We have both names picked out already.
We follow Suzy to the giant cardboard box.
“Hey everybody. Thanks for coming today. We are so excited about this.” Verity says. I see that someone has used a lot of tape on this box, so I take my pocket knife and carefully slice it open. Don’t want to be popping balloons. As soon as the tape is off the flaps are pushed out by all of the blue balloons that are escaping into the air.
Blue. A boy. My son will be here in less than four months.
“David Alan Evers.” I shout, pulling Verity into a hug.
“A baby brother?” I hear Victoria screech from somewhere. She runs up to us and wraps herself around our legs. I lean down and pick her up.
Our family is growing and I fucking love it. I see a flash go off. We are smiling and happy. If the next sixty or so years could always be the same, I’ll die a happy man.
Epilogue two Verity
Eleven Years Later
The last eleven years have gone by in a blur. Donnie and I have six wonderful children. I started King Fashion right after I graduated from school. I have Twelve wonderful ladies that I employ. I love making cute maternity clothes for plus size women. There is a big market for that and once I set up my online clothing store I have had orders coming in nonstop. Once I gave birth to David I started working less at the shop and more at home. Donnie had a huge workshop built off the side of the house for me to work on my stuff.
Donnie retired from the station five years ago and has loved staying at home with us. Truth be told I have a huge weight lifted off of me now that he is not at a dangerous job. I fix my dress and head up to Victoria's room. Today my baby girl is graduating high school and going off to college in California. I can't stop myself from crying. I am so proud of her, but I don't know what I am going to do with her out of the house, living so far away. I knock on the door.
“Come in mom.” I walk in and give her a watery smile.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Because you have been hovering over the door for the last four minutes.” I sit on her bed looking at the picture on the side of her bed it's of me and her when she was just a little girl and I burst into tears. God, I'm such a mess.
“Mom, you have to stop crying. Everything is going to be okay.” Victoria says as she finishes her makeup.
“My baby is graduating today, how am I supposed to act.” I ask standing up wiping my eyes. “You look so beautiful sweetheart I am so proud of you.” She turns from the mirror and holds me close.
“Thank you for making my dress.”
“Your welcome baby it looks amazing on you. Are you sure you have to move all the way to California? You can just stay home you know.” I say only half joking
“Mom we have gone over this. I promise I will come back for fall and Christmas break plus we can Facetime like every day.”
“You better. Your dad may be acting all tough, but I know he is sad to see his baby leave the nest.”
Donnie clears his throat and we pull apart smiling at each other.
“Come on girls. It's time to go. I have the boys in the car.” He says while holding a car seat in his hand. Our two-month-old daughter is sleeping in it. We sniffle. I lean in, kissing her on the cheek.
“Are you sure you don't want to ride with us?” I ask walking over to Donnie.
“Mom, I'm eighteen. I can drive myself, besides the boys are going to try and drive me crazy.” She says rolling her eyes, coming over to give me and her father one last hug and kiss. “Love your faces I’ll see you there.”
“Okay drive safe.”
“Duh.” She says under her breath.
Donnie and I walk out to the car where our four boys are. I can see them roughhousing through the front window but as soon as they see us they sit back down acting like nothing was happening. Finally, we are all situated and, in the car, heading to the stadium for graduation.
“Ma, why are you crying again?” David, our ten-year-old asks looking at me with concern.
“Because she always cries. That's what girls do.” Lance, our seven-year-old says making a face. Ronny, our four-year-old looks at them in confusion
“Mommy sad?” Our two-year-old, Xander, looks at me through the rearview mirror his little lip quivering.