Yeah,” she nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the fabric of her joggers. “I thought it would be a nice tribute to our fathers. I hyphenated our last names, so your family will always be a part of them, even if you aren’t,” she explained.

It had been a tough decision. She knew that even though he hadn’t been there when they were born, she couldn’t prevent them from wanting to meet him when they grew up. She didn’t know if he would welcome them, but she could at least give them his name. It was the least she could do.

They sat in silence for a while. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adam. She turned to look at him, watching as he picked up their baby.

It was bedtime, and it was Adam’s turn to take care of the baby. She admired Adam. He was an excellent father. A wonderful father to their newborn and the twins. Even though they weren’t biologically his, he never treated them any differently.

“I want to be a part of their lives,” Ethan said.

She studied him, trying to read his expression. A part of her had known this day would come, that he would want them. All she could do was hope that he wouldn’t take them away, that they wouldn’t end up with a stepmother. She was fiercely protective of her children.

“How?” she asked, her tone steady.

“We’ll figure it out. Maybe I can get a place in town, we’ll work it out,” he reassured her.

“Okay,” she agreed. “But we start small, maybe a play date first,” Shay suggested.

His eyes lit up, and she noticed the childlike excitement in him. They looked so much alike. They continued to talk about the kids. They exchanged numbers, but only for the sake of the children.

She was grateful he didn’t bring up their past again. She was glad they could move past things and handle the situation like adults. Despite the pain she still felt, she knew she had to push through for her twins. Their twins.

“It’s good to see you, Shay. You look fucking amazing,” Ethan said.

Her heart fluttered, a familiar warmth spreading through her body, heating her up again after seven years.

“Just text me,” Shay said as she said her goodbyes.

She watched him walk back to his car, turning around a few times to look at her. A part of her wished he had stayed. She missed talking to him.

Things had become less awkward by the end of the day. Even though she was constantly reminded of how he had used her, she missed his presence. There was something about him that was incredibly attractive to her.

As soon as she locked the front door, she felt a hand on her body. A smile spread across her face as Adam kissed her neck, trailing kisses down her shoulder. She moaned, loving the feel of his lips on her skin.

Even though her husband’s lips were on her skin, her mind was elsewhere. It was illicitly focused on the man who had just left her house—the man who had broken her heart.