Chapter 122: Fourth Year
*Promise me, little girl…. Don’t stop living… keep breathing… keep loving… - Cade*
In the back of her mind, even half asleep, Evie knew what day it was. She lay with her head on Tank’s shoulder and Ink was spooned up against her. Laying between them, engulfed in their comfort and warmth, she waited for the heaviness to settle in her chest.
It did not happen.
There was a weight, but nothing like the previous years. Sighing, she shifted slightly, seeking a more comfortable position. Both babies objected by moving also.
Tank grunted as he moved away from the kicking baby.
“Ian.” Evie whispered and hearing his real name had him waking up quickly.
“What’s wrong, luv?” he asked and both babies began to move more at hearing his voice. Eyes wide, he sat up slightly and looked at her belly. “Oh, God! Ink! Raymond!”
Ink grumbled behind her and the babies were kicking excitedly. Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, Tank reached over and popped the back of the other man’s head. Evie moved the colorful hand on her belly until it was over a very active foot. Or hand.
“What the hell was that-"
A look of absolute amazement filled his face. Ink smiled at the other man and neither hid their emotions.
“Brother, we made those.” Tank whispered with a thick voice.
“We did, brother, we did.” Ink agreed quietly.
“Hi, remember me? I’m just your friendly neighborhood incubator.” Evie said softly between them.
Tank reached over and caressed her cheek. “You’re the prettiest incubator I’ve ever seen.” He kissed her tenderly while Ink began talking to the twins in a baby voice.
“Your daddies can’t wait to meet you. We’re so excited about you.” He moved his hand around her belly, giving both of them attention. “So is your mommy. You stay in there and bake for as long as possible. We love you both, very much.”
Ink shifted his body and placed a kiss over each baby. As he lifted his head, he found the other two grinning at him. “What? I’m having a discussion with our children.”
When they finally made it downstairs, Athos was putting a roast in the slow cooker. “You want to make sure I did this right?”
Evie lifted Tank’s shirt that she was wearing and placed Athos' hand on her stomach above the sweatpants. Both had settled down and he felt nothing.
“This is your uncle Athos.” Tank said as he leaned in close to the belly. Both babies began moving again at the sound of his voice.
“Holy fuck!” the younger man’s eyes widened in surprise. He placed his other hand on her belly also.
“Watch your damned language around the babies.” Ink teased as they began moving more. Athos looked at Evie as his eyes got even wider.
“They love their daddies.” She smiled at the men in question.
“I think it may be mutual.” Athos grinned. He glanced at the clock on the wall and kissed her temple. “I’ve got to get to class. I’ve got it on low with a timer of eight hours.”
“You learn quickly.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek. Evie squealed a little bit as he scooped her up off her feet and then handed her off to his brother.
“I have a good teacher.” He nodded at his brother and Ink before grabbing his backpack and headed for the garage. “Bye mom.”
“What about us?” Ink demanded with a teasing grin.
“Bye assholes.” Athos called from the mudroom causing the other three to laugh.
“Close enough.” Tank shrugged.
A few hours later, Evie was asleep on the couch when her phone rang. Her head rested on Tank’s lap while her legs went across Ink’s. Ink stood slightly, holding her legs to him as he grabbed her phone off the coffee table.
He spoke with someone for a few minutes and confirmed a time for that afternoon. Disconnecting the call, he smiled at his woman and friend.
“Doctor’s office had a cancelation,” Ink said quietly, “if they cooperate, then we can find out their sex today.”
“If they cooperate.” Tank grinned.
This would be attempt number three. At the previous two, they both had their backs to the camera. Legs carefully tucked hiding any gems that might be there.
The trio left the office with two sealed envelopes. As promised, they took them straight to Nessie. While her men laughed and joked and bragged with the other brothers in the bar, Evie sat in the large kitchen with Nessie.
“Somethin’s botherin’ ya, lass.”
“It’s just today.” She sighed, reaching for another cookie. “I lost my husbands four years ago today.”
“Aye, tis hard. That why yer men keep peekin' into me kitchen?”
“Yeah. I needed a little space. It’s…. Why *today* of all days?”
“Fer what?”
“Today was the first time they felt the babies move.” She whispered with tears flooding her eyes. Nessie grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “Is it coincidence that I’m reading too much into?”
“My people believe that for a soul to enter this world, one must leave.” Nessie said quietly with her thick Scottish accent. She turned the other woman’s left hand over in her own and trailed her finger down some of the palm lines.
“Don’ go anywhere.” She told Evie after a moment of contemplation. Then she was out of the room and soon returned with an older version of herself.
The older woman stood in front of Evie and took her hand. She studied it and they spoke softly in their lyrical language. Then they drug her with them into the bar.
The same steps were taken with Tank and then Ink. All three were fascinated as their hands were laid out on the bar and pictures taken.
A gruff voice spoke in the same lyrical language and the two women looked guilty. The bar looked at Toad who was waiting for an answer.
“If I had an answer for you, I’d tell you. But I’ve never seen it before.” His wife admitted.
Siobhan’s phone rang and she spoke with someone in that same beautiful language. Her eyes filled with tears and she relayed the information to her niece. Soon, she had the same reaction.
“What did your mum say?” Toad asked placing a comforting arm around both women.
“Not mum. I had to ask Grams.” Siobhan said accepting the tissue from one of the other ladies. Aware that they had an audience, she dabbed at her eyes before speaking. “The palms have always been just for fun; I’ve never put much stock in them. But this,” she motioned to their hands, “makes it hard to believe it’s all bullshit.”
“Evie,” Nessie motioned for her to give her hand back and the little blonde did. Nessie traced lines on her palm. “Yeh had a great love that ended before it was supposed to. The love yeh shared with yer first two men, was supposed to burn longer than it did. And they were not ready to leave yeh.”
“Tank, Ink.” She took each of their hands and pointed to marking near the thumbs. “Yeh were blessed. Yeh found the light yeh needed. Yeh found the steadiness that yeh needed. And yeh all found the family that yeh craved.”
“You want us to believe that we are together because Daniel and Cade wanted us to be?” Ink asked.
“No. You’re together because that is what you all chose. Because of the choice, you were blessed.” Siobhan explained. “Further proof of the blessing is growing in her belly.”
