The Deal With Triplets

by Rayner, Holly

  “Yes, yes,” I said. “Of course I’ll marry you!”

  Through the baby cries, we kissed one another, then planted a kiss on each of their tiny foreheads. Today was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I wasn’t sure there was even a word in the English language that could convey how thankful I was that things had turned out as they had.

  “I have your ring in my pocket,” Lucas explained. “But this moment just felt right.”

  “I’m inclined to agree,” I said. “Everything is absolutely perfect.”

  Chapter 23

  Zoe

  A Year Later

  When Dr. Suarez had joked about babies having a habit of changing the best-laid plans, he hadn’t been exaggerating. From the moment we’d brought them home from the hospital, nothing had been the same.

  While money had never been a priority in my life, I couldn’t deny that Lucas’s wealth had made things much easier. For starters, our house was unbelievable, with the most beautiful nursery for the children and an equally incredible playroom that they were finally getting old enough to start using. We had our own gym downstairs, just a thirty-second walk from the nursery, giving me a chance to squeeze in a workout whenever I managed to get all three kids to sleep at once.

  I had been a workaholic for as long as I could remember, and, from what I’d heard from Lucas and Benoit, Lucas had always been the same way. Our babies had given us new priorities, though. Lucas had cut down his hours to a 40-hour workweek, a drastic change from the 70-80 hours he’d been working before. I was now a consultant for Cadieux and Borroni Chocolates by Cadieux, working on my own schedule but still getting to do what I loved.

  After a month of depending on a live-in nanny to take care of the triplets while we’d worked, Lucas and I had decided that we didn’t want our children being raised by nannies. The nanny had been great, but I’d found myself unable to focus at work, wanting to spend time with the babies. My heart was much happier being more hands-on.

  Wednesday afternoons were reserved for video chatting with Ellie, and my cell phone rang like clockwork at 4 p.m. With Chloe and Nicolas asleep, I carried a fussy Louise down into the family room and adjusted her in my arms before answering the phone.

  “Hey!” I chirped.

  Ellie’s pearly whites were front and center on the screen. “Hey yourself!”

  I held Louise up to the screen. “Louise says hi, too!” I looked down to see my sweet girl reaching for the cell phone and cooing.

  “Louise!” Ellie adjusted her camera angle, revealing Hayley and her gorgeous brown curls. “And someone else wants to say hi.”

  I waited with bated breath until I heard noise on the other end.

  “Hi! Hi! Hi! An…Zo…”

  It wasn’t exactly perfect annunciation, but Hayley’s chipmunk-sounding voice warmed my heart. It was still surreal to me that we both had babies who were old enough to be talking—or at least blabbering.

  “How are things on your end?” I asked.

  “You mean since I saw you three days ago?” Ellie laughed.

  “Hey, that was just a quick stop-through on a business trip. That doesn’t count as real girl talk!”

  I’d been flying back and forth to Chicago once or twice a quarter to consult back at my old office, and it had been the perfect way to stay connected to my old life.

  “Well, winter break started yesterday, so I have an entire week off from kids coming to the nurse’s office every time they want to get out of class for a few minutes.”

  “And Cal’s good?”

  Ellie nodded and kissed Hayley on the cheek. “He actually just got a promotion. It’s basically the same work but some managerial stuff and a small pay raise.”

  “Go, Cal!” I cheered.

  “I mean, we won’t be living in a Belgian mansion anytime soon, but we might be able to take some real time off to and come visit said Belgian mansion.”

  If it hadn’t been for the toddler on my lap, I would’ve jumped off the couch and spun around in circles. “Seriously?!”

  “You know I’m serious! It’s just still crazy to me, even after all this time, that you live over there.”

  I knew what she meant, because there were days I woke up and wondered how this was my own reality.

  Ellie continued, “Oh, and I officially put in for time off for the week of your wedding! All three of us will see you then!”

  “Ah! I can’t believe it! I mean, of course I knew you were coming, but it’s nice to make things official.”

  Ellie was beaming, and it was clear how genuinely excited she was to be a part of my special day. “Please thank Lucas again for the airfare,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to us.”

  “Don’t mention it. He knows I wouldn’t want to get married without my best friend by my side.”

  “I can’t wait! I’m so excited to see you, and Lucas, and those sweet babies of yours, and your house. I bet your pictures haven’t done it justice.”

  I shrugged. “You’re probably right,” I said. “But it’s the people who live here that make it feel like home. You know I’m going to drag you to my home gym while you’re here. I already told Fleur that I’d get my trainer to come and run a spin class for the three of us.”

  “Oh, fabulous! How’s Fleur? I’m so excited to meet her.”

  “Honestly, reuniting Lucas and Benoit is one of the best things to happen to us.” I found myself choked up, grateful for how things had turned out. “They’re inseparable, and Fleur has become like a sister to me. I mean, she’s not you—she wasn’t a witness to all of my ridiculous college antics—but it’s still nice to have someone with similar interests and kids close in age.”

  “That’s great, Zo,” she said, and I could tell she meant it. I just didn’t want her to ever feel like I was replacing her. “Well, Hayley and I can’t wait to meet Fleur and her sweet babies.”

  I nodded. “I have a feeling we’ll be the three amigos in no time—or four amigos, if Isabel can manage to get off work.”

  “I’ll give her a nudge.”

  Just as Louise finally settled in my arms, cries from the nursery filled the air.

  “I think that’s my cue,” I said to Ellie.

  “Duty calls! Talk to you soon. And see you next month!”

  “See you then!”

  I hung up the call and lifted Louise off of my lap, planting a kiss on her forehead.

  I headed back over up the nursery and put Louise in her crib, then rocked Nicolas back to sleep. I knew it might not last long, but at least for a minute or two, all three were asleep at the same time.

  As quietly as I could, I tiptoed out of the room and down the hall to my bedroom, figuring now was as good a time as any to slip in some practice. I’d hidden the rough draft of my vows in my sock drawer so that Lucas wouldn’t see them, and I wanted to seize this rare moment with no crying babies and no fiancé around to make sure they sounded okay out loud.

  “Lucas, my life has changed for the better from the day I met you. Though our relationship may not be seen as traditional or conventional, in my eyes, it’s perfect. I believe with all of my heart that fate brought you into my life. So many stars had to align for us to find each other, and yet, somehow, they did. You’ve become not only my soon-to-be husband, but also my best friend, my rock, my confidant, my personal cheerleader, and everything in between.

  “I promise to spend my life cherishing you and our family and never taking any of this wonderful life for granted. I vow to stand by your side for worse or for better, and to never let us stop growing as a couple. I promise to continue to support you and love you and stand by your side as we go through this crazy thing called life together.

  “You are the most incredible man I have ever known, and the most amazing father to our children. Lucas, I don’t think I really knew what true love was until I met you. You’ve taught me the true meaning of compassion, and happiness, and unending love. You’ve taught me to be spontaneous, and adv
enturous, and to love with all my heart. I know that today is just the beginning of our greatest adventure yet, and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for us.”

  I hoped that practicing ahead of time would make me less emotional when reading my vows the day of our actual wedding, because I was a blubbering mess. Of course I knew how much Lucas had changed my life, but there was something about putting pen to paper and then reading the words aloud. I couldn’t wait to stand up in front of all of our friends and family and tell them how much Lucas meant to me.

  I read through my draft twice more before shrill whines echoed down the hall. The vow rehearsal would have to wait for the time being—right now, my babies needed me.

  Chapter 24

  Zoe

  A Month Later

  Ellie carefully clasped the necklace around my neck, and I held my breath, as if that somehow might help her accomplish her task. The necklace was a simple but stunning diamond, one that had belonged to Lucas’s grandmother. She’d worn it on her wedding day, then Lucas’s mother had worn it on her wedding day, and Fleur had worn it at her wedding almost three years ago. It was my turn now.

  “You look like a princess!” Ellie squealed.

  I turned around and faced the mirror, my face breaking into a wide smile. I loved the bridal gown I’d chosen more and more each time I put it on. Though I’d never pictured myself with sleeves on my wedding dress, I’d fallen in love with the sheer, lace sleeves of this one. They were off-the-shoulder, elegant but chic, that led into a detailed, beaded bodice. The dress came in at the waist and flowed out into the most stunning ball-gown skirt imaginable. I’d tried on over fifty gowns before deciding on a custom design—the top half of one, and the bottom half of another.

  The lace on the bottom of the ball-gown poof had sealed the deal for me. I felt like a bride. Sure, I was a partner, and a mother, and a marketing consultant, and a daughter, but, today, I was just a bride.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I said.

  “Well, believe it, because it’s happening!”

  That sound in Ellie’s voice was pure joy, a stark contrast from the nerves I was feeling. It wasn’t that I had cold feet or anything like that. I was thrilled to finally be marrying the man of my dreams. I’d just spent so much of my life putting others first that it felt weird to have an entire day with the spotlight on me. I was surprised by how unsettled I was at the idea of walking down the aisle in front of 150 of our loved ones.

  Ellie must have sensed something in my demeanor, because she pulled me in for a hug. “Don’t be nervous,” she said. “Just take a deep breath and remember to soak it all in.”

  “Thanks, Ells. I couldn’t do this without you.”

  I couldn’t help but think about how much of a whirlwind the past two years of my life had been. I’d been so convinced that I would be a workaholic doomed to have nothing more than the occasional one-night stand and no roots to tie me down. I’d resigned myself to being the person who only had career milestones to look forward to, not familial or personal ones.

  Then I’d met Lucas, and my entire world had been flipped upside down. It sounded like an exaggeration, even in my own head, but it was the absolute truth. Lucas had shown me what true love meant, and he, Chloe, Louise, and Nicolas had brought a purpose to my life. I was still the career-driven type—that was just who I was—but my world no longer revolved around conference rooms and phone meetings.

  Staring at myself in the mirror, wearing the most beautiful dress I could ever imagine, all I could think about was how blessed I was. Today was going to be spent celebrating our love in front of our closest family and friends, and there was something magical about that.

  I looked over to the corner of the room at Louise, Nicolas, Chloe, and Hayley, who were playing as if they’d never spent a day apart. They shared their building blocks and bouncy balls with one another, a relief on such an important day. The girls donned toddler-sized versions of my own dress for their roles as flower girls, while Nicolas wore a miniature version of the tuxedo Lucas had picked out for himself.

  Everything was perfect.

  Fleur walked in holding one twin in each arm, a freckle on Michael’s cheek being the only way I could tell the difference between the two. They looked adorable in their ring bearer tuxes.

  “The planner asked that I come get the children,” she said. “You ready for this?”

  I nodded vaguely, looking at the clock that stood in the corner of the room as she and Ellie, wearing matching lavender gowns for their roles as bridesmaids, corralled the children.

  “You’ve got them?” I asked.

  They both nodded.

  “We’ll get them all ready to go at the top of the aisle,” Ellie said. “You just enjoy your last few minutes as a single woman.”

  I gave each of the kids a kiss and waved as Fleur and Ellie pulled them in their wagons, one for the flower girls and one for the ring bearers. With only half of the kids walking steadily, we’d decided that having each bridesmaid wheel a wagon filled with adorable one-year-olds down the aisle would be the perfect addition to the wedding. I hoped that, from where I’d be waiting to walk, I’d be able to see them in action.

  This was the first time I’d experienced complete silence in weeks, maybe months, and I had to admit that I missed the chaos of our busy household. I straightened the skirt of my dress and took in a deep breath. I was minutes away from saying “I do.”

  It couldn’t have been more than five minutes before my dad came in, looking more dapper than I’d ever seen him, and told me it was time for me to head over to the doors. Lucas and I had decided to wait to see one another in our wedding attire until I walked down the aisle, so we’d arranged everything so that we would be in different locations.

  The kids were in the wagons, ready to go, when I got to the door through which I’d make my grand entrance. This was all finally feeling real. I could hear the music from the string quartet through the doors, and I couldn’t stop my heart from speeding up.

  Through a small slit in the doorway, I watched as Ellie and Fleur wheeled the children down the aisle. Nicolas, the most outgoing of the triplets, waved to my parents as he passed them. Hayley squealed when she saw her dad, and Louise cried for all of three seconds before switching to a smile when she saw Lucas at the end of the aisle. He was an incredible man, and an even more incredible father.

  The music switched to the traditional bridal song, and I knew it was my cue. Once everyone was standing, two staff members, one at each door, pulled the double doors open.

  Turning to face me, my dad smiled.

  “You’ve got this, Zo,” he said, his voice cracking.

  I nodded, trying to fight the tears that were already threatening to break free.

  Taking my dad’s arm, I drew in the deepest breath I could muster and began my journey down the aisle.

  Everywhere I looked, there was someone I hadn’t expected to come, someone who’d traveled halfway across the world to share in our joy. Isabel and Laura had been there to comfort me during my first college heartbreak, and now they were here to see me marry the love of my life. Aunt Lucille, who I hadn’t seen in years, had flown in from California. Some of my colleagues from Borroni had even made the trek, and seated right in front of them was Mr. Borroni himself, Nicolo.

  I was overwhelmed, but all I could focus on was the handsome man standing down the aisle from me. Lucas was beaming from ear to ear, his eyes fixated on me. It was everything I’d ever imagined—and more.

  To one side of him stood Ellie and Fleur, and on the other side were his groomsmen, Benoit and my brother, Evan. It made my heart soar, seeing all facets of our lives coming together like this. Lucas and Evan had only met a handful of times, but Lucas insisted on having Evan as a groomsman, explaining to me that they were brothers now.

  I blew subtle air kisses to my mom as we passed her. She dabbed at the tears streaming from her eyes, and I knew what she was thinking. Her little girl had fi
nally found her perfect match.

  The kids sat quietly in their wagons, carefully positioned as if they were extensions of the wedding party, looking on with excitement. I wasn’t sure they truly understood what was happening, but I think they knew it was something important.

  Everywhere I looked, there were toothy smiles and tear-filled eyes. Benoit, who just two years earlier hadn’t been speaking to his brother, looked like the proudest brother on the planet. Fleur and Ellie were smiling like they were in cahoots with one another, despite meeting just a week earlier.

  Though, for a long time, I hadn’t been sure it would ever happen for me, everything was finally coming together. I had everything I could ever want or need. As I closed the distance to Lucas, all I could see was the look in his eyes. I could see my future. I could see our family. I could see our happily ever after.

  The End

  * * *

  I hope you’ve enjoyed Lucas and Zoe’s story! In case you missed it, keep reading for the first chapter of the first book in my Love Is Priceless series, The Baby Miracle

  Happy reading!

  Love, Holly x

  The Baby Miracle

  Chapter 1

  Kendall

  The bus trip from downtown Chicago to Applewood, Iowa, is only five hours, and I’m more than familiar with the journey. On each trip, I look forward to meeting whoever is my new seatmate. As a journalist, I’m trained to be curious about people. But sometimes, the person who sits next to me doesn’t seem like the talkative type.

  Thankfully, every trip I’m prepared for such a situation. This trip, I put my noise-canceling headphones on as soon as the bulky, bearded man with a perpetual scowl on his face took the seat beside me.