Lily’s POV.
Two Years Later…..
“Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear, Adam. Happy Birthday to you.” I sing as I bring a small cake for my sulking son in his room on the morning of his birthday.
“Dada?” He asks as he looks behind me.
“He will be here soon honey.” I say and sit on the bed.
“No.” Adam says to the cake as I bring it closer to him.
“Baby bun, Daddy called me to let me know that he would be here with a big surprise for you.” I say.
“Suprise?” He says as he fumbles.
“Yes. A big surprise.” I say.
“No talking.” He says as he turns away again.
“Adam doesn’t love Mummy. She made his favourite cake first thing in the morning and he is not even looking at it. Mummy is very sad.” I say and pout sadly.
“Mummy. Don’t cry. Adam loves you the most.” He says immediately and hugs me.
“Really?” I ask and he nods, “So happy birthday.” and he finally eats the cake.
Two years have passed by so fastly and Adam is growing up even faster. I still can’t believe he is turning two today. It feels like yesterday only when he first crawled and didn’t stop since then, making us run behind him.
When he was teething Ryan had gone crazy with worry about it. When he stood up for the first time and took his first step to go towards his busy Dad, he left all his work only to see his baby walk.
When he called me Mumma for the first time, making Ryan jealous and sulky but happy at the end of the day when he called him Dada. Time passes away so quickly.
I leave Adam with his nanny and go to my room and get ready in a dark green lace a-line dress with butterfly sleeves. I get Adam ready too.
After working for another one year, I decided to quit my job and only work from home to look after Adam. It was not like I had to sacrifice my career but Ryan told me to still go on, so I can enjoy everything. So I decided to be a virtual assistant. This way I can work with passion and also take care of my family. As I am my own boss, I don’t have to overdo anything.
Ryan has gone out of town for an important meeting but promised to come back before Adam’s birthday party. I was as sulky as Adam was but knew that as the business is growing, he has to work extra to get extra time. So that we could enjoy a small vacation every month and also for other things. I smile secretly.
“Happy Birthday, my baby.” Mom says as soon as she enters our home. I started calling Heather Mom as soon as I came back from my honeymoon at her insistence.
“Thank you. Granny.” Adam says as he hugs her spontaneously, “Pop-Pop.”
“Is my champ missing me?” Dad says as he comes in and picks up Adam in his arms.
“Pop-Pop” Adam says as he kisses him and hugs him hard.
“Lily, how are you dear?” Mom asks.
“I am just fine. I hope the boys are here along with our other guests.” I ask.
“Yes, they are.” Mom says.
“Thank God you all are here. Adam seriously needs distraction till his Daddy comes back.” I say and sigh in relief.
“Then consider him distracted.” Mom says as Theo carries the birthday boy away on his back.
My family and others come one by one and I spent my day resting a bit as Adam rarely remembers when he is surrounded by his favourite people. He only comes to me when he wants to sleep or misses me very much.
The real party will start at 5 and Mom is making a special cake for her grandson. When Adam falls while playing, Ethan distracts him immediately with a new game. Vincent hugs me as soon as he sees me then goes off to his best friend.
“Aunty, I want a sister.” Eve demands as she puts hands on her hips.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I am bored of these boys. They don’t come to my tea party anymore.” Eve complains.
“Well then why don’t we have our own little party and make them want to join us. There is nothing wrong with getting little refreshments and talking after playing all day.” I say and she nods.
I arrange the game and soon boys join us and we have a nice tea party with juice instead of tea and some snacks of cookies and crackers. After putting them down for a small nap, I go to see how the preparation is going.
“Did you miss me, wifey? I must say you look hot, babe.” Ryan whispers in my ear as he puts his arm around me.
“Seriously.” I say as I look at him grumpily and point at my nine month pregnant belly.
“You know you look beautiful to me.” Ryan says as he kisses my red cheeks.
“Adam was missing you in the morning. You are late.” I say.
“And you are standing.” Ryan says as he frowns and I frown back.
“I will do whatever I like. Or do you want me to make you do whatever I like?” I ask with an evil smile.
“Sorry. I came as soon as possible. Please forgive me. Look what I brought for you.” Ryan says as he takes out a pearl bracelet.
“Keep that thing away from me.” I say as I back away from him and sit down on the bench of the backyard garden.
“Why? I chose this for you. Precious pearl for my special person.” Ryan says.
“This bracelet and your sweet talk is the reason I am in this situation right now and on top of it, it was your birthday.” I say.
“Well you can’t get more pregnant than this.” Ryan says.
“You are right. Here.” I say with a pout and give him my left wrist.
“How does it look?” Ryan asks as he ties it around my wrist.
“Perfect with this dress. That is the reason why I love you. You make everything perfect in my life. But your timing is the worst.” I say and he laughs.
When Adam wakes up from his nap and sees his Daddy, he jumps on him. Ryan takes him to the room he prepared for him. It is a playroom for Adam as he is growing up and needs more physical activity. I gave him a small telescope as he loves talking about stars a lot. We enjoyed his birthday to the fullest.
By the end of February, Eve gets the wish she wanted from Kathy as she gives birth to a baby girl but not from me. As I gave birth to another boy in March. Ryan slowly mumbling that he has to try again made me glare at him.
Then I completely ignored him to give my attention to Leo Ren Anderson.
Another Three Years Later…..
“Come on, Lily. One more than no more. I promise.” Ryan says.
“No.” I say as I serve him scrambled eggs and call out to the boys, “Adam, Leo breakfast is ready.”
We have to leave for Anderson farm at noon as Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow. And Ryan asked me to have a daughter. Little does he know that I may be expecting again but I don’t want to tell him until it is confirmed.
“Good Morning, Mom.” Adam says as he comes outside in the open kitchen which I asked to be made for family days.
“Good Morning, baby.” I say as I kiss him.
“Mumma, I am not a baby anymore.” Adam says as he sits on the chair.
“But I am. Mumma kisses.” Leo says as he points his cheeks.
“You are my favorite son.” I say and give him lots of kisses and tease Adam.
“Well, I will see how you will act after two years.” Adam says with a smirk but I see little sadness in his eyes.
“What will he see? That how much he likes kisses just like his brother.” I say and give him extra kisses.
“Mumma.” Adam exclaims without any anger behind it letting me know that he still loves.
“Adam, real men never deny kisses especially from a beautiful woman like your Mom.” Ryan reprimands as he grabs me and gives a sound kiss on lips.
“Ryan! Help Leo sit in his chair. My babies must be hungry.” I say and serve them breakfast of pancakes and sit down to have mine after giving Teddy and Lady their food.
“Mumma, I need your help with a project before we leave for the farm.” Adam says.
“Ask your father, honey. Mumma has to go out for something important.” I say as I ruffle his head.
“But Daddy is helping Leo.” Adam says.
“Don’t worry, Adam. I will help you out too. By the way, where are you going?” Ryan asks and I try to think of an answer.
“For some last minute shopping and also Kathy was asking me to accompany her to see the doctor. You know how she gets stressed.” I say.
“Yes. But please come home soon.” Ryan says and I leave after having breakfast.
Kathy and I are going to the hospital for my check up but I can’t tell that to Ryan as I don’t want to see a sad look on his face again. We tried having a third baby for the past year and a half in vain. I faced three miscarriages during that time and cried like hell because of it.
Ryan never forced me but I did also want to have a daughter. But we stopped trying after our last try which was in August and a month later the test was negative. But my symptoms tell a different story.
My first two pregnancies were going well and I had very little morning sickness. But now it is totally different. I get sick just after I roll out of the bed and sometimes not even in the morning. And last week, Ryan asked me if I was on a diet as I lost some weight, not much but it was still noticeable. I did not even get my period back.
“Everything would be fine, Lily. Maybe that test was false.” Kathy tried to assure me as we waited for the doctor.
“I don’t know. I always planned to have all of my children before I turn 32 and I know I still have some time left but I don’t want bigger gaps between my kids.” I say as I sigh.
“I know dear. Vance and I didn’t want any kids after Verity but then when this little one came into my tummy, we thought to let it happen.” Kathy says as she puts a hand on his four month small belly bump.
“This is the last time. After this if Ryan asks for a daughter, I will just kidnap Verity. He loves her a lot and I do too.” I say and Kathy laughs.
“I am sorry but I can’t let it happen as my Verity is not planning to become your daughter but daughter in law.” Kathy says and I look at her perplexed.
“You are talking about Leo and Verity. It would not be a problem as he always asks for his Veve.” I say.
“Not them. I don’t want to ruin their friendship. There is another person who does Veve all the time with different expressions.” Kathy says as she smiles.
“Adam. No way. I don’t want my Verity to face his scolding.” I say.
“Well there is always concern in his scolding. Don’t you see that?” Kathy asks.
“Why are we even planning their wedding right now?” I ask.
“To distract you silly. Now relax.” Kathy says when the doctor finally arrives.
We leave the hospital and she drops me at my home. When I enter the house everything is silent but soon it would be filled with more noise, I think that as I smile and caress my belly. I have to be very careful.
“Lily! You have yet to get ready. Come on. I got the boys ready. Do I have to help you too?” Ryan says as he enters our bedroom and winks at me.
“We are not going.” I say as I smile.
“What? You are cancelling the plan at the last minute. Are you not feeling well again? See. I told you we should go see a doctor. Do you have a fever? Is your stomach hurting again?” Ryan asks as he touches my head and looks at me with concern but I just hug him.
“What happened, Lily? Please tell me. Because now you are really scaring me.” Ryan says.
“Well you should be scared.” I say and Ryan holds me by shoulders.
“Why? What happened?” Ryan asks.
“Because I am going to make your life hell for the next six and half months.” I say with a smile on my face and vision blurring.
“You are pregnant?” Ryan asks and I nod.
“Yes I am. I just wanted to confirm it first then tell you. That test was false, which I took two months ago and I missed another two periods.” I say.
“Oh, Lily.” Ryan says and kisses me and I kiss him back passionately.
“I am so happy.” I say as I sob in his arm.
**********
“Lily, you should be happy. I brought you your favourite cake.” Ryan says as he puts the plate on the table.
“I am happy but I want that too.” I say pointing at balloons.
“Do you want it or the baby?” Ryan asks with a smirk.
“We both want it.” I say but feel a sharp kick, “Okay, fine. I want it.”
“Good girl.” Ryan says as he pats my belly bump of 39 weeks.
“Mom, look, I made this for Daddy.” Leo says as he shows me the card he made.
“Daddy would love it. Go show him.” I say and Leo goes away after giving me a kiss.
“Mumma, here.” Adam says as he gives the glass of juice.
“Aww, sweetie. Thank you.” I say and give him a huge kiss.
“Aww, sweetie.” Verity says and giggles and makes kissing noises.
“Mumma!” Adam exclaims and goes after Verity who is running away.
“Leave my friend alone, bro.” Leo says as he runs after Adam while Vincent is confused rather to save his friend or sister or looks after his new little sister Kaira and I laugh at their antiques.
“Finally, you are laughing.” Ryan says as he gives me balloons.
“Happy Birthday.” I say and give him a light peck on lips.
“Thank you. And I must say Leo is getting good at this.” Ryan says as he admires the drawing of our family.
Later, we rushed to the hospital when I told him after lunch that we have to go to hospital as my contractions were getting stronger. He scolded me all through our ride but I put on an earbud and hid it well with my hair.
It really was good as I didn’t have to hear any of them, not my doctor, not Ryan. It was a very good delivery. At the end when one of the earpieces fell down, they all glared at me.
“What? Baby is here. And this helped me a lot rather than the push push talk. Now give me my baby.” I say.
“You silly wife of mine.” Ryan says as he kisses me hard and I blush.
“She is so beautiful.” I say as I look at the baby who finally has Ryan’s eyes.
“I got my little Lily and that too on my birthday. Thanks for the best birthday gift ever.” Ryan says he caresses the baby’s redhead.
“Have you decided the name yet?” The nurse asks.
“Yes. Primrose Erica Anderson.” Ryan says as he looks at me.
“But I thought you wanted to name her Erica as her first name as it means heather.” I ask.
“She looks more of a Primrose and she loves it too. Look.” Ryan says and I look down to see the slight smile of our baby which soon turns into loud wailing.
**********
“She is our little sister Leo. So be careful. Okay?” Adam says as he sits behind Leo on the couch while Ryan is putting Prim in their little arms.
“Come Lily.” Ryan says as he makes me sit beside my boys after their photoshoot is over.
“Good job, boys.” I say as I take Prim in my arms.
“Ready for the family photo.” Ryan asks and we nod.
And after setting the timer, Ryan comes to stand behind the couch for the family photo. I smile as I look at my Teddy and Lady posing beside my sons, and at my husband and then at Prim. Yes, our family is finally complete.
THE END.