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“You get to see your room tomorrow night!” Alex cooed to Jacob and Zachary. She sat on the floor of their hotel suite while the boys laid in front of her on a soft blanket. Their arms and legs subtly moved back and forth. She smiled at Slater as he sat on the floor next to her. “They definitely got your eyes.” She turned to the boys. “You have your daddy’s pretty green eyes.” She smiled between them and played with their little toes. “This time tomorrow night, you’ll be sleeping in your bed. Yeah,” she laughed at Zach when he let out a gurgle and gently wiped away tiny bubbles he seemed to be fond of producing from his mouth with her thumb. “You’ll be in your bed. Mommy can see how she wants to change your room and unpack all your clothes. We’ll be home. The only thing missing will be Daddy. He’ll be there soon, I promise.” She put her hand on Slater’s knee with a quick squeeze when she felt him withdraw from the celebration. She couldn’t blame him, but she needed him to understand where she had to be. Alex picked up Jacob as he began to fuss and looked at the time. “Like clockwork, aren’t you?” She moved to the sofa and got comfortable so he could eat. She murmured to him while Slater remained on the floor next to Zach, letting him grab onto both of his fingers with his fists.
“He’s got a good grip,” he praised.
“They both do,” Alex agreed, then smiled when Jake gripped her finger as he fed.
They were both quiet, Alex patiently fed Jacob and knew he was about done when Zachary started to fuss. Slater picked him up and stood with him. He moved gently to soothe him until it was his turn to eat. They did ‘the trade’ as they had started to refer to it when one was done eating and she was ready for the next baby. Slater proudly took on the task of burping and diaper changing. Alex wondered how quickly he would run from that task once the boys were on solid foods.
Ben had done what was promised and made the past month as comfortable as he could for them as a family. Alex and Kathleen stayed put with the boys as often as possible. Slater made the trek to concert locations via plane or bus. He always returned after a show no matter how late in the evening, or how early it was the next morning. It wasn’t nearly as hard on Alex as it had been when she was carrying the boys. It was still a challenge to lug their stuff to the next location when the venues got too far away from their central location.
Alex switched sides with Zachary. She enjoyed the time with her baby while Jake drifted to sleep in Slater’s arms. The soft chime of the doorbell interrupted their quiet moment. Melancholy was heavy in the room when Slater opened the door to one of the hotel attendants who politely nodded to them and announced he was here to pick up Mrs. Heart’s luggage.
Slater pointed out her bags along with extra luggage for the boys and Kathleen. He suddenly felt cold and empty inside. The last six months of the tour had been full of drama, emotions, and life-changing events with the birth of Jacob and Zachary, but through it all, it had never been lonely. He knew he wouldn’t like saying goodbye when the time came, but he wasn’t prepared for the wave of solitude and loneliness that overcame him when he saw her bags removed from their suite. He set Jacob down in the nearby bassinet, tucked him in when the attendant took the final load of bags, and closed the door quietly.
Alex held Zach to her chest. She patted his back gently after he finished eating and rocked to soothe him. She glanced up at Slater. His back was to her, one hand braced against the door he had just closed, his other hand remained on the doorknob. He stood still. Alex waited for him to turn to her. “Slater?” Her brow furrowed when he didn’t answer, but his head and shoulders slumped in defeat. “Slater?”
“Don’t go,” he breathed, his voice just above a whisper.
“What?” Alex asked, her voice raised an octave. Surely she had heard him incorrectly.
“Don’t go,” he repeated and turned to face her with tears in his eyes.
“Slater, we’ve talked about this. We agreed... we’ve had a plan...” she stammered and sat up straight as he dashed to her and knelt in front of her.
“I realize what I’m asking of you is monumental,” he stated, his eyes pleaded with her.
“Not to mention unrealistic,” Alex shot back.
“And horribly selfish,” he agreed.
“And completely unfair to me and-”
“But I’m asking anyway,” he interrupted, his voice rushed as he sat by her side. “Don’t go, baby. Please,” he whispered fiercely. One tear escaped and ran down his cheek.
“Slater,” Alex began. The two of them turned to Jacob when his cry filled the room.
“Look.” He hurried to Jake’s side, picked him up, and rocked him back to sleep. “Look how much help I am.”
“Slater,” Alex moaned. Her head fell to the couch cushion behind her in exhaustion. She let him take Zach from her arms and settle him gently next to Jacob and turned her head to him when he sat next to her once more. “They just took my bags.” She gestured lamely toward the door.
“We can get them back,” he replied with hope. “That’s a minor detail.”
“That’s the only minor detail,” Alex snorted and looked away from him.
He put his hand under her chin and guided her gaze to him. “Their room will still be there in a month.”
“Slater,” she groaned and dropped her head in her hands.
“They don’t know the difference,” he argued.
“That’s not the point,” Alex stated firmly. She looked up at him and softened at the look of love and sadness in his eyes.
“I don’t want to miss one moment. Plus...” He trailed his fingers softly over the swell of her half-exposed breast. “That six-week milestone is coming up.” He pulled his hand away when she swatted at him and righted her shirt. “You can call Annette tomorrow and schedule the People photoshoot.” He dangled the bait eagerly and saw her consider the situation. “I’ll buy you a Rolls Royce,” he promised.
“Ha!” Alex snorted. “I’m going to need a tricked-out minivan with all the stuff these two require.”
“Done.” Slater nodded. “You can go blow another forty thousand at Tiffany.”
“Bribing me isn’t a reason to stay.”
“Love is. And,” he continued hurriedly as she started to open her mouth. “Before you can bring up bad memories, I know love wasn’t enough for me to stay all those years ago, but this is different.” He grabbed her hand, placed a kiss on it, and slid closer to her on the sofa. “You know this is different.”
“What about Kathleen?”
“I’ll double her salary for the next month to convince her.”
“What about Ben?”
“I’ll call him immediately to get your things and to make arrangements for you to stay.” He looked at her eagerly. “Is that a yes?” He didn’t wait for her reply, pressed his lips to hers, and spoke against her mouth. “Please.” He kissed her. “Please.” He kissed her again, moved to her neck and her jaw. He nibbled her ear and laughed softly when Alex let out a little squeal on her ticklish spots, all the while he kissed and pleaded. “Please, please, please.”
“Stop!” Alex pushed him away as she rolled her eyes.
“You know.” Slater scooted a few inches away from her on the couch. “It’s not unrealistic like you just said because you did it for one month already.”
“Slater,” Alex warned.
“And if this month went by quickly, you know the next one will.”
“Slater,” she sighed. Her shoulders shook with soft laughter.
“I’ll make sure you have everything you need, and then some.”
“Slater.” She gave in, leaned her head against his chest, and snuggled into him when he draped her legs over his lap and held her close.
“No albums on deck or tours coming up for a while, I promise. Once we get home, you’ll have me one hundred percent. Don’t go, Allie,” he whispered against her hair and kissed her softly. “I want you and the boys to stay with me.”
“Ok,” she caved. “We’ll stay. But...” She held onto him when he started to stand. “I’m going to take your bribe about People. You’re going to be photographed with us, and I might want the tricked-out minivan to be a huge SUV instead.”
“And the Tiffany shopping spree?”
Alex shook her head. “No, I don’t want that.”
“Really?” Slater asked in shock.
“I want Mr. Cartier to make a house call.”
“Done and done.” He kissed her happily and rushed to the phone. “I’ll call Ben and have him inform Annette about People magazine, that way you don’t have to. Saves you a step. See how helpful I am?”
“Yeah.” Alex sat back on the sofa and shook her head with a laugh. Maybe Slater was right. The first month had gone by quickly. They would be home before they knew it. As exhausted as she was, she didn’t want to be without him, either.
––––––––
“What do you think of this outfit?” Alex asked as she walked into the living room of their hotel suite and did a little twirl for Kathleen as she changed Zach’s diaper.
“Oh, I think that’s the one!” Kathleen praised and elicited a giggle from Alex.
“You’ve said that about the last three outfits,” Alex stated. “I need this to be good. Better than good. I need this to be perfect.”
The People magazine photoshoot was scheduled for the following day. Hair and makeup were set to arrive a few hours ahead of time. The luxury suite would be the perfect setting for the pictures, but Alex couldn’t decide what to wear. She knew the main focus would be the babies and there would be hype about Slater willingly being featured in the editorial. She also knew that while those who read the magazine would concentrate on their sons and her husband, she would be under extreme scrutiny to see how her body had bounced back only six short weeks after giving birth to twins. She had discarded everything from casual lingerie to show she was still resting and healing to tossing aside a fancy dress. She rolled her eyes at herself for even considering it. Who the hell had time to wear sequins when two baby boys were constantly attached to her breasts? Loungewear was what fit the best and at the moment she felt comfortable and even slightly like her old self again in loose-fitting black cotton pants and a flowing white tank, topped with a cardigan in a dark shade of coral. The color was complementary to her skin tone.
“I like that one the best,” Kathleen said. “It’s comfortable and casual.” She held Zach to her chest as she walked to Alex and reached for the tag on the garment. “And anyone with a keen eye will know it costs a fortune. Do this one for sure. In fact, I think you should wear this tonight.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind about tonight?” Alex asked anxiously. “Do you think it’s ok? What if the boys know I’m not there?”
“It’s ok, Alex.” Kathleen patted her shoulder with reassurance. “I’m in the suite right next door. If I need you, I’ll know where to find you.”
Alex swiftly removed the tags from her clothing. “I think it’s important to be well-rested for tomorrow and-” She stopped speaking suddenly when Kathleen gave her a knowing smile. “Kathleen!” Alex blushed at the woman’s wide grin. “Stop that.”
“Oh, please.” She waved Alex’s embarrassment away. “I have three children. I remember what it was like to be alone with my husband for an evening when one of my babies was six weeks old and my doctor said things were just fine. Plus, if my husband and God rest his soul,” she whispered to Heaven, “looked anything like Slater Heart does, I’d be just as anxious to jump his bones.”
“Kathleen!” Alex gasped and rushed to Zach to cover his tiny ears. She looked into the bassinet to ensure Jake hadn’t stirred. “Don’t say things like that in front of the boys,” she hissed, though her eyes sparkled with amusement when Kathleen continued to grin at her.
A pro at handling multiple children, Kathleen packed up the boys’ belongings and helped Alex secure them in their carriers. She waited patiently while Alex repeatedly kissed her sons and assured them she would see them first thing in the morning. Alex knelt in front of their carrier seats while Kathleen transported the bassinet and diaper bag to her suite.
“I love you both so much.” She cupped their faces in her hands, leaned in, and kissed them once more, her eyes teared up at the thought of not seeing them for any length of time. “You both are in good hands, ok?” She kissed them over and over again when Kathleen returned to the suite and smiled at Alex’s reaction to being without her sons for an evening. “I love you, I love you,” she whispered, stood up, and hugged Kathleen close. “Thank you. See you in the morning. Unless of course-”
“We’ll be fine. I have enough of your milk for the evening and formula to supplement.”
“But-”
“But, I know you prefer they only have your breast milk. Relax, Alex. I know what I’m doing.”
“I know you do. Ok, goodnight.” She waved to the boys and shook her head at herself as they were both sound asleep. “See you in the morning.”
She wiped away her tears when the door closed behind Kathleen and placed a call to room service. Doing what she always did when she was anxious, she paced until the food arrived and took a call from Slater when he was on his way.
She lit candles and busied herself arranging the dining table. Her breathing was shallow as she waited for her husband’s arrival and she checked her look in the bathroom mirror one more time. She had taken extra care with her appearance tonight. Her makeup was applied expertly but naturally and her hair was loose and wavy over her shoulders. She fought the urge to pull it into a ponytail and off her face, but she knew Slater would just remove the elastic and let it loose. She gave herself a small spritz of perfume and turned toward the door when she heard Slater enter the suite.
“Hi,” Alex greeted him with a smile as she exited the bathroom. Her heart picked up speed at the sight of him. He wasn’t dressed any differently than he normally was and stood before her in jeans and a t-shirt topped with a leather jacket. He wore cowboy boots and his hair was slightly damp from his after-concert shower. She had seen him like this plenty of times, last night in fact, but tonight was different. Tonight it was just the two of them.
“Hey, baby,” Slater greeted her with a kiss and a hug and looked her over. “You look pretty.”
“Thank you.” She walked behind him to help him out of his jacket and placed it on a nearby chair.
Slater looked around the suite. The bassinet was missing. The table was set with candles and food, the mouth-watering aromas hit him as he got closer. His wife stood before him looking pretty and skittish. He smiled to himself and wondered what was up her sleeve, hopeful that it was what he thought it was. “It’s quiet in here,” he observed.
Alex wrung her hands together nervously. “Kathleen has the boys with her.”
“Yeah? Why?” He stepped close to her and put one arm around her waist.
“I thought we could enjoy some alone time. I had dinner delivered for you.” Alex stepped out of his arms and gestured to the table.
He sat down at the table and looked at her small dish of sorbet and plate of fresh fruit. “That’s all you’re eating?”
“I had dinner earlier. I thought I would have a light dessert while you ate.” She nibbled on a piece of watermelon and watched Slater savor his steak. “Would you like some wine?”
“That sounds good, thanks.” Alex poured him a glass and one for herself. “I take it you’re not nursing tonight?”
She shook her head and tasted the wine. “No, not tonight. So... um...” Alex popped a blueberry into her mouth. “I saw Dr. Green late this afternoon.”
“Yeah?” Slater asked. “How is everything?”
“Good. The boys are already six weeks old. Can you believe it?”
“Six weeks, huh?” He sat back and drank his wine. “The time has already flown by. What did she say about them?”
“She said they’re healthy. They’re gaining weight and growing by the correct standards. They’ve already gained over a pound each.”
“Glad to hear it.” He slowly looked her up and down. “And what did she say about you?”
Alex’s eyes fluttered subtly while she fought back nerves. “She said I’m all healed and I can go ahead and hire a personal trainer to get into shape.” She took a sip of her wine to ease her fears and swirled the base of her glass on the table while she softly cleared her throat. “She also said that as soon as I am ready to introduce sex back into my life, I’m no longer off-limits.”
He set his wineglass down and reached across the table for her hand. “Are you ready to introduce that back into your life?”
Alex’s voice was just above a whisper with her answer. “Why do you think the boys are with Kathleen?”
He kept his expression even and resisted the urge to pounce on her. “How long is she keeping them?”
“I told her to plan on all night.” She lowered her eyes when he grinned at her. “Stop smiling at me like that, you make me nervous.”
“The good nervous?”
“Yes, but still nervous.”
“Why are you nervous?”
“Because I still feel strange and my body has gone through so much. I mean, I know I was a bit of a sex freak throughout most of the pregnancy and that desire is there, but I’ve never had functioning breasts before and stretch marks-”
“You can relax, Allie,” he cut her off and squeezed her hand in reassurance. “It’s not like I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and toss you on the bed and have my way with you. Although that does sound appealing.” He smiled, always honest with her. “I’ll save that Neanderthal behavior for another time. Look, baby.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I know your body went through a lot, I was with you the entire time.” He studied her over the rim of his wineglass. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you.”
“Not true,” Alex stated. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m afraid you’re not going to like what you see.”
“Not true.” Slater winked at her. “We’ll just let it happen, ok?”
She nodded with relief and spooned up her sorbet. “Tell me about the concert.”
“Tell you what.” He could be patient with her. Had done so before when she lost her virginity to him. He recognized that in a sense, this was another first time for both of them. He figured maybe spending time with her and talking about topics other than babies and diapers and feedings might ease her anxiety. “Bring your dessert with you and let’s sit in front of the fireplace and talk.” Slater picked up a remote and brought the flames to life with the touch of a button. “I know it’s not the real thing, but it’s still nice.”
“I like it.” Alex settled on the sofa and scooted close to him when he sat next to her. “Something about a fire, real wood or gas, it sets a calm, romantic mood.” She took another taste of her dessert. “Is that what you’re doing, Slater? Setting the mood?”
He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Is it working?”
“Maybe,” Alex replied coyly. She looked toward the door suddenly, certain she heard a cry from Kathleen’s suite. “Did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear anything, honey.”
“No.” She sat up straighter, worry on her face. “Was that a cry? What if they won’t sleep? What if they’re fussy all night and Kathleen doesn’t get any sleep?” She set her dessert on the coffee table and scooted to the edge of the sofa.
“Allie, they’re in good hands.”
“What if they’re hungry? What if they need me?”
He pulled her down as she tried to stand up. He set his wineglass aside, grabbed her face in his hands, and kissed her breathless. “I need you.”
“Slater,” she gasped, as she tried to catch her breath.
“Allie,” he whispered against her. His lips were soft and warm as he gentled his kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth and met hers. “Let’s not skirt around the issue, baby,” he rasped, his breathing choppy. “I’ll make sure you’re not nervous for long.” He kissed her once more and tightened his arms around her when Alex fisted her hands in his hair.
“Let it happen?” she breathed against his mouth, hers opened for him eagerly when he kissed her once more.
“Yeah.” He nodded and brought her onto his lap. Her legs straddled him as their mouths met again. “Let it happen.”
––––––––
“Oh, I missed that!” Alex sighed with a stretch and cuddled into his open arms.
They laid together on a blanket in front of the fireplace, their bodies spent. Both of them with satisfied grins on their faces.
“You know.” Slater ran his hand over her back and settled on her bottom. “That’s a lot more fun to do with you than by myself.”
Alex kissed his shoulder softly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you.”
“It’s ok, you’ve been slightly distracted. We both have been.” He held her close. “Thank you for staying with me, Allie.”
“You’re welcome.” She propped up on her elbows and kissed him. “It hasn’t been as bad as I thought it would be-”
“Told ya so,” he interrupted her.
“But.” She nudged his shoulder playfully. “I’m ready to get home.”
“Two weeks, we’ll be there,” he promised and shifted to face her. “You know, my whole life I’ve been ok with being alone, often preferred it. These last ten years any time we’ve been on tour, I’ve never been in any rush to get home or felt lonely. But, with you and the boys here.” He shook his head at all the changes. “It’s made me realize how much I needed a family.” He took her hand and placed a warm kiss on it. “You all make me very happy.” He held her hand to his heart, his voice was thick with emotion. “I love you all so much. I never had this kind of love in my life before. Thank you for that.”
“You don’t need to thank me for loving you, Slater,” Alex sniffled. Her eyes teared up at his words, her fingers traced her name tattooed over his heart. “I’ve always had so much of it to give and no one to give it to. Now there’s no doubt in my mind there’s enough of me to go around. I never thought having children would complete me the way it does, honestly never pictured having them in my life until you mentioned it. Now only six weeks after having them, I can’t imagine my life without them. Thank you for that,” she whispered, then sighed as he pulled her into his embrace. The two of them comforted each other in sweet silence, Alex finally spoke up. “I should get some sleep. I have to look good for the shoot tomorrow.”
“You always look good.” Slater kissed her softly and searched her eyes. He saw that hers were full of the desire he felt. “You tired?”
“Happily exhausted, but not sleepy tired.” She bit her lip and felt the blush creep over her body as his eyes seared into hers. “I guess that’s what makeup and good lighting are there for, right?”
“Come here.” Slater pulled her on top of him. He ran his fingers into her hair as he brought her mouth to his, and kissed her with all the love he felt for her. He looked into her eyes and gave her a wicked grin. “Let it happen, Allie. The glow will do you good.”