“We’re okay. Everyone is okay.” She falls into my arms then looks up at me. “I… I need to make sure my kids all find their parents.”

I nod, and she takes my hand and leads me over to a group of young children who all look nervous.

“Okay, you guys. I want you all to hold hands and follow me. We’re going to move away from the crowd so it’s easier for your moms and dads to find you.” She smiles reassuringly then leads the kids to a section of grass. She has them all sit down in a circle, and my mom and hers sits with them as her dad and I help December direct parents to their children. When the last little boy is walking away, held tight in his mom’s arms, she turns to me and I wrap my arms around her, holding her close as she sobs.

“What happened?” I ask, still not sure of what took place. Really, I don’t know if I have the stomach to handle knowing what happened.

“One of the teachers, Mr. Jetson….” She hiccups. “I guess he was fired last Friday at the end of day. The…. the principal saw him walk into the school today and went to talk to him and ask him why he was there. He… he pulled out a gun on her and tried to shoot her, but she managed to get out of the way. The… the janitor saved her. He heard the shot and was able to sneak up on Jetson and take him down before he was able to hurt anyone.”

Jesus, I hold her tighter and bury my face in her hair. Having seen this same thing play out on the news way too fucking often, I know exactly how lucky each and every person in that school was today. “Until the police came to clear my room, I didn’t know what was going on. All I knew was there were shots being fired in the school and it was my job to protect those kids. I was so scared.”

“I know, baby.” I run my hand down her back. “I know, but you’re safe. They’re all safe.”

“Yeah,” she whispers, leaning back to wipe the tears off her cheeks. “Can… can we get the boys and go home now?”

“Yeah, baby.” I tuck some hair behind her ear then kiss her forehead, nose, and lips before turning her and tucking her under my arm. I look at my mom and her parents. “We’re going to find the boys and get them home. If you’re up to it, you can join us for dinner.”

My mom looks at December and her face softens. “I think you and your family need some time alone, honey. I’ll be over—”

“You are our family,” December cuts in, reaching out her hand toward my mom, who looks at it for a moment before taking it and pulling her away from me for a hug.

When she leans back, she takes a hold of December’s face. “Have some time with your boys, I’ll be over later. Okay?”

“Okay.” December whispers and mom nods before letting her go so her parents, who are standing close, can hug her. When they release her, I tuck her back against my side.

“We’ll meet you guys at the house in a bit,” Asher says placing his arm around his wife who’s crying.

I lift my chin and let out the breath I feel like I’ve been holding forever then take my woman to go get our boys and take them home.

_______________

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I hear Mitchell say later that evening as I’m dumping pasta into the pot of boiling water on the stove.

“Me too,” Max says, and even though I can’t see them from where I’m standing, I still know the three of them are sitting side by side on the couch, exactly where they all ended up as soon as we got home.

“Do you guys know I love you?” December asks, and my jaw clenches so tight I think I might crack teeth.

“Yeah,” Mitchell replies at the same time as Max.

“Good, don’t ever forget it,” she murmurs, and I squeeze my eyes closed.

Stepping away from the stove, I wrap my fingers around the edge of the counter, drop my head forward, and close my eyes. Like my boys, December has become vital to me, a living, breathing extension of my heart, a part of me that I know I wouldn’t be able to live without. Until her, I never believed in happily ever afters, but I know she was brought into my boys’ and my life to prove they really do exist.

Epilogue

December

“YOU DID OKAY for yourself, baby girl.” I look up as my dad comes to stand next to me then lean into him when he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

“I did, didn’t I?” I reply quietly, turning to watch my boys mingle with my family like they have always belonged.

“They love you.”

“I love them,” I say, then add, “I always knew I wanted to find a guy who loved me as much as you do. I just never thought I would.” His arm gets tighter. “I’m glad I was wrong about that.”

“Me too.” He kisses my hair and my eyes close.

“Thank you for being the best Dad in the world.” I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest.

“I think your guys are waiting for you,” Dad tells me, and I open my eyes and see Gareth, Mitchell, and Max standing together under a string of lights set up around the pergola. Wondering what they’re up to, I walk toward them, and my heart lodges in my throat when Gareth drops to one knee.

“What are you doing?”

“Asking you to spend the rest of your life with me.”

“And me,” Mitchell says.

“And me,” Max adds.

I look around at my family then at my boys, and tears spill from my eyes.

“What do you say, baby? Are you gonna run or jump?”

“Jump. Definitely jump!” I rush toward him and throw myself into his arms, laughing as I pepper kisses on his face. I lean back when he takes my hand and watch, holding my breath, as he slides a gorgeous yellow gold ring with one large diamond and two smaller ones up against it onto my finger. I stare at the ring then look at my boys and know wherever Beth is, she’s an idiot for not appreciating what she had. I also know I will never make the same mistake.

_______________

One year later . . .

“Open them,” I say, and both Mitchell and Max tear into their boxes wrapped in white paper then toss the tissue paper out onto the floor. I see the looks of confusion then realization fill their eyes and laugh when they both look between their father and me.

“Seriously?” Max asks.

“No way,” Mitchell says, holding up his shirt that says Big Brother #1 the exact same shirt as his brother’s, except Max’s says Big Brother #2.

“Way.” I laugh, and then start to cry when they rush forward to hug me. “I love you boys. I hope you know that.”

“We know. You tell us all the time,” Max says, letting me go so he can hug his dad while Mitchell sits next to me.

I do tell them I love them all the time. Fearing that you will never be able to tell the people you love how you feel will do that to you. Now, not a day goes by where I don’t show them exactly what they mean to me. And I’m sure sometimes I sound like a broken record telling them that I love them all the time, but oh well. Some things are worth repeating.

“Hey, December,” Max calls out, sounding shy and I look to where he’s still wrapped in his dad’s arms.

“Yeah honey?”

“Umm, do you think that maybe since the baby will call you mom, that maybe we could call you mom too? You know just so he or she isn’t confused?”