Chapter 35: 10: Ramsay’s Reunion

SHAY

The twins were chattering away in the backseat as they journeyed to their destination. It was a two-hour drive, and Shay’s nerves were bundled up tight during the entire trip.

She had left baby Nate with Adam, along with a supply of milk bottles. Tonight was the night the twins would meet their grandparents for the first time. Ethan had asked for her permission a week ago, and despite her reservations, she had agreed. The thought of introducing them to Alaric and Constance was enough to make her stomach churn.

Shay hadn’t seen them in seven years, not since she and Ethan were together. She was unsure if they knew the truth, or if they were angry with her for keeping such a monumental secret. All she could do was hope that they would welcome the twins with open arms.

As she drove through the familiar neighborhood, she recognized a few houses, despite the minor changes that had occurred over the years. It had been seven years since she last visited, and she had never driven this far before. The distance was nerve-racking, and the prospect of facing the Ramsay family only added to her anxiety.

She remembered the first time her family met the twins. The awe in their eyes, the instant love they felt for Eli and Liam. She could only hope and pray that Constance and Alaric would react the same way. She hoped they would fall head over heels for the twins, who were innocent in all this. It was her who had kept them away.

***

^Flashback^

After hours of labor, Shay was spent. Sweat still clung to her forehead. Her babies were sleeping peacefully beside her, but Shay was too scared to close her eyes.

She had been awake for thirty-four hours and had given birth to the twins just a few hours prior. She was terrified that Ethan would somehow find her and take the twins away. She was scared that the Ramsays would show up with their legal team, claiming she was an unfit mother, and take her babies away.

The thought of life without them was unbearable. Even though they were just born, she couldn’t imagine a minute without them.

Sitting up straighter, Shay adjusted herself. She watched her babies sleeping peacefully in their transparent cribs, securely swaddled.

They were quite big, weighing six point four and six point three pounds each. She thanked God for a long but smooth delivery, and for the fact that she hadn’t torn.

Looking at her babies, they were identical. They looked just like him.

Ethan Ramsay.

The man she loved more than anything, the man she was once engaged to, the man who had toyed with her life. Ethan Ramsay had broken her.

Just thinking about him made her heart ache. She missed him. She hadn’t seen him since she left his apartment.

Shaking her head, Shay pushed her thoughts away and reached out to touch the twins. She felt the soft cotton material that swaddled them.

They were sleeping so peacefully. She wished they could stay this small forever.

~Knock knock~.

She straightened up at the soft knocks, a smile spreading across her face as she saw her family.

“Billie, Papa…,” she called, her eyes welling up with tears. Relief washed over her as her family finally arrived. She noticed Ivan and Ian peeking from behind her father and stepmother.

“Oh my,” Billie cooed as she approached Shay and the twins.

“They’re beautiful,” her father said, kissing the top of her head and peering at the twins in their cribs.

“Yeah, Shy, they are adorable,” Ian said, rushing to meet his new nephews.

“I’m so happy you’re all here,” Shay cried, her emotions finally getting the better of her. She hadn’t realized how much she had been holding in until she saw her family.

“We’re here, Shy. You can relax,” Ivan reassured her, taking a seat on the bed and holding her hand. Shay let her tears flow freely as she watched her father and Billie pick up the twins, their eyes lighting up with love for their first grand-babies.

She knew then that their bond would be unbreakable.

***

Adam had offered to drive them, but she had declined. She didn’t want to make things more awkward than they already were. She planned to just drop the twins off. She had told the twins they were going to meet Ethan’s family, specifically their grandparents.

They were excited, so much so that they had barely slept the night before. They were curious about what their grandparents would look like and had made up stories about them. She couldn’t blame them.

“Remember what Mama said, okay?” Shay reminded them as she turned into the familiar street, glancing at them through the rearview mirror. They nodded in unison.

“What did Mama say?” she asked.

“No running around, always say please and thank you, and always help your elders,” the twins recited together. She smiled and nodded, pulling into the driveway.

She saw Ethan’s car, along with three others. Taking a deep breath, she turned off the engine. She planned to walk the twins to the door, exchange quick pleasantries, and leave.

She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to pick them up later, or if Ethan was going to drop them off. That was something she needed to clarify with him.

Exiting the car, the twins followed, each carrying a gift. Elijah held a basket of fruits, while Liam held a bouquet of flowers. Shay let the twins walk ahead of her, her hands on their backs, guiding them to the door.

As they walked past the flower bed and up the familiar walkway, her heart pounded in her chest. She prayed that the Ramsays wouldn’t be angry with her or the twins, and that they would accept them. She really hoped so.

She raised her hand to knock on the hardwood door, taking a deep breath as the twins stood in front of her.

~Knock knock~.

She took another deep breath, waiting for the door to open, her gaze lowered. She gently rubbed the back of the twins’ heads. They looked at each other, anxious to meet their father’s parents for the first time.

“Shay,” Constance called out as she opened the door. Her eyes immediately dropped to the twins, lingering for a moment before she broke into a wide smile.

“Hi, Constance,” Shay greeted, a smile on her face. She noticed Alaric standing behind Constance. “This is Elijah Alaric Ramsay-Haze and Liam Hank Ramsay-Haze,” she introduced them individually.

Ethan’s parents’ eyes were fixed on the twins.

“Boys, these are Ethan’s mother and Ethan’s father,” she introduced them, unsure of how they wanted to be addressed.

“Your grandparents,” Constance announced, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she stooped down to their level. Alaric, her husband, mirrored her actions. Ethan, their father, appeared behind them, a warm smile lighting up his face as he spotted his sons.

“Feel free to call me grandma,” Constance suggested.

“Grandma,” the twins echoed in unison. A smile tugged at her lips as she looked down at them, a sigh of relief slipping past her lips.

She gently nudged the twins, their eyes meeting hers, encouraging them to present their grandparents with the gifts they had brought.

“This is for you, Grandmama,” Liam said, handing her a bouquet of flowers. She took it, examining the blooms before burying her face in them, inhaling the fresh scent.

“This is for you, Grandpapa,” Eli said, passing Alaric a basket of fruit.

“What well-mannered little boys,” Alaric remarked. Ethan’s smile widened.

“Come on in!” Constance beckoned cheerfully. Shay, their mother, smiled and planted a kiss on each of their heads.

“Remember what I told you, okay? I’ll see you guys later,” Shay reminded them. They nodded in understanding.

She felt a surge of pride at their good behavior and a sense of relief that they were finally meeting Ethan’s family.

“Bye, Mama.”

“Bye, Mom!”

“Join us,” Ethan invited, catching Shay off guard. She shook her head, declining his offer.

“No, it’s best if I leave and let you guys get to know the boys,” she said.

“Are you sure? Is your husband here too?” Constance asked. Shay was taken aback that Ethan had told his mother about her marriage.

“No, Adam is at home with our baby,” Shay replied politely.

“Please, come in and join us,” Constance insisted.

“No, really, it’s your time with the twins,” Shay declined once more.

“I insist,” Constance said, her face lighting up with a broad smile. Shay nodded slowly and stepped inside.

She watched as Alaric and Constance’s smiles widened, pleased that she had accepted their invitation.

“Hey,” Ethan greeted her, leaning down to plant a kiss on her cheek as if nothing had happened between them. As if they were old friends.

“Hey,” she responded, her gaze fixed on the twins as they followed their newly acquainted grandparents.

“Come, dinner is getting cold,” Constance said. Ethan placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the dining room.

She chose not to react or push his hand away. She didn’t want the twins to see her pain or to give them any hint of her discomfort around their father.

As they entered the familiar dining room, Shay was greeted by the tantalizing aroma of food. She noticed that the table was already set, an extra place laid out, presumably for her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Arthur, Ethan’s brother.

“Artie,” she called, her face lighting up. His eyes met hers before he rushed over to her, arms wide open.

She returned his hug, wrapping her arms around him.

“I’ve missed your chatter,” he whispered in her ear. She hugged him tighter before pulling away.

“I’ve missed you too,” she whispered back, remembering their close relationship before she had distanced herself from them.

Arthur and Shay had always gotten along well, often chatting and catching up.

“You look amazing,” he complimented as he pulled away.

“Thank you,” she blushed. She turned to the twins and introduced them. “Eli, Liam, this is your Uncle Artie.”

“My nephews!” Artie exclaimed, approaching them with a cheer.

“Let’s eat, I’m starving and we can chat during dinner,” Alaric suggested. Shay nodded and took a seat between the twins, with Ethan sitting across from her next to Artie.

Everyone joined hands in prayer, teaching the twins to do the same. Constance said a quick prayer, and then everyone began to eat.

Alaric and Constance took turns asking the twins questions, getting to know their likes and dislikes. Shay was happy. She was glad that they were getting to know their grandparents, Ethan’s side of the family.

They were kind and welcoming to her and the twins, asking her a few questions here and there but mostly focusing their attention on the boys, which she appreciated.

Dinner went smoothly. The twins ate heartily, ensuring there was nothing left.

She felt a pang of guilt, but Constance reassured her that it was okay. Alaric took the twins out for ice cream, and Shay agreed, confident that they were safe with their grandfather.

She had no reservations about that.

As they sat in the dining room, Ethan and Artie followed Alaric out. Constance and Shay were left alone, the remnants of dinner spread out on the table.

Neither of them made a move to clear up. They were comfortable, each lost in their own thoughts.

“I’m sorry for keeping them away,” Shay said carefully.

“I understand. I never blamed you,” Constance replied. Shay nodded, feeling grateful.

“When I first met you, I thought you were like every other girl. I thought you were after Ethan for his money, that you were just like the rest. Spoiled, shallow, but you surprised me. You were kind, sarcastic, and perfect for Ethan in every way. You grounded him,” she confessed.

Shay turned to her, a smile playing on her lips. Her heart warmed at her words, even though it was too late and she was now married.

“Constance,” she began, but Constance shook her head and returned her smile.

“Let me finish,” Constance said, and Shay nodded in agreement.

“Ethan told me everything after you left. What he did was the worst thing he’s ever done. I was angry at him. For years I was angry. Alaric and I raised him better. We’re lawyers; we know how ethically wrong it was. And for that, we want to apologize to you,” Constance said, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down.

Shay stared at Constance, shocked. She had never expected an apology, especially not from Ethan’s mother.

“Please, don’t apologize,” Shay said, shaking her head as she reached out to place her hand on top of Constance’s.

“I’m sorry for keeping the twins away from your family. I was hurt. I didn’t know what to do, and when I found out what he had done, I couldn’t continue the relationship. So I lied. I told him I had an abortion. I didn’t want to see him again. I was hurt and I doubted our entire relationship. If I’m honest, I still doubt it. I believe that everything we did together was based on a lie,” Shay paused, her voice cracking.

“I never intended to keep the twins from you. After their birth, I wanted to bring them to meet you. But fear held me back. I was scared you’d take them from me, that Ethan would snatch them away,” she confessed, her voice trembling with the weight of her admission.

“We have no intention of coming between you and the twins. We just want to be a part of your lives. They’re our blood too,” Constance assured her.

Shay nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as relief washed over her.

“Thank you,” Shay managed to whisper.

“Let’s let the past be the past,” Constance suggested.

Shay nodded in agreement.

“The twins are the spitting image of Ethan when he was their age,” Constance observed.

Shay nodded again, seeing the truth in her words.

“I’ve noticed that too. From the moment they were born, they’ve had Ethan’s look, even some of his mannerisms,” Shay agreed.

“Oh, you’re leaking, dear,” Constance pointed out, her gaze falling on Shay’s blouse.

Shay quickly grabbed a napkin from the table, dabbing at her chest. She glanced around, spotting the clock above the oven. It was feeding time.

“I’m so sorry, it’s usually Nate’s feeding time,” Shay apologized, continuing to dab at her chest, trying to dry her blouse as much as possible.

“Don’t worry about it,” Constance reassured her, standing up.

As she walked to the kitchen, Shay continued her dabbing.

“We’ve all been there, dear. Here,” Constance offered, handing her a clean washcloth.

Shay took it, blushing with embarrassment.

“I’m really sorry,” Shay apologized again, stuffing the washcloth into her bra.

“How old is your baby?” Constance asked.

“He just turned five months,” Shay answered, pausing for a moment. She looked at Constance, biting her lower lip. She knew she had to tell her. “I’m actually pregnant again. It’s still very new,” Shay confessed.

Constance smiled, her face lighting up with happiness. “I’m glad you’re happy, Shay,” Constance said, nodding her head. She seemed at a loss for words. “How did you meet your husband?” she asked.

“He was the arresting officer the night I pretended to be the driver. Then I ran into him when I moved to Mountain Lakes. His family owns a chain of supermarkets and he had resigned to take over the family business,” Shay explained.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well. Your boys are very well-behaved,” Constance complimented.

“Thank you,” Shay said, taking a deep breath.

“Can I ask something?”

“What is it, dear?” Constance asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Is Ethan seeing anyone?”