Chapter 300
“Good morning princess,” Athena said, wrapping her arms around her niece. “You’re up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Lily said. “I’m too excited.”
“Excited about what?” I asked.
“About the babies,” Lily said like it should be obvious. “Mama says they’re going to be here in a
few months and I get to help take care of them.”
“That’s right,” Athena said. “You’re going to be the best big cousin.”
“I know,” Lily said with the confidence only a four year old could have. “I’m very good with
babies, I helped with Liam when he was little.”
“You were only two when Liam was born,” Sarah pointed out.
“I still helped,” Lily insisted.
Liam wandered in a few minutes later, still in his pajamas and rubbing his eyes, he looked like a
tiny version of Orion with his dark hair sticking up in every direction and his serious expression.
“Up,” he said to me, holding up his arms.
I picked him up and settled him on my other side, he immediately laid his head on my shoulder
and stuck his thumb in his mouth, clearly not as much of a morning person as his sister.
“Rough night, buddy?” I asked.
He just nodded against my shoulder.
Orion came down then, looking more awake than his son but not by much. “Morning,” he said,
heading straight for the coffee pot.
“How is it that you have two small children and you’re still not a morning person?” Sarah asked
him with a smile.
“I know you don’t mean that baby” Orion said, pouring himself a large mug.
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Sarah raised her brow still smiling.
“You love me that way” I rolled my eyes at his words, but I’m smiling too.
Sometimes I wonder how they love each other more everyday.
I want to love Athena more everyday too. I’ll love her more till my last breath.
We all ate breakfast together, Lily chattering nonstop about everything and nothing while Liam
slowly woke up, by the time we finished eating he was his usual active self, wanting to get down and
play.
“So what’s the plan for today?” Orion asked, refilling his coffee.
“I was thinking we could go out to the property,” I said. “Check on the progress, let the kids run
around.”
“I love that idea,” Athena said immediately. “I want to see how much they’ve done since last
time.”
“Me too,” Lily said, bouncing in her seat. “Can we go now?”
“After everyone gets dressed,” Sarah said. “And after your brother finishes his breakfast.”
“He’s so slow,” Lily complained.
“You were slow at his age too,” Orion reminded her.
We spent the next hour getting everyone ready, Athena took a shower while I helped Orion
wrangle the kids into appropriate outdoor clothes, by the time we were all ready it was almost ten in
the morning.
The drive out to the property took about thirty minutes and Athena spent the whole time
looking out the window with this expression of contentment on her face, I held her hand the entire
way, my thumb rubbing circles on her skin.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked quietly.
“How different my life is now compared to a year ago,” she said. “A year ago I was still with
Daxon, still pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t, still lying to myself about being happy.”
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“And now?” I prompted.
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“Now I’m actually happy,” she said, looking at me with so much love in her eyes it made my
chest tight. “Now I’m with someone who loves me, who protects me, who makes me laugh and makes
me feel safe, now I’m pregnant with twins and planning a wedding and building a house on land that
meant something to all our parents.”
“Now you’re living the life you deserve,” I said.
“We’re living the life we deserve,” she corrected. Together.”
