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He pulled out a bench seat and made her sit. “You look a little pale. Here, have some water.” He handed her a bottle. She sipped a little.

“I’m fine. Really. It just hit me, that smell.”

“The steaks? They smell great—” His eyes widened. “Uh-ohh. What?Em. I can only think of one other time when that smell made you—”

Emily bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. “I was going to tell you after the party, but…”

“Oh, my God, Em. Really?”

She nodded. “Are you happy about it?”

He pulled her into his arms, laughing. “Am I happy?” His voice clogged up suddenly and all he could do was hug her.

“You know Clover’s been desperate for a brother or sister. I can’t wait to tell her, but we should wait a bit.”

“How far along are you? How did I miss this?”

“Far enough to know. I saw the doctor today—are you ready? Maybe you should sit down, too.”

He frowned. “What?”

“There’s two… it’s… twins.”

He literally gasped. “Twins?”

“Shhhh!” She quieted him with her hand. “We shouldn’t tell everyone yet.”

He glanced guiltily around them and lowered his voice. The shock and weight of her words hitting him like a punch of joy and fear and disbelief all at once. “Okay, okay. Butwhat? Twins?Em.”

“I know.” She bussed his mouth with a quick kiss. “They do run in your family, don’t they then? I’m so happy. And a bit scared, too. It’s a lot. But I couldn’t wait to tell you.”

He stared down at her in wonder. “I’m so… you are… a rock star. I love you, babe.”

She kissed him again. “I love you back, cowboy.” She straightened the collar of his denim shirt and smoothed her hand down the front as she always did in a little gesture that always gave him the feels.

“Now what do we do?”

“Now,” she said, “I’m going to find our current only child and push her on that swing as I promised her all day that I would. And pocket her little fish fossil, so he doesn’t disappear.”

“Good plan. Meltdown avoidance.”

“Right. See you after?”

“I’ll be right here.”

Smiling, he watched her walk away, watched Clover gallop up to her, grab her hand, and walk together toward the sinking sunset that was casting the Montana sky with reds and purples. It reminded him then of the dream he’d once had of that same little girl with the hazel-green eyes who was theirs now, walking with her mama.

He’d never been a big believer in fate, or premonitions, but what else explained how he had gotten so lucky? That he’d listened to that small voice that had told him to offer her that seat on the subway, and later, when all seemed lost, told him not to let her go.

He took a deep breath.

For that matter, five years ago, none of this had seemed possible. And now look. Everything had changed. Changed for good. He stood at the center of the Hard Eight, surrounded by family and friends, all gathered tonight together to celebrate the life they’d—each of them—built here. He had Emily now and Clover and—he swallowed hard—two more on the way… it was a life he could never have imagined.

And it was a blessing he knew he would never, ever take for granted.

The End