4 & Counting Read online

  Shea felt horrible, and nodded quickly. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

  “No,” Elli said shaking her head, “I’m just in a crappy mood, my cooter hurts and I feel so overwhelmed. Even though I’m supposed to be having babies and not worrying about my job, I can’t help but think of all the crap surrounding Erik and Phillip. I’m just tired, and I swear, I could sleep for a year.”

  “I know, baby,” he said, kissing her cheek, moving to the side of her mouth. “I’m sorry. Do you want me to beat the crap out of Erik and Phillip?”

  Elli smiled, which was what he wanted, “No, I love those knuckleheads, even if they are giving the Assassins a bad name. I just want to enjoy the kids for the rest of my maternity leave. I want to be a mommy, not worry about anything but these little miracles.”

  Shea nodded as he moved his nose along her temple, taking in her scent. Mangos, his favorite.

  “We did good. Four beautiful kids, two little girls that favor their daddy and two boys that favor their momma. What more could we ask for?”

  “For our shops to get shut down,” she laughed. Shea shook his head, he didn’t want that, but if it was really something Elli wanted, he would agree. She wanted the kids just as much as he did. She put on a front that he was knocking her up left and right, which he was, but she wanted it too. They wanted this life. Even if it was hectic and crazy, it was their life. One day he would retire and be the father his dad was to him. It wasn’t that he was not a good father now, but for almost nine months of the year he was working, which included a lot of travel and being away from home. Shelli noticed, and didn’t like it, but there was nothing he could do. He could quit, of course, but he wasn’t ready. One day he would be, and he couldn’t wait for that moment, but that was later in life.

  When a knock came at the door, they both looked up to see Grace, Shea’s sister, enter the room with Shelli and Posey on each hip. The girls were decked out in their ‘Big Sister’ shirts and had big bright pink bows in their hair. Shea rolled his eyes at the sight since Posey’s bow was bigger than her head, but he soon smiled when she reached for him. Standing up, he closed the distance between them, and wrapped both girls up in his arms. Posey in all her excitement smacked him in the face, knocking his glasses askew, not that he cared. He was happy to see them.

  “I just want to peek and then I’ll leave, you guys need your family time. Mom and Dad are in the waiting room along with Elli’s dad and uncle. Let us know when you guys are ready for us, K?” Grace said in a rush. She ran over to Elli’s side without waiting for Shea’s answer, and kissed Elli’s cheek before looking down at the boys. “Oh my gosh, they are gorgeous!”

  “Aren’t they? I just wanna gobble them up, they are so sweet!” Elli gushed as she grinned down at them.

  “You guys make the most beautiful babies, I swear,” Grace said admirably as she touched Owen’s cheek, “So sweet.”

  “Thank you. You didn’t do such a bad job yourself, you know. Ryan and Amelia are beautiful children,” Elli said with a smile.

  “They are, this is true. I just want to stay and look at your babies forever, but you guys need your time, so I’m leaving.”

  She stood up with one last glance at the boys before walking towards Shea and kissing his cheek on her way out, closing the door behind her. Shea loved his twin sister with everything he had. He was glad that their relationship had not suffered with his marriage and family. Grace was always there for him as he was there for her.

  Shea nuzzled Posey’s cheek then Shelli’s, asking them, “Ready to meet your brothers?

  Shelli nodded her head as Posey started screaming for Elli. “Mama!”

  “Hi, buttercup, come on over here. You too, sunshine,” she said, sitting up and moving the boys so that she could hold them better. Shea had always loved the nicknames that Elli had for the girls, ‘buttercup’ for Posey and ‘sunshine’ for Shelli. The girls wiggled in his arms as he made his way over to Elli. When they reached her, Posey reached out for Elli as Shelli said, “Aww, babies.”

  “Mamama,” Posey rambled as she continued to reach.

  “No honey, Daddy will hold you. Momma has boo boos,” Shea said, but Posey continued to reach for Elli.

  “Give her here, “Elli said scooting over, making room on the bed for the girls. Shea hesitated, but when Elli looked up at him expectantly, Shea placed Posey carefully beside her, then Shelli. Shelli knew to be cautious and leaned more on Shea than she did on Elli.

  “My babies?” Shelli asked, before smiling up at Shea.

  “Our babies,” Shea corrected as Posey moved her fingers softly on Evan’s face.

  “Ba,” Posey said slowly, with a little grin on her face, “Mama,” she said looking up at Elli.

  “Yup, I love you, Posey, so much. I love you too, Shelli.”

  “I love you, Mama,” Shelli said. She then leaned her head on Elli’s. “Baby name, Mama?”

  Elli said, “Owen and Evan.”

  Shelli giggled, “No Mama, names.”

  Shea had no clue what Shelli was asking but obviously Elli did, because she answered, “Oh, I don’t know. How about mac and cheese?”

  Shelli’s giggles practically shook the bed. “Noooo!”

  “Okay. Hmm, rice and crispy?”

  “Noooooo, Mama,” Shelli laughed.

  “Well honey, they gotta go together.”

  “Yeah, lightning and bug,” Shelli said just like her mom, with a little bit of country drawl. She was just like Elli and he couldn’t have loved her any more. Shelli was smart as hell, because he sure didn’t remember his niece and nephew talking this well at two.

  Elli smiled lovingly at her daughter before she nodded and said, “That’s perfect, my little lightnin’ and my little bug.”

  “Yay! Lightnin’ and lug, and luttercup,” Shelli said pointing at Owen, Evan, and then Posey, “My family.”

  Shea nodded, placing a kiss to Shelli’s head, “Yup, one big happy family.”

  There was another knock at the door, and Shea turned to see who it was. “Hello, all,” a nurse said as she entered the room, “How are the boys?”

  “Great,” Elli answered, kissing Posey’s head, “So are the girls. I think they love their brothers.”

  Shea agreed. Posey was smiling down at the boys as Shelli touched her finger along Owen’s cheek. The nurse gave them a bright grin as she came over to the little table that was beside Elli’s bed.

  Something caught Shea’s eye as he leaned in closer to look at the shape of Owen’s lips.

  Was it okay that his boy had a cupid’s bow mouth?

  Hopefully, he’d grow out of that mouth.

  “Okay, well I’m here to give you the paperwork for your tubal ligation that will be performed tomorrow at 4:00, P.M., with Dr. Resitra.”

  Shea looked up quickly, glancing at Elli, then the nurse before looking back at Elli. “What?”

  The nurse looked up from her paperwork, then glanced at Elli before answering, “I have paperwork for Mrs. Adler’s tubal ligation, also known as getting her tubes tied. I just need a few signatures.”

  Shea kept staring at Elli until she looked at him. When she did, Shea could see the nervousness in her eyes. She hadn’t even discussed this with him; he thought he had more time to convince her to have another baby. Surely she wouldn’t do this without discussing it with him.

  “Elli?”

  Elli turned to look up at the nurse, and then smiled, “I’m sorry, I need to discuss this with my husband first. Is there any way, you can put the boys back in their beds, and I’ll call you back when I’m ready to sign them?”

  “Sure,” the nurse said with a nod, “Do you want me to take them to the nursery?”

  “No ma’am,” Elli answered quickly. The kids never stayed in the nursery; they always slept with Elli and Shea. Grace, on the other hand, had insisted her kids sleep in the nursery. She said it gave her time to sleep as well. When he asked Elli why