SHAY
The twins were having a rough day, squabbling over the most trivial things. It was one of those rare days when they didnât get along, bickering over the smallest matters.
Shay was grateful she wasnât a single mom anymore during these challenging times. Before Adam came into her life, Shay often felt overwhelmed. She felt like she was failing as a mother, unable to handle her kids. The twinsâ arguments were particularly hard on her, often requiring her to call her brother Ian for help.
âBoys, weâre heading to Grandma Pattyâs. Please behave,â Shay pleaded, securing the twins in their seats. Eli wore a grumpy expression, while Liamâs eyes were teary. She received no response from the twins, who simply stared ahead.
Baby Nate was already settled in his car seat, engrossed with his toy. Shay knew he wouldnât be a problem. He loved car rides as much as his older brothers. She hoped the car ride would soothe the twins and restore peace.
She double-checked the seatbelts and baby Nateâs car seat, ensuring everyone was secure before joining Adam in the front. As the car roared to life, Shay reached over to turn on the radio, filling the car with music.
As they drove past the ancient trees lining the road to their house, Shay admired the lush greenery. She hadnât left the house in a few days, and every time she did, she found herself marveling at the beauty of the trees. She loved them most in the fall when their leaves turned shades of yellow and orange before falling to the ground.
Shay closed her eyes, resting her head on the headrest. She replayed her day, wondering what went wrong and what she could have done differently. She knew it was futile, but overanalyzing gave her some comfort.
Ever since the sex tape leak, she had become more self-critical, often reflecting on her actions. Suddenly, baby Nateâs cries jolted her from her thoughts. She turned around to see him crying in his car seat. She reached back to distract him, noticing that the twins had fallen asleep. At least they werenât fighting anymore.
âShhh,â she soothed, shaking the rattle toy in front of baby Nate. She gently rocked his car seat, and it seemed to work. She stretched to grab his pacifier and placed it in his mouth.
His tiny lips latched onto the silicone nipple, his eyes fluttering. All her kids loved pacifiers, and despite the countless books and reviews she had read, it was what worked for her. The twins had given up their pacifiers within a few months, so she wasnât too worried.
Once baby Nate was calm, Shay turned her attention back to the road. âHowâs he doing?â Adam asked, signaling at the junction.
âI gave him his pacifier,â Shay replied, returning to her window-gazing. Adam didnât respond, but he placed his hand on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. She intertwined her fingers with his, holding hands for the rest of the drive.
The drive to her mother-in-lawâs house was only thirty minutes. They often visited her, having dinner with her every other week. Shay loved her mother-in-law, a wonderful woman who had accepted her and her twins despite knowing about her past.
They pulled up to the familiar house and got out of the car. Shay helped Liam out of his seat while Adam attended to Eli. Then Adam grabbed the Tupperware containers of food Shay had prepared.
After freeing Liam from his seatbelt, Shay turned her attention to baby Nate. âNatey,â she cooed, looking into his big round eyes. She carefully detached the car seat and carried baby Nate in it toward the house. Eli rang the doorbell, and they all gathered on the porch. Eli ran back to hide behind Shay after ringing the bell. Shay couldnât wait for the day to end, feeling as if she was sharing the twinsâ bad day.
âYou guys made it!â Patsy greeted them warmly, kissing the twins on their foreheads and giving Shay a quick peck on the cheek. âMom,â Shay greeted back. Adam followed behind her, carrying the food and baby bag.
The twins disappeared into the house. âHowâs my daughter doing?â Patsy asked, her smile warming Shayâs heart. âThe twins had a rough day, and Iâm exhausted,â Shay admitted.
Patsy half-listened as she helped Adam with the Tupperware containers. Shay carefully placed the car seat on the table and lifted baby Nate out of it.
Entering the living room, the aroma of delicious food filled the air. Shayâs stomach growled in response. She took a seat between her twins, with Adam across from her. She watched as Adam and Patsy uncovered the Tupperware containers, revealing the food she had spent the day preparing.
Shay had made jerk chicken, Caribbean rice, and a new type of curry. She usually did the cooking, as Patsy loved trying new dishes. Tonight, Shay had prepared a recipe passed down in her cousin Chanelâs family. Shay felt fortunate to have the recipe and hoped she had done it justice.
âShay, thanks for whipping up dinner,â Patsy expressed, her gaze sweeping over the spread of food on the table, mingling with her own contributions. Patsy had prepared a mango salad and some drinks, but Shay had taken on the bulk of the cooking. She didnât want to burden her mother-in-law, and she was well aware of the twinsâ hearty appetites. Plus, being in charge of the meal gave Shay a sense of control, and there were always leftovers to boot.
âOver here weâve got jerk chicken, and this is Caribbean rice,â Shay explained, pointing out the dishes to Adam as he began to serve himself.
The dinner flowed smoothly, as it usually did. They chatted about current events, shared neighborhood gossip, and caught up on life. Patsy had been having some issues with a neighbor, and there was the usual chatter among the other housewives, just like a scene from a movie.
Shay had never imagined sheâd find herself in this kind of situation, part of the housewife gossip circle, listening to endless chatter about neighborhood happenings. Shay offered a smile, listening to her mother-in-lawâs endless chatter while cradling her infant. Her twins were quietly devouring their food, stuffing their faces as much as they could.
Adam was the only one who seemed to be truly engaged in his motherâs stories. Normally, Shay would be more attentive, but today she was distracted. Her mind was a blank canvas, worn out from the dayâs events and her thoughts of Ethan.
After dinner, Shay settled baby Nate on the sofa, letting him drift off to sleep on his belly while she and Patsy had a moment to themselves. The boys were in the kitchen, washing dishes with Adam.
âYou seem worn out today,â Patsy observed, settling herself on the floor and gazing at little Nate. âYeah, the kids were a handful today, and the baby was fussier than usual,â Shay admitted, leaning back against the sofa.
âNate looks so peaceful, just like Adam did when he was a baby,â Patsy mused. Her eyes were full of admiration for her grandson.
Shay felt a tug at her heart, a need to tell Patsy about Ethan. She knew it was only a matter of time before Patsy found out.
âDo you remember when I told you about the twinsâ father?â Shay asked in a hushed tone, making sure the twins were out of earshot.
âYes,â Patsy nodded, her eyes wide with anticipation.
âHe showed up at the house, met the kids, and wants to be a part of their lives,â Shay confessed. She shook her head as she pondered how she was going to navigate this new development.
She knew Ethanâs presence in the twinsâ lives could complicate things, and she wasnât sure how Patsy would react. She watched as the news registered in Patsyâs eyes. The lines on her face deepened as her eyebrows shot up in surprise, her mouth forming a perfect O.
âHow did he find out about them?â Patsy asked in a whisper, her fingers playing with baby Nateâs tiny ones.
His fingers curled around Patsyâs index finger. Shay simply shrugged in response.
âHe found me, and the kids were running around. He put two and two together, and now he wants to be a part of their lives,â she explained. Her gaze dropped to her beautiful baby as she gently stroked his chubby cheeks.
âDoes Adam know?â Patsy asked, her voice filled with concern for her son.
âYes,â Shay nodded.
âHe showed up at the house, Adam was there, and he invited him in. They talked. Adam seems okay with it. Weâve discussed it, and Adam thinks it would be best to let Ethan spend some time with the twins instead of escalating things and dealing with custody battles,â Shay recounted the conversation theyâd had the night Ethan showed up on their doorstep.
Patsy was silent as she processed the news. She couldnât blame Shay for her concerns about her grandchildren. Whether they were blood-related or not, Patsy had never treated them any differently.
The sound of the twins playing in the background was a relief, a sign that their little spat was over and things were back to normal.
âI donât think this is a good idea,â Patsy finally said, her voice firm.