After Bear steals away into the night, I close the door, knowing Cherish and Stella are going to have a thousand questions for me. And that Wilder and James aren’t gonna leave without the full story.

“Tea, anyone?” I ask, moving past them and reaching for the mugs on the coffee table. I don’t dare meet their eyes as I deposit the cups in the sink and then reach for the kettle.

“Um, whose baby am I holding, exactly?” Stella asks. All four of them are following me, standing a few feet away. Basically, I’m cornered.

Sucking in a deep breath I set the kettle on the stove, turning the burner on. “That’s a good question.”

I turn to face them, their worried faces crushing me. I should have kept them in the loop and been a better friend.

“You better start at the beginning, Gracie,” Cherish says.

“It’s all so insane, I doubt you’ll believe it.”

My friends all chuckle, and I take Laura back from Cherish’s arms.

“Sweetie,” she says. “We escaped a cult together, remember the time I was pregnant with my second set of triplets? I had never left the compound in my life before and yet managed to find James. Here, on this mountain.”

“And I was reunited with Wilder on the set of a reality television show after getting secretly pregnant with his twins. We can’t really be shocked at this point.”

I pat Laura’s back. “No judgment, though?” I ask, looking between my friends and their husbands.

“You never judged us,” Stella says.

“But I have been jealous,” I admit as the kettle whistles.

Cherish moves to make the tea, telling us to all go sit down. She says she thinks it’s gonna be quite a story.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. That was really rude.”

“Everyone will forgive you,” Wilder says, “if you tell us why there are twins in your house.”

I start at the beginning, glossing over the details of my first time with Bear in the woods. Then I explain the babies coming, the social worker, the police. Everything but the part about Bear’s past. That doesn’t seem fair. Not when he is doing his best to start over.

“Oh, my God,” Stella says, cradling Abel in her arms. “These poor babies.”

“I know,” I whisper. “They’ve been angels, really. And I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. I don’t even know how old they are.”

Cherish twists her lips. “I’m guessing maybe three and a half months?”

James nods. “That sounds about right. But God, I want to find those parents and --”

I cut him off. “We don’t know their story, James.”

“I know, but I can’t imagine...” He shakes his head, swallowing his emotions.

“I know. It’s so sad. But the babies are safe, and... I mean, I don’t want to say I’m grateful to be taking care of someone else’s children... but I am happy I had my foster care license, so they could stay with me.”

“And Bear, is he staying with you too?” Wilder asks.

I twist my lips. “It’s only been two days.”

Wilder laughs. “A lot can happen in two days on this mountain, Gracie.”

“Fair enough,” I say, shaking my head as heat rises to my cheeks. “I don’t know if you can fall in love with a stranger, but I think I did.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Cherish says, clutching my hand. “We need to have a barbecue, invite everyone over.”

I roll my eyes, laughing. “What is it about this place and BBQs?”

“Any excuse to spend time with the people you care most about, right?” James says, looking over at Wilder. “Look, if he’s a good guy, clean, and just likes living in the middle of nowhere, we have no problem with him.”

“We’d only have a problem with the guy if he’s hiding something,” Wilder says.

I swallow. “He’s not hiding anything,” I say, wondering if I should say more. But I feel a loyalty to Bear that overwhelms my decision-making process.

“Good, then you need to go take a late-night nap and let us feed and change these babies,” James says.

Balking, I try to say no, but they won’t have it.

“Grace, if there is one thing I’ve learned from becoming a mother,” Cherish says, “it’s that when someone offers to let you get some rest, take them up on it.”

I hand her Laura, knowing she’s right. “Your little ones going to be okay without you?” I ask.

“Yes, I promise,” she says, then kisses Laura’s head. “Now let us take care of your little ones for just a little while.”

I slip away, into my bedroom, and crawl under my blankets, suddenly exhausted. Cherish’s words linger in my mind ... your little ones.

How long have I wished for such a thing? For as long as I can remember.

* * *

The next morning the sun is out and I’m getting the babies in their car seats when Bear stops by.

“Hey,” I say, offering him a smile. “Can you carry Abel to the car?”

He nods, and lifts Abel’s infant carrier to the car, buckling the car seat into my little SUV, next to Laura.

“I’m headed to the pediatrician’s and then the social worker’s office,” I tell him as I adjust the buckle on Laura’s seat. We’re looking at one another over the babies, both right there in the backseat.

“I hope it goes well. Do you need me to do anything around here while you’re gone?”

“It’s fine, Bear. I’m sure you have things to do yourself.”

He lifts his eyebrows. “Yeah, I need to go look for work. I need to get some shit in line before I...” He stops mid-sentence and shrugs. “Just gotta take care of a few things.”

“Right,” I say, pressing my fingers to my lips. Before what? “Well, I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah, you certainly will, Gracie.” He closes the back door, and I do the same with mine, then he walks around the car and gives me a hug and kiss. “Drive safely.”

I exhale, looking at the babies through the window. “I’m a little nervous, driving alone with the babies.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asks.

“Would you?”

He nods. “I’d love to.”