Page 48 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)
Mickey
I can’t remember a time in my life where my heart felt this full. Grandad promised Finn and me the American dream, but after years of sacrificing my own happiness, it no longer felt within reach. Until I saw Evie cradling our two perfect children. They’re mine—all of them.
Grace looks just like her mother, but with strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes. Brandon, on the other hand, will be harder to pass off as Andrew’s as he gets older. I’m sure the twins will question it at some point, and we’ll have to tell them the truth—but it’s a problem for another day.
“We’re here,” Andrew announces, waking me from my short nap.
My eyes take a few seconds to adjust, but we aren’t at their house. We’re at mine. “What’s going on?” I ask through a yawn.
Evie stretches as she wakes. “Oh, good, we’re here. Andy and I have something to show you.”
Andrew and I take the babies out of their car seats, and Brandon nestles into me as we walk into the house. There’s a faint smell of something woodsy, and maybe paint or paint thinner, the farther we move into the house.
Aisling is in the kitchen, kneading dough in a large glass bowl. “You’re early. I was hoping to have this ready for tonight, but time escaped me. I’ll be out of your hair in a few minutes.”
“Last set of stretch and folds?” Evie asks, and Aisling nods. “I can finish for you. Do you happen to know if everything is done?”
“Oh, I’m nearly finished, but thank you. And Mr. Gallagher assured me it was all taken care of before he left.”
“Thank you so much.” Evelyn hugs Aisling, and while she’s an affectionate person, Aisling isn’t, but is welcoming the embrace. It’s suspicious, but I shrug it off.
“Mick, we have a surprise to show you.” He leads the way to the spare bedroom next to the master, pausing for a moment before opening it.
Evie flicks on the light, and the queen-size bed that’s normally on the opposite wall is gone, replaced by two dark wooden cribs.
The walls are now a beautiful moss green—just like Evie wanted.
“I don’t understand,” I mutter, mostly to myself.
“Evie’s moving in with the babies,” Andrew explains, and a lump forms in my throat. “These children deserve to be raised by their real parents.”
“We can’t, it’ll ruin Evie’s reputation.”
“It won’t,” Evelyn insists, carefully taking Brandon from me.
He burrows his sweet face into the crook of her neck.
“The babies aren’t going to understand anything for a few years, but I want you to be there for the first time they crawl, their first words, and, well…
all of their firsts. I know we should’ve asked you beforehand, but I figured you’d be fine with me living here with you. If you’re not?—”
I take her face in my hands and bring her soft lips to mine. How she could ever doubt how much I want her—need her—is absolute madness.
“Everyone will be keeping a low-profile for at least a year. But there’s something else,” Andrew offers. “I kind of have my hands full, but there’s a folder on the dresser you’ll want to see.”
I press a final kiss to Evelyn’s cheek and search the room for it. I open the folder, and my heart leaps out of my damn chest. Divorce decree. I sift through the papers and can’t believe my eyes—Andrew and Evelyn are legally divorced.
“What did you do?”
“What does it look like we did?” Evie laughs. “We’ll keep up appearances in public for a while when needed, then announce the separation. Kristin assured me she’ll handle the optics, showing Andrew and me as amazing co-parents. It’s been a decade of torture for all of us. We’re done, Mick.”
I’m combing through the documents, still stunned, as Andrew adds, “I’ll have the room on the other side for whenever you want me here. If you need help for the first few months to get adjusted, that’s fine, but I’ll eventually need to get back to Maryland.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
Evie comes up behind me, pressing her palm to my back as a tear slips down my cheek. “The room needs to air out for another day, so there are two bassinets in our room. Why don’t we go outside for a bit while you process everything?”
My heart thunders in my chest. I turn and take her in my arms, careful to not crush Brandon. “I love you—all of you.” I lock eyes with Andrew. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Can you take Grace for a moment? I need to check on something.” He passes her to me and rushes out the door. We follow, but Evie guides me to the master next door.
“It’s a little chilly out. I’ll need to bundle these two up.” She sets Brandon into one of the small cribs beside the bed. He fusses, but only for a moment before settling. I do the same with Grace. Evie wraps a swaddling blanket around them, then heads to the walk-in closet.
She’s in there for a while, and I peek inside to see what’s taking so long. Changed out of her leggings and sweatshirt, she’s now wearing an ivory satin dress that lands at her knees.
“Aren’t you a little dressed up?”
“Aren’t you a little dressed down?” she counters, drinking me in.
“Are we expecting company?”
“Maybe.” Evie bites her lip, and I’m tempted to put her over my knee if she doesn’t stop with the surprises today. She hands me a navy suit and white shirt, no tie. “I’ll get the babies changed, then meet you outside.”
“What are you up to, angel?”
“You’ll see,” she sings, lifting onto her toes to kiss me.
She saunters off, and once she’s bundled up the twins, she calls for Andrew.
They take Grace and Brandon while I get dressed.
As I reach for a pair of socks from my drawer, my eyes catch on the little teal box from the day Evie found out she was pregnant.
My heart twists, wishing I could’ve given her both boxes that day.
This one will have to wait a little longer.
I shove it deeper into the drawer, then quickly change, and with a final check in the mirror, I walk out to join them.
There’s faint music and chatter from a few people coming from outside. As I’m about to open the sliding door, Finn stops me.
“Almost forgot…”
“What’s going on?” He pins something to my jacket, and I glance down to find a single red rose. “Finn, what’s going on?” He still doesn’t answer me. “Finn,” I growl, a little more forceful this time.
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Evelyn?”
“Yes,” I reply without hesitation.
“Good.”
He turns on his heel, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I open the patio door, and red rose petals are scattered on the ground, leading to four chairs.
Evelyn’s off to the side, holding Grace and talking with Kristin and Andrew.
He’s holding Brandon, and when he spots me, a wide grin paints his face.
Everyone I love is here. Chills dance down my limbs as a priest appears where the petals end.
Finn steps beside me and whispers, “It’s time, brother.”
“Is this? It can’t be…”
Evie hands Grace to Kristin, then makes her way to me as Finn insists, “It’ll all be legal, and I’ll be able to keep the public record sealed.
The world can’t know—at least not for a few years.
We won’t even tell Ileah or Jaclyn. We especially can’t tell Alex.
For a man who was in politics for years, he has the worst poker face. ”
As Evelyn approaches, Finn claps me on the back, then walks over to Andrew and Kristin.
Not caring that I’ll smear Evie’s crimson lipstick, I grip the front of her throat and kiss her with abandon.
Wrapping my other arm around her, I pull her close, but she winces, “Careful, I just gave birth a few days ago.”
“Sorry, angel. Is this really what I think it is?”
“You put this ring on my finger.” She holds up her hand to show it off. “It’s time you make good on your promises and marry me, Mick.”
Her lipstick doesn’t budge as I swipe my thumb along her bottom lip. “I should’ve married you the day I slipped that ring on.”
“We should’ve done a lot of things.” Evelyn slides her hand into mine, interlacing our fingers. “It’s going to be a rough couple of years, but I didn’t want to go another day without being your wife.”
“Come on! We have maybe five minutes before I have to change a diaper,” Kristin shouts.
Andrew, Finn, and Kristin take a seat on the folding chairs facing the priest. Evie moves her hand to the crook of my elbow and beams, “So, is that a yes?”
“You didn’t ask a question, love. But there’s no reality that I’d ever say no to you.”