Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 208

*Shelby*

“Honey, do you want me to make you some breakfast?” Michael said, peeking his head into the nursery.

“That sounds great,” I said softly, not wanting to wake sleeping Amelia, who was sound asleep in her crib next to me.

Michael nodded and slipped back into the hallway while I continued to nurse Thomas, rocking him gently to sleep. Hopefully, I would be able to gently ease Thomas into his crib. He had a tendency to wake right up as soon as his little body touched the crib mattress. If they both stayed asleep, I would be able to enjoy breakfast without scarfing it down in ten seconds flat, a true luxury.

Thomas’s eyes fluttered closed, and I watched his slow, methodical breathing for a long time before easing us both out of the rocking chair and hovering over the crib. Slowly, with my arms aching, I laid Thomas down without waking him up.

In the two weeks we had spent home with the twins, I had found the perfect route out of the nursery to avoid every squeak of the floor. I hopped silently on the tips of my toes and eased the door closed behind me, clutching the baby monitor in my hand. As soon as the door was closed, I couldn’t help but do a small dance, a dance of an ecstatic mother, happy to have a few seconds of her own.

I followed my nose to the kitchen, where bacon was sizzling in a pan, and pancakes were stacked high on a plate in the center of the island.

“Wow, you’re really getting the hang of this breakfast thing,” I said, stabbing a pancake with a fork and plopping it onto my plate.

Michael had spent the last two weeks at home with no signs of being eager to return to work. Honestly, I loved every second of him being home. Taking care of the twins was hard work, hard work with very little sleep, but Michael seemed to love every second of it.

“Well, I picture myself being the kind of dad who makes big breakfasts every Saturday morning. I can just imagine Thomas and Amelia rolling out of bed with messy hair and cartoon-covered pajamas, excited to see what shape Dad made their pancake,” Michael said, using the spatula to slide two pieces of bacon onto my plate.

“I can see it now,” I said with a little laugh. “I think we need to get you an apron and everything, so you can really play that role.”

“Oh yeah, great idea. One of those ‘k**s the cook’ aprons would be perfect,” Michael said, grabbing a couple of mugs from the cupboard and pouring two cups of steaming coffee.

I cupped my hands around the mug as soon as he slid it across the counter to me, inhaling the sweet smell of caffeine.

“I might need another one of these,” I said, taking a hesitant sip, letting the hot liquid sting my tongue.

Michael chuckled at that. “You know, I was thinking that maybe we should convert the guest suite downstairs into our bedroom. At least until the twins are a little bit bigger.”

“Really?” I asked, slightly surprised.

“Yes, really. I hate being so far away from them. What do you think?” he asked me.

“I think that I love that idea,” I said, smiling before taking another sip of the coffee.

“Great,” Michael said, the smile on his face absolutely beaming. “I’ll set up a meeting with our designer so we can get the guest suite remodeled for us to move into for the long term.”

“Thank you,” I said, looking meaningfully into his eyes. “You’ve been the best dad our babies could ask for.”

“That’s pretty easy to do when they have a mom as perfect as you,” Michael said, leaning across the counter and kissing me softly. “If you’re finished with breakfast, why don’t you sneak upstairs and enjoy a quiet bath? You deserve it. I’ll watch the babies, and when you get back, we’ll get them ready for their doctor’s appointment.”

“Each time I think I couldn’t love you any more than I already do, you prove me wrong,” I said, kissing him quickly before immediately taking off down the hall.

I was not going to let the opportunity to take a luxurious bath all alone slip away. I could hear Michael chuckling as he cleared our plates from the table.

***

“The babies are both doing so well,” our pediatrician, Dr. Timothy, said, peering over the computer screen. “Amelia has gained a pound, and Thomas has gained almost two. Great job, Mama.”

I smiled at that comment. It was nice to feel appreciated for breastfeeding. It was extremely taxing, but so worth it hearing that both the babies were gaining weight. After we had struggled with infertility and the birth went so differently than what I had imagined, I began to feel like my body couldn’t do any of the things it was supposed to do. Knowing that I was nourishing my two little babies with it was a win that I desperately needed.

“Now, are there any questions you two have for me before I send your cute little family on their way?” Dr. Timothy asked us as she pushed back from the computer.

Michael and I both looked at each other before turning to Dr. Timothy and shaking our heads.

“We’re just so glad that they are here and healthy,” Michael said.

“Exactly,” I added.

“And how are you feeling, Shelby? You are going through a lot of changes right now, and not just hormonally. It’s a big shift to becoming a mother. Do you feel like you have all the support you need to properly take care of yourself too?” she asked in a serious tone.

I turned and smiled at Michael. “I have a great support system. Michael has been an absolute lifesaver these past few weeks. He makes sure I take some time for myself, even if it’s only for a little while each day. That really helps.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” she said. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. I know how stressful the first doctor’s appointment is. I’m sure you would all like to get home and rest.”

As if on cue, Amelia started rousing from her sleep. I placed my hand next to her warm cheek and slipped a binkie into her mouth. Satisfied, her eyelids dropped back into place, and she fell back asleep.

“Thank you so much, Dr. Timothy,” I said, looping my arm through Amelia’s infant carrier. Michael stood up, too, clutching Thomas’s carrier in his hand.

“Please call if you have any questions or concerns. And I would just like to add that you two are doing great,” Dr. Timothy said.

“I wish doctors for grown-ups were as nice as she is,” Michael said softly as we left the office.

I laughed, agreeing with him completely.

The car ride home was filled with the ear-splitting sounds of crying infants. They were hungry and more than ready to be back at home. I sat between the two car seats, doing my best to soothe them both, all the while knowing the only thing they wanted was to be out of their car seats with a full belly of milk.

Michael and I rushed the babies inside the house as soon as we parked the car, both of us working in sync to get the babies out of their car seats, into fresh diapers, and eating happily.

Michael had warmed up a bottle and was feeding Thomas while Amelia had a turn nursing.

“I’m glad that we know the babies are doing well, but I’m also just so relieved that the appointment is over. I had no idea how stressful it would be trying to take two infants out of the house at the same time,” I said, chuckling.

Michael was watching Thomas suckle at the bottle as he replied, “I didn’t realize it either. I also hadn’t realized that we hadn’t left the house since we brought them home. Everything we do just to make it through the day kind of makes you forget there’s a world outside this house.”

“It will get easier,” I said, rubbing my thumb across Amelia’s cheek as she nursed. “And also more difficult at the same time.”

Michael laughed. “I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone other than parents.”

“Probably not,” I said, laughing too.

“You’re enjoying it, though, aren’t you?” Michael asked.

“Enjoying what? Being a parent?”

“I just want to make sure that you’re enjoying being a mom. While we were at the doctor’s appointment, and Dr. Timothy asked you if you were doing well, it made me worried that I had been selfish in all of this. I love being a dad so much. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m worried that I have been blinded by my own happiness,” Michael said sheepishly.

“Michael, I love being a mom. Is it absolutely exhausting and terrifying sometimes? Yes, of course, it is. Do I miss having some free time? Yes, again, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not enjoying this entire experience,” I explained.

“Well, I promise to try and help you have more time for yourself,” Michael said, smiling at me, then turning to look back at Thomas, who was nearly done with the entire bottle.

“That would make a world of difference. Even being able to take time to relax in the bath today made me feel a bit more like myself,” I admitted. Being a mom really took up most of my life now.

Michael nodded and continued watching Thomas intently. He laughed softly. “No wonder he gained almost two pounds. He’s a good eater.”

“Yes, he is,” I said with a little chuckle.

“You know, I think he has your nose,” Michael said, running his hand across Thomas’s dark brown hair, making it stick up in crazy directions.

“Really?” I asked, my heart swelling. I hadn’t dared ask if the babies looked like me. I was too scared of the possibility that they didn’t look anything like me. When we were alone, I would run my eyes over each of the baby’s features, trying to pick myself out in each of them.

“Really, especially when he scrunches up his face when he’s mad,” Michael said, scrunching up his own face.

That made me laugh.

“You know, I think they both look like you in their own ways,” Michael continued.

My heart soared at this comment.

“Have you thought any more about getting the DNA testing done? There’s a chance that they both are really ours,” Michael said, breaking my heart just as fast.