Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“How much?” Elle asks without looking up from her phone.
“Say two mil.”
“Nah, send it to me. I’ll negotiate something better. Two is peanuts. They’ll move the needle or we’ll go with some other mag.”
“Uh, Peyton?” She hasn’t said whether she wants to even do this.
She shrugs. “Something to consider. We can donate the money though like we talked about, you know helping others with fertility.”
“See, that’s at least a five million dollar offer,” Elle says. “I’ll get you at least that.”
I wait for Peyton to tell me what to do. She nods and I forward the email to Elle and let her do her thing.
Peyton asks for my phone. I give it to her, and she brings up Instagram. “All these comments. I’m glad they’re all positive.”
“Of course they are, you just had triplets. If anyone has anything nasty to say Paige will delete them.” My sister is very good at managing my social media. Of course, she gets paid to do it and takes her job very seriously.
“Paige is dynamite on the socials,” Elle adds. “We hired her to run the agency’s account, as well as the FMG Records. Smart cookie.”
I make a mental note to tell Paige about what Elle said, hoping to ease what she feels on the name sleight.
There’s a knock on the door, which is surprising. It opens before we can say for whoever to come in. I see the cradle first and then Nick, in his white doctor’s coat.
“I thought we’d stop by and say hi to mom and dad for a bit.” Nick gives me a hug and then kisses Peyton’s cheek. “We just took some vitals and did some testing. Things are looking great.”
“When can they go home?”
“Juniper probably by the end of the week. The boys, I’d like to keep them for two weeks, but if they keep improving the way they are, end of next week at the earliest.”
To be honest, I’m pretty damn happy Nick is their doctor. There isn’t anyone else I’d trust with my children.
“Are they healthy?” Peyton asks. “Any longterm issues?”
Nick shakes his head. “None that I can see or even predict. It’ll be a bit before the boys catch up with Juniper, but they’re eating well and gaining slowly. You did everything right, Peyton.” He gives her a soft smile.
There’s another knock and this time Mack and Amelie, followed by Talisa come in.
“Can I hold them?” Amelie asks and then frowns when Nick shakes his head.
“Not until they go home, then it’s up to Peyton.”
“Uh, congratulations,” Mack says awkwardly. “I think?”
Everyone in the room laughs.
“How’s Stevie Nicks?” I ask him.
“She’s good. She really loves playing with Beau.”
“Because he’s the best,” Elle says, still not looking up from her phone, which she has resting on her rather large belly.
“I would love to come to your home while the children are at school and help you, Miss Peyton,” Talisa says. Peyton looks at me, then to Nick, who nods.
“Consider it a gift,” he says. “I know you didn’t want anything, although Amelie has spent a fortune at the store on gifts. Talisa is home during the day and wants to help.”
“Are you sure?” I ask Nick.
“Of course, we’re family. It’s what we do.”
“I’d love the help,” Peyton says. “Thank you.”
Talisa claps her hands together. “Ooh, I can’t wait to hold them.”
I spy Mack, looking at the cradle. I go over to him and point to my oldest who is wearing a navy-blue hat. “That’s Maverick,” I tell him. “And this one is Jace.”
“Perfect footballer names,” Mack says.
“Or baseball,” I add.
“Or doctor!” Nick throws his hands up. “How come none of my kids want to be doctors?”
“Too much school, Dad,” Amelie says. “No one likes to read except for you.”
We all laugh until Elle blurts out, “Will you freaking stop kicking me!” and then jabs her hand into her side.
“Yep, that’s the one thing I’m not going to miss.”
33
PEYTON
Talisa bustles around the living room, straightening and organizing candles and magazines she has already straightened and organized. I think she’s more nervous than Noah and I are for the People interview. Granted, I am on edge about the entire thing. Having someone come into our new home, which we’ve only been in for a couple of days, take photos, and ask us questions is a bit unnerving. What if people on the other end don’t care for how we decorated or like the theme we chose for the nursery? Or how the boys are in one room and Juniper is in her own?
Noah tells me I have nothing to worry about, especially where outsiders are concerned. If they don’t like how we did something—that’s on them—not us. Easy to say. Harder to accept.
Juniper came home first, one week after she and her brothers were born. Each morning, the two of us bonded over decaf coffee, breastmilk, and a screamfest while I gave her a bath. I’m thankful for my in-laws. Liam and Josie have been my saving grace, especially since I couldn’t carry Juniper around. Every day after school, Paige took over, giving me a moment to myself, but honestly, I could never go far. It’s like my heart ached for her.