I squeezed Matt's hand.
"Do you want me to stay in the car?"
I shook my head.
"No, I want you to come with me. We need to do this together."
He nodded and kissed my hand.
"I think he would understand Kathy."
I smiled at him as he released my hand and we got out of the car. We walked over to Jimmy's grave and stood in front of it together. Matt took my hand again and linked our fingers staying quiet, knowing that I needed to do this myself.
"Hi Jimmy, I know it's been a while." I stopped and bit my lip. "I love you. I just need you to know that before I say the rest of this. Matt and I just came from the doctor's office. We're having a boy and a girl Jimmy. We're naming our son after you and our daughter after my grandmother and your mother. She's been a real big help. Not just through the pregnancy but with everything." I stopped and felt Matt squeeze my hand reassuringly. "Matt and I are moving in together. We are going to raise the twins together as a family. I don't know when exactly Jimmy but during these last months we started to fall in love. He loves the twins too and I think they adore him already. You should feel the way they kick when he talks to them." I stopped feeling the tears welling in my eyes. I felt Matt squeeze my hand again.
"I promise I will take good care of them Jimmy. Your little family has my heart and I won't let anything happen to them now. She's an amazing woman and your twins already have me wrapped around their little fingers."
I giggled and he smiled at me.
"I love her already Jimmy." Matt's eyes were locked on mine though. His head lowered to mine and our lips met softly. We broke apart as a family of ducks circled around us. The mama waited while the babies circled around us and the daddy came along behind gathering up the stragglers.
Matt laughed.
"I think that Jimmy is ok with us."
I smiled at him. "I think so too."
"We need to get home. Everyone will be waiting," Matt said.
"We'll be back soon Jimmy." I said.
"We'll bring the twins to see you as soon as they are born Jimbo." Matt said.
We walked back to the car and settled in for the short drive.
"Do you feel better now?" Matt asked me quietly.
"A little. I don't feel so much like I'm cheating now."
"Good," He said taking my hand in his.
"Thank you for being here Matt and for being so understanding."
"I lost him too."
"I know."
"Babe..." He said as he parked. I got out not sure if I could handle what he was about to say.
"Babe..." He said again catching me at the front of his car. He pulled me close in his arms. "I love you Kathy. You and the twins are worth waiting on. I meant it when I told Jimmy that I love the three of you already. You are my family and my world. I'm ok sharing that with Jimmy. Just please let me share it. Don't push me away."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close crashing my lips against his.
"Well...are you two going to stay out here or come in?" Chelle said dryly.
We broke apart and laughed lightly. Matt didn't release me though. He held me tight to his side as we walked in the house.
"So...do we have a verdict?" Johnny asked excitedly.
"Johnny they are babies not a court decision," Barbara scolded.
I looked around at our extended family and smiled. I was so lucky to be a part of this family. To have a man like Matt at my side. Especially when he knows my heart still belongs to another man.
"Yes, the twins cooperated with a little help from Matt."
"Well?" Papa Gates said when I paused to look around again.
"We'll be welcoming James Owen Sullivan Jr. and Andrea Barbara Sullivan to the family."
Barbara's hand flew to her mouth, tears filling her eyes.
"A granddaughter and a grandson," Joe said with tears also in his eyes.
"Well I hope you guys didn't invest to heavily into anything pink or blue for the nursery," Papa Gates said.
"Nope, everything so far is gender neutral," Matt smiled.
"Even the paint?" I asked.
He smiled at me. "Nice try but yes, it is gender neutral too."
Matt got a text. He read it with a smile.
"Looks like you will be able to see for yourself tomorrow. It's finished it just needs to dry and air out.
"Awesome!"
"So dinner?" Val suggested.
There was an awkward pause.
"Oh for god sake people I didn't make it I had it catered!" Val said throwing up her hands.
We all laughed a little bit and made our way to the kitchen. Dinner went well with everyone chattering about plans for the twins and Johnny and Linds upcoming baby scan as well.
"Matt will you stay with me tonight?"
"Of course babe."
He smiled at me and I turned to my other side feeling Linds take her seat by me again.
"Do you think I was to harsh on Johnny last night?"
"Well I understand that you are nervous but making him sleep on the couch?"
"You're right. I feel so bad that he actually slept on the couch!"
"Well why don't you make it up to him tonight?"
She giggled.
"Just turn on some music ok?" I laughed. She blushed and we went back to dinner.
Afterwords everyone cleared out after making plans to come over and see the nursery tomorrow. Matt and I headed up to bed to give Linds and Johnny some privacy.
"It looks like Johnny's going to sleep in his own bed tonight," Matt chuckled.
"Yeah...you don't have to stay if you don't want to," I said guiltily.
"Kathy, I want to stay with you."
His lips covered mine gently. I felt Matt pull me down on his lap. I shifted so I was straddling him.
"Matt..." I breathed out as his lips left mine to trail kisses along my jaw.
"Yeah Babe?"
I ran my fingers over his shoulders.
"Do you really think I'm still attractive?"
Matt smiled at me, "Yes I do."
I blushed and opened my mouth. Matt took my hand in his and guided it to the bulge in his jeans. I gasp. We hadn't come close this past week to making love since we had the first time. This time I didn't need to pretend anything. No closed eyes. Just Matt and me. I kissed him and felt the love welling up in me. The twins kicked as clothes loosened and melted away. Each touch was slow and tender. Gentle caresses, slow lingering kisses and soft spoken words of love filled the room for the next few hours. I cuddled with Matt as he held me close.
"Thank you Kathy." He kissed my temple and we drifted off to sleep together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning I could barely focus on eating my breakfast, I was so excited. Matt chuckled as he settled down at the table with his plate.
"You need to eat something more sweetheart."
"I know..."
"The sooner you finish the sooner we see the nursery," Matt said taking a bite of his eggs.
I quickly finished my breakfast. He chuckled and finished his at a more normal pace. Once we were done we climbed into Matt's car and drove to his house. I saw two cars parked in the drive. One was Matt's sister, Anne's, car. The other I wasn't sure.
"Um..."
"Anne's here she wanted to ok it before I showed it to you in case I screwed up to much and tanya wanted to be here to see your reaction for herself."
"Alright."
We headed in the house and up the steps. Anne came out of the nursery as we entered the master bedroom.
"Oh god Matt it's amazing! You did good and Tanya did an amazing job with the paint!"
"Right now I have to see because I'm dying of curiosity!" I made my way over as Matt and Anne chuckled. I stepped in and stopped. I gasp as I took in the room.
The ceiling was painted a light blue to mirror the sky, and the carpet was green like grass. The walls near the ceiling were blue with white wispy clouds and then there was a sun and as you went around the room it went from dawn to dusk. Going down the wall there was grass and a pond painted and ducks everywhere. some were flying others were walking or swiming. The furniture Matt had ordered in white so it looked like white picket fencing along the walls where they interrupted the scenery.
"Matt it's perfect," I whispered as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
"You really like it?"
"Yes!"
I turned to Tanya who was smiling by the doorway.
"Thank you so much!"
"It's no problem. I was happy to do it."
"You did really good little brother," Anne said before she and Tanya faded out of the room. Matt kissed me.
"Welcome home Kathy."