The triplets, Lily, Kingston, and Daisy, practically vibrate with anticipation, their eyes wide and hopeful as they look up at him.
Daisy's bright red curls bounce as she chimes in, her voice full of determination. “Yeah! You promised we could train like real hockey players!”
Reggie, leaning casually against the wall, lets out a hearty snort and ruffles Daisy's hair affectionately. “Ya lot already skate better than half the players I know,” he teases, his thick accent coloring his words with warmth.
Lily gasps, her eyes lighting up with delight. “Really?” she asks, her hands clasped together, full of youthful innocence.
“Absolutely not,” Ambrose replies with a deadpan expression, his eyes twinkling with mischief, making all the kids burst into giggles.
Kenzie, standing nearby, shakes her head with a smile tugging at her lips, as she hoists her well-worn carry-on over her shoulder.
“I swear, if one of them tries to run an ultra-marathon by the time they’re ten, it’s on you,” she jokes, her voice filled with mock exasperation.
Ambrose smirks, a playful glint in his eye. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Wyatt, who’s nearly as tall as Ambrose now, flashes a confident grin. “I’ll beat all of them. You’ll see,” he declares, puffing out his chest with youthful bravado.
Kingston, the quietest of the triplets, nods seriously, his small hands gripping the straps of his backpack tightly.
Reggie chuckles, a deep, hearty sound. “Tell ya what. Ya run in the morning, and I’ll take ya to the rink after,” he offers, his voice promising adventure.
The kids erupt into cheers, their voices echoing with excitement, and I watch as Kenzie’s expression softens, her eyes brimming with love as she takes in the scene.
This is the life we built together, a tapestry of laughter and dreams, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
The plane vibrates beneath us, and I feel a familiar wave of exhaustion and excitement come over me.
Kenzie leans her head gently against my shoulder, her fingers weaving through mine like an intricate tapestry, while Reggie and Ambrose bicker playfully over who gets the coveted aisle seat on our next flight.
I glance to my left and see Wyatt and the triplets, their heads close together, whispering animatedly about their favorite moments from the trip, the roller coaster, the beach, the endless ice cream cones.
I clear my throat, trying to gather my thoughts, and say, “I just wanna take a second to say…I love you guys. All of you. This life? It’s more than I ever imagined.” My voice is steady, but my heart swells with emotion.
Kenzie looks up, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Instead of responding with words, she stands, planting a quick, tender kiss on my lips. She then turns, bestowing the same affection on Reggie and Ambrose, each kiss a silent declaration. She crouches to kiss each of the kids on their foreheads, whispering something soft and sweet that makes them smile and giggle.
As Kenzie settles back into her seat, the stewardess strolls by, her friendly smile radiating warmth.
“Can the kids have sodas?” she asks, her gaze flicking to us for approval.
In perfect unison, all four of us respond, “No!”
Our voices blend together, firm yet playful, and Kenzie bursts into laughter. Soon, our laughter fills the cabin, contagious and joyful, as the kids groan in mock protest.
Kenzie turns to us, her face alight with happiness, eyes dancing with joy. “We make a good team,” she declares.
I squeeze her hand, sharing a knowing look with Reggie and Ambrose. “The best team,” I reply, my voice rich with conviction.
And with that, the plane lifts off, wheels leaving the ground, carrying us off together, as always.
The end.
