They all run to us and sit down, excited for what’s to come.
“We have something for you.” I smile.
Patrick puts his hand over his mouth so that he doesn’t blurt it out.
Claire’s eyes come to me in question.
I drop to my knee in front of her and hold out the ring. “Claire, will you marry me?”
The three boys all bounce on the spot in excitement.
Claire giggles and pulls me in to kiss her. “I thought you’d never ask.” We kiss, and the boys high-five. “I’ve got a Christmas present for you too, Tris,” she whispers.
I smile as I kiss her again, and then she takes my hand and puts it over her stomach.
“You’re going to be a father.”
My world stops.
She smiles through tears. “I’m two months pregnant.”
I stare at her wide eyed; then I look to the boys, who are wide eyed too.
What the . . .
Claire giggles as my hand rests tenderly over her stomach. “Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Miles. Now you have four.”
Two weeks later
I exhale heavily as I stand outside Jameson’s office door. I drop my head as I brace myself.
I’m about to do something I’ve never imagined in my wildest dreams.
I knock twice.
“Come in,” he calls.
Without a word, I walk in and hand him the envelope.
He frowns. “What’s this?”
“My resignation.”
“What?” His eyes hold mine. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m taking over as CEO of Anderson Media. Fletcher and I are going to run it together.”
His face falls. “I don’t think-”
“The decision’s already been made, Jay,” I cut him off. “I’m going.”
“What did Claire say?”
“She doesn’t know yet.”
He frowns. “You are leaving your family company to run someone else’s company? That’s madness.”
I drop my head.
“I can’t let you do this,” he stammers.
“I’m going to run my sons’ company . . . for them. I can build it back up so that by the time they are old enough to take it over, it will be booming.”
His eyes hold mine, and he gives me a slow smile. “You’re a good man, Tristan.” He pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek.
I want to blurt out that we are pregnant and not to be sad, because this is the beginning of something wonderful-a life with the woman I love and four beautiful children-but I can’t. We’ve agreed to keep the pregnancy to ourselves for another month until Claire reaches her second trimester.
However, I’m well aware that this is the end of my time working with my brothers, and for that I truly am devastated.
It won’t be the same not working with them.
My eyes well with tears as we hug. The ending of an era.
Eventually I pull out of his arms and walk toward the door.
“When will you be back?” he asks.
I turn back to him. “When my boys are men.”
The End