Chapter Forty Six

Trinity

I was lost, completely at sea. Stephen handed me his phone, showing me pictures that made my head spin. How could I not remember marrying this man?

What kind of mother forgets her own children? That’s not a mother. A mother would never forget her own children.

I was lying in my hospital bed, this man—my husband, apparently—holding me close, sleeping soundly behind me. It felt like I’d been crying for days. Just when I thought I was all cried out, the tears would start again.

I wiped my eyes and reached for my phone. I tried to unlock it, but it kept telling me the pin was wrong.

Stephen - You okay, baby?

Trinity - I . . . did I wake you?

Stephen - I don’t mind being awake if it means I get to spend time with you, Trinity. What are you doing?

Trinity - I was trying to unlock my phone to call Luke, but it keeps saying my pin is wrong.

Stephen - It’s 1603, baby.

Trinity - Really? How did you . . . never mind.

Of course he knows. He’s my husband. I entered the pin he gave me and, sure enough, my phone unlocked.

Trinity - What’s the significance of that?

Stephen - It’s our twins’ birthday, baby.

Trinity - Oh . . . and our other son?

Stephen - Jay, well Jayden, but you and I usually call him Jay and the twins call him JJ, was born on September 5th.

I stroked Stephen’s arm, the one wrapped around me, as I turned my head to face him.

Trinity - Stephen.

Stephen - Yes, baby?

Trinity - Tell me about them?

Stephen - Our kids?

I nodded at him.

Stephen - We found out we were pregnant with the twins about six months after our wedding.

Trinity - When did we get married?

Stephen - January 12th, baby. You wanted to get married on the same day as your parents since they couldn’t be there.

I turned to look at him again when he said that. He just leaned forward and kissed me on the nose.

Stephen - There are three dates that mean the world to me and that’s one of them. I even have it tattooed over my heart with our names.

Trinity - Can I see?

Stephen lifted his arm off me and I turned to face him as he lifted his shirt up. I reached out and traced my fingers over it, hearing him suck in his breath. I quickly pulled my hand away, but he gently took my hand in his and placed it over his heart again. He held my hand there with his as I looked up into his eyes.

Stephen - We found out pretty early that we were having twins. I remember the day they hinted it might be a multiple birth—you were freaked out. I joked with you that it wasn’t a problem, either way it was a blessing. We’d either meet our child sooner or we’d find out we had two. You asked what if it was triplets. You were adorable, your eyes nearly popped out of your head.

Trinity - They did not.

Stephen - They definitely did. Our son, Nathaniel, who we mostly call Nate, arrived first. Our baby girl got too comfortable having the extra room and decided to stay a bit longer. Eventually, Olivia, or Livy to us, was born not long after.

They were perfect babies. Livy is a real daddy’s girl. She’s fond of all her uncles too, and has us all wrapped around her finger. Although she does have a soft spot for helping Mia with Clint and her baby daughter, Maddison.

Trinity - She sounds beautiful.

Stephen - Just like her mother, although she does have a jealous streak in her.

Trinity - How so?

Stephen - She used to get upset with you if you were messing around with me. I remember one night you and I were sitting together and you leaned over to kiss me and she all but pushed you away.

Trinity - She sounds cheeky.

Stephen - She is.

Trinity - It also sounds like she has you wrapped around her little finger.

Stephen - She does.

Trinity - Hahaha.

Stephen - Nathaniel is more the thinker. He sits back and watches and processes everything. He’s definitely a mommy’s boy.

Stephen - You can always tell when Nate is tired or unwell because the first thing he does is go to you and wraps your hair around the fingers of one of his hands while he sucks the two middle fingers on his other hand. He’s a big bookworm, that boy. He can’t read yet, but he loves piecing the story together to tell his sister just by interpreting the pictures.

Trinity - Adorable.

Stephen - Jayden is our youngest and I had to beg you to give me another child. You weren’t entirely sure after the twins, but you’ve seen how beautiful our kids are and I just wanted more.

Trinity - Easy enough for a man to say that when he isn’t the one giving birth.

Stephen - And believe me, I have so much respect for you, baby, after seeing what you went through.

Trinity - What’s our marriage like, Stephen?

Stephen - Like nothing I can even explain.

Trinity - Can you try? I want to understand.

Stephen - Probably the worst analogy I can come up with, but it’s like that first puff of a joint in the morning, or that first sip of coffee. It’s an addiction. It’s my whole world. Loving, inspiring, nurturing, and so damn passionate. In fact, it’s a passion I’ve never known before. Please don’t take this the wrong way because I mean no offense, I’m just trying to explain like you asked.

I nodded at him.

Stephen - When you thought we were joking with you when you found out we were married, it was like my heart was ripped in two, my soul destroyed.

Trinity - I’m sorry.

Stephen - Don’t be, this is not your fault, baby.

Trinity - What caused the fall that night?

Stephen - We got some bad news, baby, and I was holding Jay. I let you down, I couldn’t grab you in time.

Trinity - It’s not your fault. I’m sure you tried. What was the news?

Stephen - Luke and his husband Todd were in a car accident, babe.

I bolted upright in bed, causing myself a head spin and having to lay back down.

Stephen - Baby, be careful. You’re still recovering, remember?

Trinity - Luke was in an accident? Is he okay? Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Stephen - Luke is fine, baby. A few bruises, a broken wrist, and some cracked ribs.

Trinity - Wait! Luke is married?

Stephen - He is, baby, to Todd. You like Todd. You said it was good to see Luke finally found his one.

Trinity - Well, can I see Luke? Was his husband hurt too?

Stephen - Yes, Todd was with him at the time. Similar injuries, a lot of bruising, and they had to put pins in his ankle because it got crushed under the dash. Both will make a full recovery.

Trinity asked, “How much did I miss when I was in the coma?”

Stephen replied, “Baby steps, sweetheart. I don’t want to overload you.”

“Please, Stephen. I need to know.”

I watched him, his face a mask of contemplation. He seemed to hesitate, as if there was something he didn’t want to tell me.

“What is it?” I asked. “You look like something’s on your mind.”

“Baby, I need you to stay relaxed, okay? Remember, you’re still healing, so any extra stress will affect you.”

“Oh God,” I muttered. “What bad news now?”

“Well, I don’t think it’s bad news, so I’m hoping you won’t either.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Baby,” he said, his voice soft. “You’re pregnant with our fourth child.”