Things had been going great. The opening of Hooch was a huge success. The press we got thanks to Brie coming out to the world as beloved children’s author D. Mathair, was more than we ever could have wished for. Libby and Kade had developed a great working relationship; if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure in the way she felt about me, I might’ve even been a little jealous. We were still working out our schedules. It was a work in progress. Cheryl, Libby’s mom, had been a godsend watching the girls. We’d signed Clara up for a summer school program to help her make new friends, and she was doing well so far. Sometimes, hell, most of the time, I couldn’t believe this was my life. Who knew braiding hair and changing diapers would be the highlight of my day?
That wasn’t to say everything was perfect. I’d had to hire more staff. I liked to consider myself a good boss, but I did have certain expectations. Rule number one seemed to be a problem for everyone today. If you were on time, you were late. Fuck, late was twenty minutes ago. Maybe I was too agreeable.
Drew came running into the kitchen, “Sor…” I cut him off before he could finish his unwanted apology.
“What’s rule number four Drew?” I asked my anger easily detectable to the few that had managed to make it on time today. We had a full night of reservations and a party in the new private room.
“No excuses chef.” Damn straight. “I would have called.” Drew was pushing his luck because that was an excuse and he knew rule number three was no cell phones on the job. I’m not paying people to play Candy Crush, or to text, or tweet, or snap, or swipe right. This was my time, not theirs. The only other rule I had was, leave your drama at the door. It was easier said than done, but we were here, for one thing, to serve great food.
“Darcy.” I barked out as I put down my knife and searched out the woman who kept things running smoothly around here. She was on the phone when I found her in her office. She put up her finger indicating she needed me to wait a minute. Like I was going anywhere without answers. Half my staff was missing. Waiting while she finished her conversation did nothing to ease my tension. I was a pot about to boil over.
“Sorry about that, but the reservation line was going crazy with changes for tonight’s service.”
“Why?” I’d been in the kitchen prepping for the last two hours. Libby didn’t mention anything going on when I talked to her last, but she was getting ready to go her doctor’s appointment. Yes, we broke the rules. Repeatedly. But, we were still careful. If all checked out well, that would end tonight.
“The city is all jammed up. Metro had a derailment.” The phone began to ring and before I could ask anything she was answering again.
“Fuck!” I was running to my office before Darcy could apologize to her caller for my outburst. My phone was sitting on my desk where I always left it during service. No missed calls. She knows you’re working. She was on that train. Nothing this good ever lasts. I dial, and it went straight to voicemail. Fuck. I tried again. No answer. I dialed Cheryl. She was with Clara at the apartment.
“Logan? Have you heard from Libby?” She asked the question before I could ask her. That meant she hadn’t heard from her either and knew about the subway accident.
“Porter and Jackson just showed up.” Mikey entered my office drying off his wet hands. He was my right hand and had been with me prepping for the last two hours. Not only would I trust him with my kitchen, but I would trust him with my life. “You’re white as a ghost. What the hell is going on?”
“No, I haven’t heard from her,” I answered Cheryl who was clearly in distress too. She was worried, so I did everything I could to hide my concern. “Me too Cheryl. Call me if you hear anything, and I’ll do the same. I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She’d taken Aria with her to her appointment with Dr. Proby. She used the sling so I couldn’t track her. I was sure Cheryl was about ready to have Declan call out the National Guard. I didn’t doubt for a second that he would if we asked, but at this point, all we knew was that Libby wasn’t answering her phone. She could just be in with the doctor. “Let me see what I can find out, and I’ll give you a callback.” Mikey and Darcy now both stood at my door.
“Where exactly was the accident?” I asked calmly though I was anything but. MTA was over twenty lines with hundreds of stations. I knew I should be worried about everyone who was affected by the incident, but honestly, I only cared about two. I exhaled a sigh of relief when my phone rang; it had to be her.
“Logan.” It was Emily, and she was crying. I fell into my chair. I hadn’t felt this hopeless since my mother died. I couldn’t do this without her. Libby wasn’t the breath I took, she was the reason I breathed at all.
“Logan,” Declan took the phone from his distraught wife. This stress couldn’t be good for her. I was glad he was with her. She’d just found out she was pregnant. They hadn’t told anyone yet, but Libby had shared the secret with me. She was so excited that Aria would have a cousin close in age. I didn’t know what I’d do if anything happened to either of them. Darcy came into my office and brought my computer to life, bringing up a live stream of the local news. The city was in gridlock. A collision between two trains caused a power outage that took out at least four lines. The images I saw on my screen tormented me. Where are you, Libby?
“The train derailed as it approached the twenty-eighth street station. MTA officials disclosed that the emergency brake was activated and that as many as fifty people are being transported to nearby hospitals.” The camera scanned the crowd. People were covered in black soot. Some even cut and scratched up. I scanned the crowd for any sign of Libby or Aria. “Can you tell us what happened?” The reporter asked a middle-aged man who looked a little dazed.
“We heard a loud bang. Then saw sparks and smoke. It all happened so fast. I’m just glad I got out.”
“This is Mason Morgan reporting, back to you in studio Cal.” Jesus, they didn’t tell us anything.
“My sources tell us they are taking the injured to Saint Vincent’s.” I didn’t even realize I still had Declan on the phone, but finally, I knew where I needed to go to get answers. I dropped my phone and ran.
The emergency room was chaos. People were everywhere; hospital staff, crash victims, reporters, police officers, fireman, MTA officials, and other people in desperate search of their loved ones.
“Libby and Aria Barnes.” I blurted out without being asked a question as soon as it was my turn to ask the woman in blue scrubs with the clipboard what I needed to know. She had a list of names, and she was directing people where to go.
“Relation?” she asked before looking at her list.
“My girlfriend and her baby.” It sounded weird to call her that. Libby was so much more than just my girlfriend, and Aria wasn’t her baby. She was our baby.
“I’m sorry sir, but to protect the privacy of our patients, we can’t release that information unless you are related.” I was tempted to snatch her goddamn clipboard right out of her hand.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” My voice was raised because if this lady thought I was going to walk away without knowing if Libby and Aria were alright she had another thing coming.
“Is everything alright here Linda?” Great just what I needed right now, Barney Fife to the rescue. I’d seen the look he was giving me before. Just because I had tattoos didn’t mean I was a criminal. I raised my hands in surrender. I didn’t want a scene, I just wanted information.
“Look, I’m not trying to cause any trouble; I’m just trying to see if my girls are alright. Just tell me if they’re here or not.” I gave Linda my best smile, and I could tell she was tempted to help me. The problem was, my flirting with her a little just pissed the officer off more.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave sir.” Fuck that.
“I’m not going to go anywhere until you tell me if Libby Barnes and Aria Barnes are being treated here.” I knew better than to get in the face of this half whit but right that second, I didn’t really give a shit.
“Is that Logan Wheeler?” Murmurs of my name filled the air. I’d been in enough papers and local cooking spots that it wasn’t uncommon for me to be recognized, plus we were just seen on the covers of every major magazine with Brie at her unveiling.
“Look I asked you to leave already. It’s time for you to go.” He reached for my arm to escort me out, and I pulled it away. Not smart Wheeler. “Put your hands behind your back.” Fucking great.
"Logan" I yelled as soon as I saw him from across the crowded waiting room. His hair was a mess, and he was wearing just a ribbed white tank which he only ever wore as undershirts. I loved teasing him about his "wife beaters." I asked the taxi driver why the city was so jammed up the second I got into the cab, which was a decision I didn't take lightly since I didn't have Aria's car seat, but she needed to nurse and we needed to get back to Clara. We'd found that keeping her on a regular schedule lessened her anxiety. She hadn’t run back to the receiving home since the opening of Hooch, and she was still talking, so that was progress. We’d even signed her up for a summer program, and she was making new friends that would go to school with her in the fall.
I panicked the moment the driver had answered, “Derailment on the green line.” I had just been on the subway earlier today. I’d pulled my phone out of my purse to check the time. It was dead. Shit.
“Do you have a charger?” Traffic was a nightmare, so there was no way I was going to be home when I promised I would be.
“It’ll cost you.” Jerk. Where was Hector when I needed a kind driver? But what choice did I have? I’d handed him my phone that I had turned to silent when I’d arrived at Dr. Proby’s office. After my six-week follow-up appointment, I’d taken a detour. I’d wanted to get Logan a little gift. OK, that was a lie; it was for me as much as it was for him. I knew Logan thought I was sexy in anything I wore, even when I just “mooched” one of his t-shirts. But he’d been treating me like I was made of glass ever since we’d broken the six-week rule. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy myself, I did, but now that I had my doctors blessing I wanted him to fuck me like he meant it. That was where the present came in. Nothing said fuck me like expensive black lace.
“What do you think about sleeping in your room tonight?” I asked my daughter who happily nursed while we sat in traffic. “If we can just get your daddy to agree,” I continued my one-sided conversation. “How did we get so lucky?” I’d never dreamed I would meet a man like Logan. I couldn’t imagine what life would’ve been like without him. Amongst my errands today was a meeting with my lawyer, Sheldon Bannon. I hadn’t talked to Logan yet, as silly as it sounded, I was scared to. I didn’t want him to feel like I was pushing him. Official or not, to me he was Aria’s father, and I was Clara’s mom. No piece of paper would change that.
“You’re crazy lady,” the driver told me as he handed me back my partially charged phone.
“Studies show that babies who are talked to have a higher vocabulary.” This guy sure wasn’t scoring any points. I turned on my phone, and it went crazy.
“What the hell?”
“That’s great vocabulary.” I glared at the driver in response. Twenty missed calls and just as many text messages. I looked at the time. Logan would be in the kitchen so he wouldn’t answer his phone, so I called my mom and prayed everything was alright with Clara.
“Oh my God, Libby, where are you?” I could tell she was crying. Something was very wrong.
“What’s wrong mom? Is everyone alright?” Maybe something had happened with Emily and the baby. No, mom didn’t even know her other daughter was pregnant yet.
“Are you alright? We’ve been losing our minds here. You haven’t been answering your phone.” Me? I was fine, just stuck in traffic hell with the worst cabbie ever.
“I’m fine. My phone was dead. I’m trying to make it home. What’s going on?”
“We thought …” She began crying even harder. What the hell? I thought I heard my sister in the background.
“Libby, this is Declan. Emily and I are here with Mom and Clara.” Thank goodness mom wasn’t alone, and I could understand my brother-in-law. “We weren’t able to reach you. We were worried you and Aria were involved in the accident on the number six train.” Oh shit. No wonder my mother was freaking out.
“I better call Swayed and let Logan know I’m okay. Will you stay with Mom until I get there?” If I had only brought the car seat. Eric would have been able to track me with the GPS chip. Again.
“We’re not going anywhere, but Logan’s not at Swayed,” Declan informed me. What? Where else would he be? “He took off the second he found out where they were taking the injured.”
“Shit!” The driver had the nerve to tisk me. “I better call him.”
“He doesn’t have his phone.” Well, that seemed to be a common theme for us today.
“What hospital was it?” I had to get to him. Fast.
“Saint Vincent’s.” I looked out the window trying to determine where I was in relation to the hospital. I’d never used to think about hospital locations. Now, I was always aware of where they were. I guess it was a mom thing.
“I’m on my way.” I looked at the meter and tossed two twenties at the driver as I exited the cab. I guess he was getting a tip after all. He was also getting a shitty online review as soon as I got a chance. I mentally noted his medallion number.
“Put your hands behind your back.” I got there as fast as I could. Have you ever tried to run with a baby strapped to your chest? It wasn’t fast enough. A cop was manhandling my man.
“Logan,” I yelled, trying to make my way as quickly as possible through the crowd.
“Libby?” As happy as he was once he heard my voice and found me in the mass of people, I wished I could erase the look on his face just moments before. His dark eyes lacked their usual shine, and his olive skin was somehow ashen. I continued to rush toward to him. “Oh my god, you’re okay.” His color returned, and his eyes began to glisten, and it wasn’t just because of the tears that came to them. He tried to come to me, but an angry police officer held him firmly back by the arm.
“I’m here. We’re fine.” More than anything I wanted to put my arms around him
“Let him go, Kevin.” A cute little nurse pleaded with the cop, and he thankfully complied. Yeah, he wanted in her panties. The second Logan’s hands were free of the officer’s cuffs he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around me. Tears flooded my eyes as I soothed him like I would Aria and brushed my hands through his wild mane of hair.
“I thought I lost you. Both of you.” He murmured. “They wouldn’t tell me anything.” Now I knew why he was in so much anguish. I would have ripped this hospital apart if I thought Logan was here and they wouldn’t give me any information about him.
“Never. We’re yours Logan. Now and forever.” I bent down to kiss the top of his head, and he looked up at me.
“Marry me, Libby.” For a moment I worried he only asked out of fear. That wasn’t a reason to get married. He took both of my hands in his and started over. “Libby, never in a million years did I think a sexy bartender would come into my restaurant and mix up my entire world. I thought Swayed was my purpose. It’s not. You, Aria, and Clara are. Will you marry me Libby and let me adopt Aria?”
My voice was shaky as I answered, “If I can adopt Clara.”
It had been three weeks since all our friends and family yelled, “Congratulations,” when we walked in the door of our apartment. The local news was reporting live from the hospital when they broadcasted Logan’s proposal. Short engagements seem to be a thing between our friends and us, but we didn’t want to wait any longer than we had to. We decided to get married as soon as the adoptions could become official. It seemed fitting that we truly become a family on the same day. I just need to get Logan’s wedding gift, and I would be ready for tonight.
“Hi, Sterling.” I’d talked to the man so many times I felt like I knew him. I’d read every blog I could find, but it was my new friend and artist that made the decision for me. New ink would wait until Aria wasn’t breastfeeding. It just wasn’t worth the risk, but Sterling had a drawing that I was going to gift my future husband and he’d agreed that a temporary transfer wouldn’t hurt anything. I couldn’t wait to see what he came up with. I’d told Sterling I would come down to his shop, but he’d countered that was silly since he was a wedding guest.
“Well, I’ll have to say this is a first.” I didn’t want anyone but Logan to see the design beforehand, so it was actually only minutes before we would say our vows to become man and wife. My mom and sister had already taken the girls up to the ceremony site.
“You’ve never tattooed a bride?” I was sure that was a thing. I knew lots of people got each other’s names or initials, even matching tattoos. Mine didn’t include any names. It wasn’t that Logan wasn’t forever already tattooed on me for life, he was, but I didn’t need his name etched on my skin for that. My love for him wasn’t just skin deep. That didn’t mean the design didn’t represent what he meant to me. It was his gift after all. I knew he would understand the meaning behind it.
“I’ve never tattooed a girl in her dress before she said I do.” Sterling laughed as he sat before me and positioned the transfer.
“Well, I’ve never been in a wedding dress about to get married.”
“Both virgins,” Sterling chuckled as he showed me his work for the first time. I wanted the final design to be a surprise to me too.
“It’s a nice day for a white wedding.” I agreed before taking his work in. It was more than I could have ever asked for. Like my groom, it was perfect.
“Good, because I think they’re playing your song.”
Libby was right, this place was amazing. We’d asked our friends Patrick and Nick if they would loan us their rooftop, to which they agreed. They even offered to fly in the chef they flew in from Paris to cook for us, but Mikey and my crew wanted to cook us our first “family dinner” as husband and wife. It was exactly what we wanted.
“You bragged you were going to marry Libby the day I married Emily.” I did, although Declan knew it had been on my mind since our trip to California.
“And you told me I was supposed to keep you calm. Shouldn’t you be doing that for me?” My heart raced as his wife walked towards us. My bride was coming soon.
“I don’t think calm is possible brother when you’re about to marry a Barnes twin.” I liked the idea of Declan being my brother, and he was right, the only thing that could calm me now was seeing Libby. Clara, in a blue dress that made her want to “twirl” followed Emily. She pushed Aria in the pram that was covered in flowers. “You’re outnumbered,” Declan added as we both smiled from ear to ear. He and Emily just found out they are having twins. I hoped the asshole got two girls too.
“Just wait,” I cautioned him as the music changed and everyone stood. Unlike her sister, Libby had decided not to have their mother walk her down the aisle. Cheryl would still give her blessing when asked by the judge, Craig Thompson, who was also the man who Libby made the “perfect” Manhattan for the first time I met her, who was not only marrying us but finalizing the adoptions for both Aria and Clara, but Libby wanted this, her last moment to stand on her own. It was her way of saying she was giving herself to me, freely and of her own will. I didn’t know about that, as far as I was concerned, we gave ourselves to each other a long time ago. Today it just became official. We’d decided on a no-frills ceremony, but before we are announced man and wife, Craig asked Clara to step forward. We’d already met with Judge Thompson. He talked to Clara about what adoption meant and was more help than we could have ever hope for. Other than signing the decree which would be done when he signed our marriage certificate this was just for Clara. We wanted her to know that she was a part of this. It was important to Libby and me that Clara knew we are as committed to her and Aria as we were our marriage.
“Please join hands.” Clara, Libby, and I formed a circle. “Today Libby and Logan you are becoming parents, but Clara, you and Aria are also becoming daughters and sisters too. Do you all promise to love and respect each other as a family?” Clara needed to know that with us she had a forever.
“We do.” All three of us answered.
“Will you laugh and have fun together?” Clara giggled, and it brought so much joy to my heart.
“We will.”
“When you are sad, will you be there for each other and lift each other up when one of you falls?” I’d carry all three of them if it kept them from falling.
“We will.”
“To your family and friends. Will you love and encourage this family and always be there for them.”
“We will.” I knew I had friends, but I didn’t know they were already my family until Libby came into my life.
“Logan and Libby, do you have a gift for Clara?”
“We do.” I reached into my vest pocket and handed my wife the pouch that contained the necklace we picked out together for our daughter. It was one of those lockets where you pick out the charms that go inside. We choose a rabbit, a heart with the word “sister,” and the word “family” to go inside. Libby put it around her neck, and we both bent over and kissed a cheek. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
“I hope all your days are filled with as much joy and happiness as today, but when they aren’t, I hope you will remember your love for one another and that you are surrounded by people who are here for you. When you are down, let them lift you up.” I felt so blessed to know I had people that would do that, not only for me but for my wife and our two daughters.
“It is my great honor and pleasure that by the power invested in me by the great state of New York I now not only pronounce you husband and wife but also as the Wheeler family. You may kiss your beautiful wife.” Clara cheered, and Aria cried as Libby, and I kissed for the first time as man and wife.
“You’ve got some explaining to do.” It was the first time we’d had a moment to ourselves. The photographer was changing some of his lighting. I knew she noticed the bandage the second she saw me. It was intentionally black so she wouldn’t think I hurt myself. Instead of wearing a monkey suit, Libby asked me to wear a white shirt with my sleeves rolled up to the elbows and a black vest. I was more than happy to oblige.
“So do you.” Her dress was elegant yet unconventional. Just like her. She called in “boho chic.” I called it stunning. I held up her left arm and examined the stencil on her left wrist. It was positioned in the same spot my new ink was.
“Now I know why Sterling just chuckled when I told him I wanted to get some new ink, something to represent you and the girls as a wedding gift. He told me he knew exactly what I needed, but he wouldn’t let me look at it.”
“I told him the same thing. When we were talking, I said something about all the pieces coming together. He came up with this, and I knew it was perfect. He’s going to do it when I’m done breastfeeding Aria. Do you like it?” She had no reason to be nervous. I loved all of Libby’s ink; the sunflower on her ankle, the two swallows she had on her shoulder representing her and her sister, and my favorite, the honey bee at the base of her neck. I’d never forget the first time I got a good look at it. She was naked on my bed, and I was fucking her from behind. I wasn’t sure where to look as I drilled my cock in and out of her; at the sexy little bee that was usually hidden by her hair or at her perfect pear-shaped ass. I was not going to lie, ass won. Hell, ass will always win. But after we were done I positioned her, so she was sitting up between my legs. I kissed the birds first. She told me the birds were flying towards each other, because that’s what she and her sister would always do, return to each other, then I traced the wings of the bee with my tongue. “Bees are strong and work hard, but they also know how important it was to stop and smell the flowers. I don’t know why but I think a bee knows there’s a time to go after what he wants and a time to enjoy the nectar of life. Does that make sense?” It made perfect sense. It was Libby.
“No, I love it.” I raised her arm and kissed the temporary transfer before putting my arm up against hers. “Take it off. Let’s see what Sterling did.” Carefully Libby peeled away the bandage. Our tattoos weren’t the same, but they did fit together perfectly. Each one was a puzzle piece. They were masterful alone, but when put together they created a single seamless piece of art. Like us. My piece held the lock, but her piece held the key. Libby’s piece was a corner; she was after all the cornerstone of our family. Both puzzle pieces contained a beautiful flower or “Charo” as I used to refer to Aria as she grew in her mother’s womb and a little rabbit for Clara. Like Libby and the girls, it was better than I could have imagined.
“Wow it’s…,” Libby started as we both took in the intricate details. I looked up at my wife. Tears of joy filled her eyes.
“Beautiful.” I finished, and I wasn’t talking about the tattoo. “I love you, Mrs. Wheeler.”
“I love you too Mr. Wheeler. I think they’re playing our song.”
“Darling just hold my hand,” I referred to the song we’d picked out together as I offered her mine and led her to the dance floor for our first dance as husband and wife. “Thank you, Libby.” I leaned down and softly kissed her before putting my forehead against hers. “I want to give you the world. Just tell me what you want. Anything and it’s yours.”
“Anything?” She questioned with a mischievous look in her eyes.
“Well, within reason. I’m not daddy Warbuck’s like your sister’s old man.” We both looked over at the happy couple who were fawning all over our baby and laughed. She lifted her finger to her mouth and tapped it against her lips as she looked up at the sky as we continued to sway slowly in time to the music.
She moved her hand from her lips to the side of my face. Her skin was soft and warm against my five o’clock shadow. I tipped my head into her gentle touch and closed my eyes, relishing in this moment.
“You look perfect tonight,” Ed Sheeran sang, and I opened my eyes to look at the woman who truly did look perfect in her white wedding dress.
“A boy,” she smiled.