Justice Falling (Falling #3)(80)
She was dating one of the attorney’s at Stone, Walker, & Associates, which brought us all together even more often. Now she ran the entire daycare center, made a high dollar wage, and had moved into one of Nate and Collier’s apartments in downtown New York.
The entire fifth floor of the AIR Bright building boasted the full daycare and children’s services for kids between four months to twelve years of age. There was one adult to every five children and only allowed a handful of babies. Those spots were dedicated to our small group.
Oliver interviewed, background checked, and called every reference for the personnel himself. He was dedicated to making the center the safest place for AIR Bright’s children. I believed it was because of Hannah and he and Dean’s daughter, Isabella.
That was another big change. It occurred after Hank and Aspen had Hannah. He and Dean had a simple wedding, hyphenated both their names, and found a surrogate who went through in-vitro for them. They’d talked about it a lot during Aspen’s pregnancy. When Hannah was born, they decided that they were ready. No one knows which Dad is the ‘real’ biological father, but they both take their role very seriously and as far as we were told, they don’t plan to ever find out.
The best part about the children’s center was that if you made over a certain amount, you paid tuition. If you earned less than the threshold but worked for AIR Bright, daycare was free for up to two children.
Aspen was adamant that having a child should not be a hindrance to her staff. Since the addition of the daycare, every facet, including her revenue streams had increased twenty percent and staff turnaround was at an all-time low.
London and Collier entered and surprised both Nate and I.
“Hey, mate, what are you doing here?”
“I thought Aspen and Hank had a date tonight? Weren’t we supposed to pick up Hannah?” London asked while furiously rubbing her swollen belly. It turned out our honeymoon was very fruitful. Both London and I were due a couple days apart, though her bump was expectedly a bit larger.
Hank slapped Collier on the back then made a grab for London’s belly. She rolled her eyes. “Go ahead.”
He grinned and placed his giant paws on each side of her huge belly. We were both six months, and I’d just found out we were having a boy. Her visit had been this week.
“So? What are you having?” I asked excitedly.
London looked at Collier. “A boy!” he said and looked at London.
“A girl!” she said.
Hank’s eyes widened and Aspen entered, rubbing London’s belly. “A boy and a girl? Oh, how perfect!” She hugged her sister. The twins news wasn’t new, but the sex was. The couple looked thrilled. Originally, London was beyond freaked out at being pregnant. When she found out she was having twins, she accepted her fate and went with it. For a woman who had been so open and free, she now had everything dialed in and organized. I had to believe that was Collier’s effect on his wife.
“Angel, we need to catch up.” Hank gripped Aspen’s hips and rubbed up against her like a cat on a scratching pole. “Let’s start tonight after our date! I want another baby.”
Aspen looked at her husband’s face. “Are you serious? I just got my body back!” She pouted. He pulled her against his chest and palmed her ass.
“Yeah and it’s f*ckin’ to die for. I want to put a baby in it!” He jerked his hips against hers and she grinned, clasping her hands around his neck.
I shook my head and laughed. Their little display reminded me of the heavy ache between my own thighs.
“Okay, okay, that’s enough, mate. Christ! Too much info!” Nate scowled and hugged me to his side. I tickled his lower back then grabbed his bum to remind him of my plight. His gaze shot to mine and turned a swirly navy blue color. He nipped my lips. “Behave,” he said then gave me another peck. It wasn’t nearly enough.
I took a breath, trying to calm my libido and focused on London and Collier. “We’re having a boy, you two are having one of each and we already have Hannah, Isabella, Zach and Tanner. Our family is growing and I for one couldn’t be happier.”
Collective murmurs of “here here” and “Amen” were heard. Nate snuggled into my neck once more. “My girl is such a softy.”
The group said their goodbyes and shuffled out of the daycare, everyone content in where their life was. I had Nate, Tanner, and our little one on the way. I was finishing my school work in the evenings, and would soon be teaching grade school. It just proved how much your life could change if you love and let yourself be loved.
Hank and his angel, Aspen, were two people from completely different worlds, but love brought them together and made those differences seem very small. From what Nate told me, Collier pursued London relentlessly until she finally gave up her guilt and grief over falling in love again after losing her husband. For Nate and me, our story was no different than theirs. I didn’t believe I was worthy of love. In the end justice and love prevailed over my insecurities and the heavy weight of my past. All in all, each of us had beaten the odds, falling deeply in love forevermore.