Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(97)

“Yes, exactly like him.”

Archie sits up and looks at me. “You okay, baby? Will we have a little chat later, you and me?” Clarifying what Archie witnessed last night will help me gauge how I approach the explanation for last night's events.

He nods his blond-covered head slowly, his eyes full of concern.

“I’m okay. I promise.” He takes hold of my hand and I squeeze it.

“Me magic.” Hamish looks as shocked about that statement as I am.

“Are you?”

“Yes. I sleeped in my bed. Then I woked up here in this big house.” Hamish’s big brown eyes go wide and he splays his hands out in the air.

“Wow, you are. Like the fish?”

He nods his head enthusiastically.

“Magic.” Knox turns his head to the side and grins. “So cute,” he mouths.

He loves them.

I put my head back to center and frown. “Why is there a broom handle with bananas hanging from pieces of string above our heads?”

“Decoration. Hamish’s idea,” Knox says as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.





I fall asleep after lunch. My body is exhausted.

Stress from last night, the run up to Christmas, dance classes, sneaking away to see Knox. The list goes on and on and on.

Outcome: I’m shattered.

It turns out Archie didn’t see the scuffle between Ewan and me. He heard it, though. Which was more than enough to frighten him. We talked it out. I covered for Ewan, told Archie his daddy isn’t well and he is going to get some help.

If only that were true.

I want to keep his innocent mind exactly that, pure and innocent.

I also had a little conversation with them both, which I have had before, but it felt right to do again, about how Mommy and Daddy still cared for each other, but we didn’t live together anymore.

Knox and I also put the feelers out and asked the boys about him and me being a couple. How they felt about us being together maybe and would it be okay if Knox maybe cuddled me from time to time.

Hamish asked if it meant he could now have more hot chocolate with Knox and Archie asked if he could stay in the big bedroom he slept in last night again. Our reply of yes to both of those requests appeased the boys and they didn’t ask anything else after that.

My boys astonish me at times. I’ve gone over that scenario in my head a countless number of times and none of them played out as easily as it did.

Archie did, however, mention how cool it was that he now had three houses, more than anyone else in his class.

Little minds always amuse me.

I yawn and stretch as I enter the kitchen.

So much noise. The television is so loud.

I stop in my tracks, as does everyone else.

I can’t believe what I am seeing. It’s not the television.

Knox appears by my side and blankets me with his warm body. “I called Linc. Who called Fraser. Who called Hunter. You need your family. You need your sisters, Eva. You cannot keep doing this by yourself.” I stare into his big brown eyes.

He cradles my face and plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

When I turn my head around, Eden and Ella are by my side.

Ella’s eyes fill with tears.

Eden tilts my chin to inspect my injuries.

Neither of them say anything.

I tilt my head back to stop myself from crying. I do need them.

“Omne trium perfectum,” I whisper. Everything in threes is perfect.

The three of us join hands, and then we wrap our arms around each other.

“We will do this together,” Ella mumbles.

“Help you. Help with the boys. Anything.” Eden rubs my back.

“I don’t want Mom and Dad to know yet. Please don’t say anything.”

They both agree to keep quiet.

“But why?” Ella quizzes.

“The last few years have been crazy. What with Eden, then triplet baby Hunter drama, and then you and Fraser and the papers, career, wife scandal, and everything. Can we not give them at least one hassle-free, stress-free year?”

Eden chuckles. “You have a point.”

I confess, “I wanted more time with Knox. Just the two of us. But then things went south with Ewan. You are all so busy. Then the wedding, Christmas, and now your baby news, and Knox has the Winter Ball coming up. It’s a lot to deal with.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Ella agrees.

Fraser and Hunter make their way over to us.

“Thank you for being here,” I direct my words to both of them.

Instinctively, they join our threesome.

Fraser lays a kiss on the top of my head. “You are not my sister-in-law, Eva. You’re my sister. We are family. I have known you my whole life. We share each other’s burdens. You were all there for me when I needed you the most. Now it’s our time to be here for you. No more going it alone.”

Sobs leave my chest, then Eden’s, then Ella’s.

“We have to stop this or I will end up a blubbering mess on this kitchen floor. Baby hormones are so unattractive.” Ella sniffs.

We break out of our hug.

Eden uses her pointer fingers to swipe away her tears under her eyes. “We are staying here for dinner. You have an appointment with Corey at the hospital. Hunter is taking you. When you come back, we will order takeout. It will be the best Boxing Day ever.” Eden loves organization. “Plus, Knox has had all these cool inflatables arrive from the hotel. We are having a pool party later too. Knox has a pool. Funny that, huh?”