Page 88 of Under the Influence

My world opened up once my family’s curse became a thing of the past. Unsatisfied with settling, I want everything now.

EDITH’S EPILOGUE, AKA HAPPILY EVER AFTER

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Marriage and motherhood are everything I hoped for. Duke’s very presence in a room, even if we aren’t engaging, soothes me like nothing else can. By the time Sean is born, I know what Duke’s thinking without him saying a word. The magic between us makes everything clearer.

I couldn’t ask for an easier kid than Sean. He sleeps and eats well and rarely cries. I take him with me everywhere. We spend a lot of time at the homestead over those next few years. Duke probably wishes we were at the Basin Rock house more, but he understands the benefits of Tumbling Rock. Duke also wants to stick close to Lola who becomes skittish about leaving the homestead after Lina is born.

Though Clover moves out of the Basin Rock house, the apartment never suits her. She is usually back at the old house or at the homestead, where she bounces between our place and Lola’s. Eventually, she wants to claim several dogs, so Duke helps her order a prefab house for the Basin Rock property. He knows just what his kids need to feel comfortable.

I’m thrilled when Tuesday turns up pregnant. She is so great with Sean and the other babies. Her pregnancy goes well until the midway mark when a dangerous condition leaves her on bed rest. My cousin’s usually exuberant personality takes a real beating. She’s so scared to lose the baby. She also worries she jinxed herself somehow and caused the cervical insufficiency now threatening her pregnancy.

“I’ve had it too good all my life,” Tuesday tells me one day while we rest in her bed with Sean. “This is my punishment.”

“Don’t think negative thoughts. Just imagine yourself holding your baby.”

My hopeful thinking comes true when Mimi is born healthy. By then, the homestead’s baby fever is in full swing. Once Lola and Val are expecting their second, Duke suggests we try for another one.

“But with this baby, I want to know the gender,” he insists as we cuddle up in Basin Rock with Sean. “I don’t want to waste time picking a boy name if we’re having a girl.”

In my head, I’m certain we’ll have two sons as if we’re destined to flip what Duke had with Kerrie. But, instead, we flip Lola and Val’s baby order.

Their second child is a boy named Worth. A few months later, Duke and I welcome Wendy. My delivery is far less chaotic this time around. As soon as I get flu-like aches, Duke hurries me into the car and to the hospital. My parents have plenty of time to join us for Wendy’s birth. When it’s time for me to push, Ma-Journey holds one of my hands while Duke cradles the other. Nearby, Pa-Donovan entertains a super chill Sean who is mostly interested in the view from the window.

With her light brown hair and blue eyes, Wendy looks a lot like I did as a baby. She’s easygoing like her brother. Rather than trying to control situations, they roll with the punches. In that way, they take after their pa more than me.

Duke never seems overwhelmed by the small humans demanding everything from him. He’s the same relaxed, involved father as when he was raising Lola and Clover. Despite his cool exterior, I make sure he has time to hang out with Val and the meatheads, bond with his older kids, talk cooking with Erin, and ride alone so he can clear his head.

We have two date nights a week. On Saturday, my parents take the kids overnight while Duke and I hang out in Basin Rock. We usually start with a long ride around town followed by a meal and then an hour or two at the clubhouse with the meatheads. Duke even teaches me how to bartend. We work in perfect sync on busy nights.

No matter what’s happening, Duke can’t stop touching me. His constant affection always makes me feel sexy and loved. My lust is easier to handle now that I have constant access to Duke’s gorgeous body.

With our active sex life, Duke eventually asks, “Are we done with two?”

Growing up, I wanted to be my ma. I dressed like her, fought like her, sounded like her, and scolded others like her. I assumed I’d have three kids like she did, but I feel done after Wendy.

“I was too chickenshit to get snipped after Clover,” Duke says, wrapping me in his arms. “That turned out to be a good thing. Since there’ll be no third wife down the road, I’ll bite the bullet so you don’t need to worry about birth control anymore.”

Val and Lola also decide to stop at two kids. Tuesday is content with Mimi and Roxie. West and Alexis have two with Ace and Gem.

Ike and Oana wait a bit after Cherie to get pregnant again. My nephew Van reminds me so much of his pa. Otto and Betty have no interest in making their own kids, but they enjoy being the cool aunt and uncle to their nieces and nephews.

Being super chill kids, Sean and Wendy get along with all their cousins.

“You’re Lina and Worth’s aunt and uncle,” Val explains to my kids when they’re five and four. “You’re also their cousins.”

“What?” Sean asks. “Are you sure? You’ve been wrong before.”

I laugh at Val’s shocked expression. Sean already has a way of poking at grown men and making them doubt themselves. If my boy weren’t so chill, he might become a menace. Instead, I think he’ll make a great club president one day.

Val sighs dramatically in response to Sean’s questions. “At least, you didn’t call me a doofus.”

“Was that an option?” Sean asks earnestly.

Shaking my head, I insist, “No, it’s not. Val’s too sensitive to tease like that.”

My kids look at me and then at Val before glancing at each other. They nod and don’t hassle him, even if they don’t believe him about the aunt-uncle thing for years.

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