Novels by Blessing Coach

Ten Years LaterElena POVThe graduation ceremony was being held outside on the university lawn and the sun was shining down on rows and rows of students in black caps and gowns, and I was sitting in the audience next to Adrian trying not to cry.Rose and Violet were graduating today.Our twin daughters who'd been through so much before they were even born, who'd survived Vanessa's conspiracy and grown up healthy and happy and absolutely brilliant, were graduating from university at twenty-two years old."I can't believe they're this old," I whispered to Adrian."I know," Adrian whispered back. "It feels like yesterday they were babies.""It was yesterday," I said. "Where did the time go?"Behind us James was sitting with his wife Sophie who was eight months pregnant with their first child, and he kept making jokes to hide the fact that he was crying watching his sisters graduate.Leo and Lucas were fifteen now and they were sitting on the other side of Adrian trying to look bored but

Elena POVThe framed contract had made its way around the table and now it sat in front of Rose, and she was studying it carefully with the same serious expression she got when she was working on one of her paintings."Can I read it out loud?" Rose asked."If you want to," I said.Rose cleared her throat and began reading in her clear voice, and everyone at the table went quiet listening."Marriage Contract between Adrian Richard Blackwell and Elena Marie Williams," Rose read. "This agreement is entered into on this day with the following terms and conditions."I looked at Adrian across the table and he was watching Rose read, and I could see emotions playing across his face as he listened to our daughter read the document that had started everything."Party A, Adrian Blackwell, agrees to marry Party B, Elena Williams, in a legally binding ceremony," Rose continued. "Party B agrees to move into Party A's residence and assume the role of wife.""That sounds so formal," Violet said."It

Adrian POVThree years had passed since we renewed our vows and Lily announced her pregnancy, and now we were all gathered in our dining room for Sunday dinner like we did every week.Rose and Violet were twelve years old and sitting at one end of the table arguing about something from school, and they'd grown into beautiful young girls who looked more like Elena every day.James was eleven and he was talking to his Uncle James about the piano piece he was learning, and he was getting so good that his teacher said he had real talent.Leo and Lucas were five years old and they were supposed to be sitting still but they kept making faces at each other and giggling, and I knew I'd have to separate them soon before it escalated.Lily's daughter Emily was three and she was sitting in a high chair between Lily and Marcus, and she had Lily's eyes and Marcus's smile.Brother James had brought his new girlfriend Sarah who seemed nice and patient, and she was handling the chaos of our family di

Elena POVTwo years had passed since Leo and Lucas were born and life had settled into a rhythm that somehow worked despite the constant chaos of raising five children.Rose and Violet were nine years old now and they were in fourth grade, and they had completely different personalities even though they looked almost identical.Rose was quieter and loved to draw and paint for hours, and her room was covered in artwork that reminded me of the paintings Victoria had shown us of Grace's work.Violet was louder and more assertive and she'd decided she definitely wanted to be a doctor someday, and she was always asking questions about how the human body worked.James was eight and he was in third grade, and he'd finally outgrown some of his mischievousness and settled into being a good student who loved reading and building things.Leo and Lucas were two years old and they were at that stage where they were into everything and talking constantly, and keeping track of both of them at the sa

Adrian POVThe twin boys were born on a Tuesday morning after twelve hours of labor that was much easier than when Rose and Violet were born, and Elena's heart had handled the pregnancy and delivery perfectly.Leo came first weighing seven pounds, three ounces with dark hair and my eyes, and Lucas followed six minutes later weighing seven pounds even with lighter hair and Elena's smile."Two more boys," Elena had said exhausted but happy. "Our family is complete.""Completely complete," I'd agreed.Now we had five children and the house was insane, loud and messy and perfect in ways I never could have imagined when I first signed that contract marriage agreement.Rose and Violet were seven years old and they loved being big sisters, always wanting to hold the babies and help with feedings and tell everyone at school about their new brothers.James was six and he was adjusting to not being the baby anymore, sometimes jealous but mostly excited to have brothers who could eventually play

Elena POVAdrian took my hands in his and held them gently, and I could see him thinking about what to say, trying to find the right words to help me through this fear that had been eating at me for weeks."We can't live in fear," he said finally. "We've already survived so much, Elena, we survived Vanessa and the experiments and the rescue from that facility.""I know," I said."We survived my coma," Adrian continued. "Eight months where you didn't know if I'd ever wake up, and you were pregnant with twins and your heart was failing.""That was the worst time of my life," I admitted."But we got through it," Adrian said. "We survived everything they threw at us, and look at our kids now, look at Rose and Violet and James.""They're amazing," I said."They're happy and healthy and safe," Adrian said. "Because you protected them, because we protected them together.""But what if next time I can't?" I asked. "What if something happens and I fail?""You won't fail," Adrian said firmly. "