Chapter Fifty Nine

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The week before Christmas should have been peaceful.

Should have been.

Unfortunately, nobody in either family seemed capable of doing anything quietly.

Especially not with three babies on the way.

The doctors remained pleased with Daisy's progress.

Every appointment brought the same message.

Rest.

Hydrate.

Stay off your feet.

Keep doing exactly what you're doing.

The baby looked healthy.

Growing perfectly.

And while Daisy still felt exhausted most days, she wasn't getting worse.

Which felt like a victory.

Roman, however, had become impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

"Where are you going?"

Daisy looked up.

"The bathroom."

Roman nodded.

"Okay."

Silence.

Then:

"Do you need help?"

Daisy stared.

"Roman."

"What?"

"It's the bathroom."

Roman held his hands up immediately.

"Just checking."

Across the room, the nanny nearly choked trying not to laugh.

Even Lillie looked embarrassed for him.

At least Daisy assumed she did.

One snowy Saturday afternoon both families gathered at Roman and Daisy's townhouse.

The Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner.

Twinkling lights reflected across the room.

Presents had already begun appearing underneath.

Though nobody admitted to buying them.

Especially Roman.

"What's in that box?"

"Nothing."

"Roman."

"It's Christmas."

Daisy narrowed her eyes.

"You bought more gifts."

"No."

A pause.

"Maybe."

He'd definitely bought more gifts.

Across the room, Harper was equally suspicious.

Mostly because Noah had started hiding deliveries.

Very badly.

"There are six boxes in the garage."

"They're nothing."

"Noah."

"They're practical."

"The boxes say baby boutique."

Noah sighed.

Caught.

Again.

Meanwhile Lillie was busy trying to remove decorations from the tree.

One at a time.

The toddler had discovered Christmas.

Unfortunately.

Roman rescued three ornaments.

Theo rescued two.

Poppy attempted crowd control.

Nobody succeeded.

Later that evening, after dinner, everyone settled into the family room.

The fire crackled.

Snow drifted outside.

The children played quietly nearby.

For once.

Actually quietly.

A Christmas miracle.

Daisy lay comfortably on her chair-bed.

Blankets piled around her.

Roman beside her.

As usual.

Across from them Harper rested on the couch.

The twins had apparently discovered gymnastics.

At all hours.

"They never stop moving."

Daisy laughed.

"Violet does that too."

Roman immediately looked interested.

"She kicked me at three in the morning."

Harper pointed dramatically.

"See?"

Noah looked betrayed.

"They kicked me too."

Nobody knew how to respond to that.

Then suddenly—

Daisy froze.

The room immediately noticed.

"What?"

Roman sat upright instantly.

Daisy's hand moved to her stomach.

Everyone stopped talking.

The room became silent.

"Daisy?"

Another movement.

Stronger than usual.

Then another.

Roman's face paled slightly.

"What is it?"

Daisy laughed softly.

A surprised laugh.

"She's hiccuping."

Silence.

"What?"

Roman blinked.

"What?"

Daisy took his hand and pressed it against her stomach.

A few seconds passed.

Then—

tiny rhythmic movements.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Roman froze.

Completely.

"Oh my God."

The entire room gathered around.

Harper.

Noah.

Poppy.

Theo.

Even the nanny.

Everyone fascinated.

Because there was something unbelievably human about it.

Not kicks.

Not movements.

Hiccups.

Tiny baby hiccups.

Roman couldn't stop smiling.

Neither could Daisy.

For a moment the room felt warm.

Safe.

Full of excitement rather than fear.

No doctors.

No hospital visits.

No scary conversations.

Just family.

Waiting.

Waiting for Christmas.

Waiting for twins.

Waiting for Violet.

And as the fire crackled and snow fell softly outside the townhouse windows, Daisy realised something.

The fear that had settled over everyone weeks ago was finally beginning to lift.

Not completely.

But enough.

Enough to let them dream again.

Enough to let them enjoy what was coming.

Enough to believe that maybe—

just maybe—

everything was going to be okay. ❤️📖❄️🎄💕👶🌸