Epilogue
Alex
Sienna ran up to Alex sopping wet and handed him another rock. “Where’s your life jacket, baby?”
She ignored the question and skipped away. Back toward the water.
“The life jackets were giving them both rashes under their arms so I took them off.” Valerie said, walking up to him with Savannah in her arms.
Alex frowned, putting down the fishing pole he was trying to untangle. “I don’t want them near the water without them, babe.”
“Relax, we’re all watching them. No one’s letting them out of our sights.” She leaned in and kissed him, before grabbing her sunglasses from the beach bag that hung on his chair.
Savannah puckered up so Valerie leaned her in and Alex kissed her, too.
“Daddy fish?”
“Yeah,” Alex smiled. “Daddy’s gonna catch a big one for us today.”
“Your daddy don’t know about this,” Romero said.
Alex glanced over at Romero who sat under the tarp trying to untangle the fishing line on his pole. He’d been at it for over fifteen minutes and it looked worse now than when he started.
Alex shook his head as he reached over and stroked Valerie’s belly. “How you feeling?”
“Perfect.” She put her sunglasses on. “After the hell I went through when I was pregnant with the girls I’m shocked I haven’t had any morning sickness this time.”
“Don’t be a braggart,” Isabel said, sitting up from where she was lying on a towel next to Romero’s chair.
“You still feeling nauseous, Izzy?”
Alex glanced at Isabel. She nodded miserably. Her face was as pale as he remembered Valerie’s getting when she was pregnant with the twins.
“Try sucking on a lemon, Isabel.” Valerie suggested. “That always used to help me.”
Romero put his pole down. “Don’t get up, babe. I got it. One lemon coming up.”
Alex chuckled. Isabel’s pale face also reminded him of when she gave Romero the news she was pregnant two months ago. Since both she and Valerie found out they were pregnant almost at the same time they decided to plan a night out with all the couples and announce it together. Alex thought Romero was going to pass out.
“How did Grace hear about this place anyway?” Romero asked, slicing a lemon on the picnic table. “Elephant butt—what the hell’s that about anyway?”
Alex shrugged, concentrating again on untangling the damn line on his pole. “Sal said her dad used to bring her here when she was a kid. I think it’s cool.” Alex glanced up at Valerie who balanced Savannah on her hip. “You sure you should be carrying her?”
“Alex she’s not even two. She weighs nothing.” She turned toward the shore where Sienna ran past baby Sal who was still taking wobbly steps nearly causing him to tip over, but Grace was there, arms out ready to catch him if he did. “Sienna, honey be gentle with your cousin. He just learned to walk.”
Sal grabbed Sienna as she tried to run past him and she squealed when he spun her around.
Alex eyed Sarah and Angel who sat on beach chairs in the water. They were supposed to be on twin patrol but Angel held a Corona, and Sarah held a red cup, no doubt sipping on wine. Sarah lifted her cup to them and smiled.
“You’re supposed to be watching my girls. Not drinking.”
Sarah put her hand to her ear pretending not to hear. “What was that?” Then took a sip of her cup with a smile.
“That brat,” Valerie said. “She knows I’m dying to have a glass of wine.”
Alex shook his head. “Not happening.”
“I know.” Valerie said, putting Savannah down then walking after her as she ran toward Sal and Grace.
He watched as she reached Grace. Alex was surprised Sal agreed to make the trip since Grace was five months pregnant. This family—he shook his head. Next year they’d need an RV; their SUVs weren’t going to cut it much longer. The only ones left were Sofie and Angel.
Sofie and Eric were newlyweds and she said they were going to wait, but Sarah and Angel had been trying for over a year now so it was just a matter of time before those two started popping them out.
Romero opened the ice chest, pulling out a beer. “You want one man?”
“Yeah, I’ll take one.”
Romero handed it to him before sitting down. He took a long cold sip, glancing around at his fast growing family and smiled. Life was good.
Sofia
They were so far away from the shore they could barely make out who was who from where they stood in the lake. Sofia smiled wickedly at Eric whose heart was still pounding against her chest as she kissed him one last time.
“I can’t believe we just did that, Sof.”
She giggled. “Why? We did this in Hawaii.”
“Yeah, but your brothers weren’t sitting just couple hundred yards away on the shore.”
She laughed even more at his exasperated expression. “We’re far enough there’s no way they can see what you just did to their little sister.”
Eric smirked and glanced back toward the shore. “Not funny. This was your idea as usual.”
Sofia wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms round his neck again. “Tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”
That finally made him smile and he groaned, kissing her. When he was done he pulled back. “So did you decide?”
Sofia rested her cheek on his shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe we should wait until we get back home. I’d hate to ruin the trip for Sarah and Angel.”
“You really think it would ruin it?”
She lifted her head up to face him. “When Valerie and Isabel announced they were pregnant at that dinner, they seemed happy enough for them but I’m sure it had to be hard, especially since Grace got pregnant again so quickly after having the baby.” Sofia thought about how devastated they’d felt after finally getting pregnant only to have Sarah miscarry. “They’ve been trying for over a year now. Here we’ve only been married three months and already I’m knocked up.” She shook her head. “No I don’t think we should say anything until we get back.”
“It’s your call, Sof.”
She nodded, a little saddened that she knew it was just a matter of time before Sarah and Angel knew even if it wasn’t until they got back but she was certain it would touch a nerve. She remembered the last time Sarah thought she might be then when it turned out to be a false alarm she’d cried when she told Sofia but made her promise not to tell Angel. She didn’t want him to know how heartbreaking each month that went by and she wasn’t was for her.
They made their way back to the shoreline. Sal and Alex were already working on getting one of the tents up. Sofia walked up behind baby Sal who was tugging on one of the corners of the tents and squeezed him kissing his fat little cheek. “Hey little man. You helping daddy?”
He garbled something loud and with conviction. Sofia lifted her eyebrow pretending to understand him. “Really?”
“I still can’t get over how much he looks like you, Sal,” Eric said.
“You think? I think he looks like Grace.”
“Nah,” Romero shook his head. “That’s all you. Poor little dude.”
Sofia walked over to where Valerie and the other women sat at the picnic table They were making tortas. Sarah helped Savannah with hers while Valerie tried to calm Sienna who was whining about something.
“What’s wrong with her, babe?” Alex asked.
“Nothing she’s just getting fussy. This is their usual naptime.”
Angel came up from behind Sienna where she stood on the bench next to Valerie and kissed her head. “Naptime, Sienna?”
She put her arms out and he picked her up.
“Oh sure,” Valerie said. “She’s all smiles for uncle Angel.”
Angel walked away with her toward the other guys putting up the tent.
Sofia sat down in the space Sienna had occupied. Rose was lying on the beach with a towel over her face since before she and Eric had gone out into the water. At nearly eighteen, she was just as womanly looking as any of the other women here today. “Grace,” Sofia motioned to Rose. “Is she okay?”
Grace glanced back at Rose and nodded “She’s just tanning.”
Sofia lowered her voice. “Is she finally over… you know?”
Grace shrugged. “She says she is but sometimes she still seems a little down.”
“Maybe once he gets out of the Army they can—”
“No,” Grace said firmly. “She wants nothing to do with him again—ever.”
Sofia wouldn’t say it but she remembered Grace saying the very same thing about Sal once upon a time. She glanced back at Rose again. Never say never.
Romero
Seeing Isabel emerge from the ladies’ room for once not looking like a ghost made Romero smile. Ever since she’d dropped the news about being pregnant he’d been a wreck. Him a dad? Sure Manny and Max were already on board with helping out. Even though they could afford to buy a play set which the baby wouldn’t be using for years anyway, those two nuts were already building one from scratch.
Manny had tapped his chest several times already saying it was being built straight from the heart. Even when that hand had a bandaged thumb from where he’d hammered it. Romero chuckled. That probably wouldn’t be the last bandage the building of that play set would be producing.
“What are you smiling about?” Isabel said slipping her hand in his as she reached him.
“I was just thinking about the play set Manny and Max are building.”
Isabel turned to him. “I thought you told them not to bother. That’s a huge job they’re taking on.”
“Yeah, you try telling those two. Aida said it’s just another excuse for Manny to go out and buy more power tools.”
Isabel laughed. “Oh well, as long as they’re enjoying it.”
“You sure you don’t wanna find out what we’re having?” Romero’s eye teased. “Because Manny said if it’s a boy they could make it into a real cool looking fire station theme. And if it’s a girl he has this whole castle theme he could do instead.”
Isabel’s eyes teased right back. “Yeah, well what if it’s one of each?”
Romero stopped and looked at her, barely able to take another breath. Then she laughed. “I’m kidding!” Romero clutched his chest. “But it’s a possibility. Not only that, I wanna have more than one. What if we do have one of each eventually? They should keep it neutral.”
They’d started walking again and Romero’s heart was still trying to get over her unfunny joke. Then he thought of what she’d just said. More than one. Here he was barely getting used to the idea of having one kid and Izzy was already thinking more?
As they got closer to their campsite and Romero took in everything he had to smile. Damn what a turn his life had taken ever since he met the perfect girl. All those nights of partying and meaningless sex he would’ve never imagined his life turning into this. He watched as Sal applied sun block on his son and tried unsuccessfully to get him to wear a sun hat. Then he turned to Eric and Sofia who lay on the blanket under the tarp. Eric’s hand stroked her belly gently, making Romero raise an eyebrow. Could they be? Nah, they would’ve said something already. Though he wouldn’t put it past those two. They could barely keep their hands off each other.
Alex was showing one of his girls how to reel in the line on the fishing poles while the other one gave Valerie a hard time about putting on her water shoes. Romero still couldn’t tell them apart but if he had to guess based on their actions, Sienna was the one fighting the water shoes.
Angel and Sarah were far out in the water doing God knows what. Why did everyone think they were so sneaky when they did stuff like that? There was only one reason you’d go out so far.
“Let’s go in the water.” Isabel said, tugging at his hand.
“You sure?” Isabel hadn’t felt like doing much since they got here. The damn morning sickness really was doing a number on her.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” she said with a smile.
Once in the water up to their chests, Romero pulled her to him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “So is this kid going to go by Romero, too?” she asked.
“Not if it’s a girl.”
Isabel tilted her head. “And if it’s a boy?”
“How does Romero Romero sound?”
Isabel laughed. “No!”
“Why not? There was a guy in high school named Gaspar Gaspar. It was fucking hilarious.”
She eyed him. “And that’s what you want your son to be? Fucking hilarious?”
“Oh he’s gonna be funny. I guarantee you that.”
Her smile softened. “And if it’s a girl?”
God that scared him more than anything. How would he ever deal with a little girl? A son he wouldn’t have a problem roughing him up and making him tough as nails but a little girl? He’d go fucking nuts if anyone ever messed with her. He glanced back at the shore and watched Alex holding both his girls in his arms now. He supposed if Alex could deal with two at once he could handle one. He’d have to follow Alex’s lead. So far he seemed to be doing a pretty good job with the twins and growing up he’d been damn good about looking out for Sof. Yeah, that’s what he’d do. Follow Alex’s lead.
“Hello?” Isabel said, snapping him out of his thoughts. “I asked you a question. What if it’s a girl?”
“She’s gonna be perfect.” He kissed her softly. “Like her mommy.”
Isabel’s face flushed. After all these years he could still make her blush. God he loved her.
“I meant her name.”
Romero thought about it for a moment. “I like Amanda.”
Her face brightened up suddenly. “I’ve always liked Amanda.”
“Amanda Romero.” Romero said, his mind wandering off to a little girl being fawned over by him and his uncles. Ballerina classes, painted flowers in her bedroom like the ones in the twin’s room.
Isabel dipped her head in the water as Romero continued to day dream about his little girl. He watched as Isabel smoothed her hair back after coming back up smiling, looking as beautiful as only she could. “I like Romeo,” she said.
All his thoughts came to a screeching halt as he took in her words. “Who the fuck is Romeo?”
She laughed. “The name. For a boy. Romeo Romero. Isn’t that cool?”
She’d stepped away from him when she dipped her head in the water and he pulled her to him again. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about that one.”
Then she smiled wickedly and wrapped her legs around his waist. “I’m feeling better now. What do you say we go deeper in?”
Romero kissed her instantly hard, already thinking about just how deep in her he wanted to be. “You really are perfect you know?”
Sal
With his son finally out, Sal could now enjoy a few relaxing minutes in front of the fire with his wife.
Valerie peeked into her tent and smiled. “I think Alex might’ve passed out with them.”
“Wasn’t he supposed to be putting them to sleep not the other way around?” Sal asked.
“He might be just pretending to sleep until he’s sure they’re out before making a move.” Valerie grabbed a stick and stuck a marshmallow on it.
“Grab me another one please?” Grace said.
“You don’t wanna roast marshmallows, Rose?” Sal asked, moving his marshmallow around in the fire.
Rose shook her head, placing her earphones back in her ears as she sat back in her chair. Sal couldn’t help still wonder if she blamed him for how things went down with Vincent. Grace assured him she didn’t.
All Sal knew is he’d stuck his neck out for Vince last summer when he’d come back for another stint at the restaurant and Vince blew it. Grace had caught them making out in the backyard. While they finally fessed up that yes they were a couple now, Vince assured him that he wouldn’t take it past making out. Sal had convinced Grace that it would be okay and they’d just keep a close eye out. Everything was fine all summer. Then just five months later after the summer was over Sal got the call from Vince’s dad and shit hit the fan.
The zipper on the tent where Alex had been putting his twins to sleep opened and Alex emerged. “Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “Savannah was out almost as soon as I laid her down but Sienna fights it tooth and nail every time.”
“Tee hee,” Romero said, taking a swig of his beer as he sat down next to Isabel in front of the fire. “Now we know which one’s gonna give you trouble.”
Alex frowned, taking the seat next to Valerie. “No she’s not. They’re both daddy’s little angels. They’re never gonna give me trouble.”
Sofia laughed, snuggling up against Eric. “Alex, you are so in for it.”
Alex rolled his eyes and kissed Valerie then licked his lips. “What is that?”
“S’mores,” she said, shoving another one in her mouth.
“How many of those have you had?”
She shrugged. “Lost count.”
Angel stood up and walked over to the ice chest and grabbed a beer then started pouring some wine into a cup. “Anyone else want a beer?” Sal, Eric and Alex all lifted their hands. “Sofie looks like you’re the only girl here besides Sarah that can drink. You want one, too?”
“Uh,” Sofia shook her head. “No, I just opened an iced tea.” She lifted it for him to see.
After passing the beer around Angel sat down next to Sarah. “This place is a cool park, Grace. We should do this every year, Sal. Make it a family tradition.”
“I’m down with that.” Sal said.
“Us too,” Romero said, his eyes opening wide. “Izzy, next year we’ll have our baby with us.”
“Yep,” Grace smiled. “There will be three more little ones by next summer. Its gonna be a circus.”
“That’s if Valerie and Alex don’t pop out another two-fer,” Romero laughed.
Valerie dropped her head back. “Don’t even say that. My God.”
“Why not?” Alex frowned. “We can handle it.”
“Yeah, you’re not the one that has to carry them for nine months.”
Sal glanced at Sarah and Angel. They were the only ones who didn’t seem to be smiling as big as everyone else. “Since this is our first night doing our new family tradition, I propose a toast.” Sal lifted his beer. “To family.”
“May it only get bigger,” Alex added
“And may we always stay this close.” Sofia said.
“Love you guys.” Angel lifted his beer.
“Salud!” Romero said.
“To family,” they all said before finally taking a drink.
The End
Alright you guys, I’m sure you’re wondering why Angel didn’t get his own POV in the epilogue. Well, that’s because he gets his own bonus short story! You guys asked for more Angel and Sarah and what my readers want my readers get. Enjoy!