“You getting ready to go?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to say hi before we leave in the morning,” I tell a half-truth. “How are things?”
“So… you wanted to call me right before you leave for one of the most important trips of your life? I’m honored.”
“It’s not that big of a deal, Sloan. I’ve given these talks before.”
“Wait, a minute. Did you just say that my best friend giving a Ted Talk on the main stage is not a big deal? You must still have baby brain, because I almost slept with my new boss so I could get the time off just to come see you wow the audience in Canada.”
“You did not!?” I laugh hysterically. “He’s way too old for you.”
“I said almost, didn’t I? Even for you, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“You were never really coming with us to Canada, anyway.”
“Not after the dark knight made it quite clear that this is a family trip and I wasn’t welcomed.”
“He never said that,” I chuckle. “You always try to make him out to be a dark overlord when he’s nothing of the kind.”
“He’s your husband. Of course you would think his shit smells like roses. Hey, where are those scrumptious kiddies? The house sounds so quiet.”
Surprisingly, I was not only pregnant on my wedding day, but I was pregnant with twins. Roman and I are now parents to two-year-old Knox and six-month-old twin boys, Seven and Bronx. I am seriously outnumbered in the house now.
“Mona is double checking the luggage. You know me. I’m afraid I might forget something. I swear I have squirrel brain lately since getting ready for this talk. I guess I’m a little more nervous than I thought I’d be.”
“That’s so cool that the president of Cabot nominated you for the talk. I bet his influence went a long way in you making the cut.”
“Yeah, I have to say that it’s been awesome working with him this past year.”
“I guess it also doesn’t hurt that he and Roman chat it up like they’re old buddies now that he knows the prez has zero interest in you.”
Turns out that the ring on Jacob’s finger is because he’s been lovingly married to his husband Bill for five wonderful years. He mentioned it in passing during one of our calls, and Roman’s ears perked up like a busybody in church. He had the stupidest grin on his face for the rest of the night. It’s kind of nutty but sweet how Roman thinks every single man on the planet would pursue me if given the chance.
“I can definitely admit that Jacob is hands-down my favorite client.”
“And don’t forget your most lucrative. School Bucks is being used by five universities thanks to him, not to mention that awesome write up you got in US News and World Report.”
“That’s true. Maybe I should name my next baby after him.”
“There better not be a next baby,” she laughs. “You two already have enough kids.”
“Roman still wants that girl though.”
“You two could afford to go to one of those places where they separate the X and Y chromosomes in a Petri dish and guarantee you the sex of the baby.”
“We’d never do that. The whole fun is making the baby the old-fashioned way.” I giggle.
“The luggage is all packed, Elizabeth.”
Mona is our new full-time nanny and the daughter of one of Juliette’s close friends. She’s a quiet, studious girl who works for us while she studies general education at the local community college. She enters my office with one twin in her arms and Knox and Mr. Tibbs following right behind her. I think they’re both smitten with her.
“Thanks, Mona.”
“Seven is napping, but this one here can’t seem to keep his eyes closed.”
I stretch out my arms to hold Bronx. He is the more energetic of my twins and seems to function on very little sleep. Seven requires lots of naps and can be a bit more temperamental. Both of them look like mini versions of their father, and I can see parts of his personality in each.
These days my life is overflowing with dirty diapers, stuffed animals, story time and endless amounts of Cheerios but it’s also bursting with rewarding work, laughs, occasional nights out with girlfriends and lots of passionate nights between me and Roman. We have blissfully found the balance in our relationship that once eluded us.
Knox grabs my leg and stares disapprovingly of us. He definitely has been more clingy since the boys were born. That’s why I am making it a point to take all three of them with me on this trip to Canada. Where one goes, we all will go. That’s our new family motto.
“Bitsy!”
I forgot that fast I was on the phone.
“Oops, sorry. I’ve got these two little stinkers clinging to me.”
“Do you want me to take him?” Mona interrupts.
“No, I’ve got him. You can go study for a while until Seven wakes up. You have that major test on Friday, right?”
“Yes, I do and I’m pretty nervous about it.”
“Okay go cram for an hour. I’ve got this.”
I snicker as Knox and the dog follow right behind her like she’s the pied piper.
“So let me get this straight,” Sloan says. “You pay some pretty, young thing with the tightest ass I’ve ever seen an ungodly sum of money to watch your babies and to study?”
“We will not talk about this again. The only ass my husband wants is mine. He almost died trying to get back to it.”
“Ooh-wee! Now that’s what I like to hear. I’m drowning in the confidence that’s dripping through this phone right now. All I was trying to say was, couldn’t you have picked an older or uglier nanny? What do you think Roman is, some sort of saint?”
“Hardly, but what I do think is that my husband loves me and if I worried about every pretty young girl that crossed his path, we wouldn’t be together at all. Between the club, the restaurant, and his other business ventures, he’s around beautiful women all the time. If I trust him with my life, I can certainly trust him around other women.”
“I guess I have trust issues.”
“Yeah, and you’re going to have to work on that before you meet the one.”
“Girl, there is no one for me.”
“I bet you’ve already met him.”
“Unless you want me to marry the sweet old man that owns the dry cleaner’s around the corner, I don’t think I’ve met him.”
I’m giggling at Sloan’s comment when I hear the distinct tones of someone pressing the buttons of our digital front door lock. Finally, he’s home.
“You’re late.”
“Hang the phone up and give me that mouth.”
“Gotta go, Sloan.”
“Yuck, I heard. Good luck tomorrow!”
Roman wraps one arm around my waist, kisses Bronx’s forehead, and then goes in for a heated kiss.
“You look sexy today,” he compliments.
“I’m in sweats.”
“Yeah, but you’re in your good sweats.”
I laugh as he takes Bronx out of my arms and holds him in the air. The baby squeals with joy.
“The Kings wanted me to let you know how proud they are of you. Getting a Ted Talk at your age is no easy feat. You’re going to wow the audience with all your nerdy shit.”