Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Epilogue

Tatiana’s P.O.V

5 Years later...

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Diana, Tony and Abigail! Happy birthday to you!”

As all of us clapped, our three precious girls, all four years old, Diana and Abigail with their father’s dark hair and Tony with her mother’s blonde locks, blew out the candles to the humongous cake we had ordered and dived right into it without offering us any.

“Girls!” Grace’s stern voice was heard over the infectious giggles. “What happened to staying clean until dinner?”

“Sorry, aunty!” Those came from Diana and Tony.

“Sorry, mummy!”That came from Abigail.

All three spoke at the same time in between little giggles before diving back into the cake and stuffing their chubby little cheeks with chocolate frosting. Even at four, the trio were thick as thieves and completely inseparable. Just like their mothers and fathers. Even Damien, Daniel and Victor had grown close over the years and were just like the kids. They were, at the moment, chugging down beer bottles and cheering their favorite team while us women were left to cook and look after the troublesome trio.

“Hey, Ty,” Ken called out from the kitchen. “I’ve mashed up the potatoes. Do I add the whole stick of butter?”

Grace and I looked at each other and then at the kids before shrugging. “Yes, it’s fine. And don’t forget the chives!” I called out to Ken. It was the kid’s birthday after all, so it was fine.

Grace, Ken and I had decided, right after Ken’s daughter was born, that we’d celebrate their birthdays together instead of separately. The kids still got a cupcake and a big dinner on their actual birthdates but the celebrating happened together. They had also just started school so this would be their last birthday with just the three of them together with family, but it was fine. Kids have to grow up sometime.

“I still can’t believe Ken timed her pregnancy to match ours,” Grace shook her head as she cut up the cake into large slices and handed me a slice. “But I’m glad she did. I love the fact that our kids are friends just like us.”

“And how of a coincidence is it that we all ended up having girls?” I asked her. “It’s fate I tell you.”

“Hey, you remember that trip to Hawaii?” Ken asked us as she came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel before accepting a plate from Grace.

“Of course!” I told her. There was no forgetting that trip or what came after.

“Remember how I told you guys that if Damien and you got married, then all three of us would truly become family?” Ken grinned at us as we stared at her in shock.

She was right. We weren’t just best friends anymore. We were family, related to each other one way or the other and all because of Grace. It was truly a wonderful surprise. After Damien had moved in to LA permanently, we’d gotten married in a small ceremony with just us friends and family. Surprisingly my mom and dad had showed up along with my brother and my mom had actually cried while I walked down the aisle. Everything has been perfect since then.

The boys came out of the living room at that instant, beelining for the cake as they did so. Grace handed them over the plates and then we watched three macho adults inhale down the cake like air and hold up their empty plates for another slice.

“No!” I swatted their hands away. “We have a big dinner planned and you are not ruining your appetite with cake alone.”

Daniel simply grinned at Grace and brought her in for a kiss, just as his hands were busy stealing another slice. He jumped back and out of Grace’s reach before she knew what was happening, leaving her flustered and fuming at the same time.

“Daniel! Get back here!” And then we watched Grace take off after Daniel with the plastic cake knife still in her hand.

“Hey gorgeous,” Damien turned to me, his icy eyes warm on mine and a smile plying on his lips as he leaned down to kiss me on the lips.

“I don’t have any cake,” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“I know.” He kissed me again. “This is because I wanted to...and because I can.”

I shook my head and brought him down for another peck, but was distracted by Ken’s voice from next to me.

“Umm, guys? Why haven’t the eww’s started yet?”

Worried, Ken, Damien, Victor and I went behind the table to look for the troublemakers, only to find them fast asleep on the floor, cuddled on top of each other and covered in frosting.

“I really want to say that’s adorable, but they need a bath. ASAP.” Damien said drily as Ken and I laughed and moved away from the men.

“Alright then, daddies, you’re on bath duty.” I patted Damien’s shoulder as both Ken and I headed to the kitchen, grabbing a flustered looking Grace on the way and leaving the men to deal with the kids.

Yup. Life was just perfect.

-------The End------