Within in fifteen minutes, he walked back into the room with a plastic bag and dumped five additional tests on the bed.
“Go on. Take them and let’s find out for sure.”
“I can’t pee on command, Lucas.”
“Then you need to start drinking because I’m freaking out here, Jenna.”
“You’re freaking out?” I shouted.
After drinking an entire bottle of water, I was able to take all five tests. As they were lined up in a row on the sink, we both stood there and watched as all five came up positive.
“You call your doctor in the morning, and I’ll call mine,” he said.
“This time it’s your fault, and I want to hear you say it. Say it, Lucas!”
“It’s my fault,” he shouted. “There, are you happy now?” He walked out of the bathroom, sat on the edge of the bed and placed his face in his hands.
Sitting next to him, I placed my hand on his thigh.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t believe this.”
“I can’t either.”
He placed his hand on mine and brought it up to his lips.
“I guess it’s meant to be that we’re the parents of four children,” he said.
“Or five.”
“Don’t say that, Jenna. Fuck.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Live life and raise our kids the best way we know how. Millions of couples have four or more kids. If they can do it, so can we. And one day, our kids will be all grown up, they’ll move out, and we’ll be sitting here wishing we had this time back.”
“Somehow I don’t think so,” I shook my head.
“Yeah. Me either.”
Chapter 39
Jenna
At my eight-week checkup, I told Doctor Lewis I wanted an ultrasound because I couldn’t wait to find out if we were having one baby or two. The anxiety was not only killing me, but Lucas as well.
“Okay. Are you ready?” Dr. Lewis asked.
Lucas grabbed my hand and held it tight as we stared at the monitor.
“There’s the baby’s heartbeat. It’s nice and strong.”
“There’s only one heartbeat, right?” Lucas asked.
“Yes. There’s only one baby in Jenna’s belly.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “There isn’t another one hiding anywhere?”
“Mr. Thorne, I promise you there’s only one baby here.” She smirked.
We both let out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t mean to pry, but how did this happen? Didn’t you have a vasectomy?” Dr. Lewis asked him.
“Apparently, the tubes reconnected,” I said. “And he didn’t bother to get his semen checked after the procedure.”
“Okay. That explains it. Since you already had a c-section for the twins, we can do a c-section for this baby and I can tie your tubes if you want. I can promise you there will be no more babies in your future.” She smiled.
“Thank you, Dr. Lewis. I was going to talk to you about that.”
Eight Months Later
Lucas
At thirty-eight weeks, our son, Sebastian Lucas Thorne was born and weighed in at exactly eight pounds. I never thought in a million years I’d be back in this hospital holding my fourth child.
“He’s beautiful.” I smiled as I leaned over and kissed Jenna.
“He certainly is. I love you, Lucas.”
“I love you too, babe.” My lips brushed against hers.
Nine Months Later
Before I even approached the door to the house, I could hear the screaming and crying. I stood there for a moment holding my briefcase and took in a long deep breath before stepping inside.
“What’s going on in here?” I shouted over all the noise.
“Baby drama!” Jenna shouted back. “Welcome home, babe. Grab a kid or two and help me out here.”
The corners of my mouth curved upward as I brushed my lips against hers. This was my life and my family, and as chaotic as it was at times, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Epilogue
I wrapped my arms around Jenna as she stood at the kitchen sink and pressed my lips against her bare shoulder.
“Good morning.” She smiled as she turned around in my arms.
“Good morning. I don’t like waking up and you’re not in bed.” I brushed my lips against hers.
“I wanted to get the muffins in the oven before you woke up.”
“Banana nut?”
“Of course.” She grinned.
“Then you’re forgiven. Listen, do you hear that?”
“Hear what? I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly. Blissful silence. We need to enjoy it before the kids come up. What time will they be here?”
“Soon, I think.”
“Is Scarlett bringing Alan?”
“I think so. I’m not sure though.”
“I feel like I need to have a talk with that boy.”
“Leave him alone, Lucas. He’s a good kid.”
“But I think they’re getting too serious. She is only twenty-one.”
“They’ve been dating for a year. He’s her first love.”
“I’m just not sure he’s the right guy for her. Something’s off with him and I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“That’s her decision. Not ours. Now go sit down and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee and a muffin.”
The lake house was our special place. More special than I originally thought it would be. The kids loved it here and were joining us for part of the summer. Scarlett was now twenty-one and working for the government in a lab in New York as a Molecular Biologist. Serena and Sam were nineteen and both were on track to graduate from Harvard in December before starting medical school in January to become neurosurgeons. As for Sebastian, our youngest child who was now seventeen, just completed his first year of college at Columbia. Out of all four children, he was the one who took after me and would be the one to take over Thorne Tech when I retired.
As Jenna and I were sitting at the table enjoying our coffee and muffin, the door opened, and Scarlett and Sebastian walked in.
“Hey, princess. Hello, son.” I smiled when I saw them.
“Hi, Dad.” Scarlett kissed my cheek. “Hi, Mom.” She walked over and kissed Jenna.
“Hey, Dad.” He fist bumped me. “Hey, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “Are those banana nut muffins?”
“They sure are. I made them just for you.” Jenna looked at me and gave me a wink.
“You are the best mom ever! Hey, Dad, can we go fishing?”
“Of course. I already planned on it.”
“Awesome. I’m going to go take a shower first. I got in a little late last night.”
“Yeah, and I had to wake his sorry ass up this morning, or we would have missed our flight,” Scarlett said.
“I would have woken up, you nerd,” he said as he flew up the stairs.