As I kissed her on the forehead she turned to our son and said, “Bennett Lee Williams.”
Once the nurse got our information and left we heard Sarah say, “I don’t hear screaming anymore.”
That’s when Jade looked at us in question and at the same time we both said, “Go get them.” Smiling she jumped off the bed and ran out the door.
Seconds later everyone came walking in with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.
Choking up I said, “Ashlynn and I would like to introduce you to our daughter, Jaylin Annabelle Williams, and our son, Bennett Lee Williams.” For about a half hour we passed our children around to everyone and explained how we came up with the names.
Gabe had Sarah wrapped up in arms, Maddox was holding Isabelle’s hand and then I noticed Neil smiling at Jade while she held Bennett in her arms. Ashlynn must have noticed because she wrapped her hand in mine and mouthed, “Not now.” Shaking my head I then saw Derrick kiss Patrick on the cheek and my mouth dropped open.
Everybody must have noticed my mouth drop because the room went quiet except for the little noises coming from our children. That’s when Derrick looked over at me and then to Ash and started laughing. He bent over and rested his hands on his knees and laughed, “You never told him, did you?”
I looked around at everyone in the room and they had these faces like they were trying not to laugh and then I made my way over to Ash and she was biting her lip.
Sitting down on the bed I said, “You want to explain something to me?”
Clearing her throat she pointed to Derrick and said, “We kind of fake dated. Derrick’s gay and he was dealing with some problems and I kind of vented about how I wanted to make you jealous …”
With wide eyes I said, “Go on.”
Gulping she said, “So we fake dated. Derrick wasn’t dealing with bullies questioning his sexuality anymore and um, well you know the rest.” She bent her head out of shame and I just started laughing.
Placing a hand to the bottom of her chin I lifted it up so she would look in my eyes. Smiling I said, “You better start picking out another name for a little one because the second you’re better I’m getting you pregnant again.” After I kissed her on the lips I got up and walked over to Derrick. Placing a hand out in front of him I said, “I’m sorry for acting like such a prick towards you.”
He looked down at my hand then pulled me into a hug and said, “All’s good man. I knew you had it bad for my girl over there.”
After I walked back over to Ashlynn’s side I couldn’t help but look over at Derrick and Patrick and smile. I kind of felt like an idiot because anyone could see just how much they loved each other. I was too blindsided by the “dating” aspect that I didn’t see the real picture right in front of me.
Once everyone got to hold both babies they gave us each a hug and kiss and left to go home. Sitting there holding Jaylin while Ashlynn held Bennett I pulled out my cell phone and made a quick call. I knew it was late but I wanted to give them the good news. I few rings in I heard, “H – Hello?”
Through a smile I said, “Hey Grandpa,” and then I heard the phone drop.
Pulling away from me I put it on speaker and heard, “What did you say Jason?”
“I said, ‘Hey grandpa’.”
“You guys had the babies already?”
Looking over to Ash she cried and said, “You are the grandpa to Jaylin Annabelle and Bennett Lee Williams.” I then heard Garrett choke and begin to cry. Ash told him all about the delivery and said that I was amazing throughout the whole process. I looked over to her and half smiled and teared up.
Getting off the phone I said, “Night grandpa,” and through laughter Garrett said, “Night mom and dad.”
Shutting the phone off and placing it in my pocket I looked down at Bennett and Jaylin.
We sat there for a few minutes in silence kissing and hugging our son and daughter but then Ashlynn jumped and said, “Oh my god.”
I didn’t want to take my eyes away from my daughter but I did and looked over at her beautiful mother. She was looking at me and then just started to cry. Lifting a hand to wipe away the tears I asked, “What’s the matter Ashlynn?”
Wiping away her tears with one hand with Bennett in the other she swallowed and said, “Jaylin and Bennett were born on March 12th.”
Nodding my head I said, “Um yeah and your point is?”
Ash just laughed and said, “Don’t you see?”
Shaking my head back and forth I said, “Apparently not. What’s the significance of March 12th?”
Choking through her words Ashlynn said, “The number 312. Jason, 312 was the number of mine and Jade’s room freshman year of college. It was the hospital room number where your father passed away and it was the day my mom was born.”
Taking my eyes away from Ash I looked between our daughter Jaylin and our son Bennett and just cried. Looking over at Ash I said, “If I didn’t think miracles existed before this I definitely know they do now.”
Smiling at me she said, “I knew miracles existed the second I met you.”
Closing my eyes I felt tears streaming down my face and opening them Ash was smiling at me. Taking a hold of my hand she asked, “Why are you crying Jason?”
Shaking my head back forth I said, “I just believe that a mess like me ended up with a life that’s so beautiful.”
Taking my hand to her lips and kissing it she said, “Well believe it.”
Today has finally arrived because today Sarah, Gabe, Isabelle, Maddox, Jade, Derrick, Ashlynn, and I were graduating from college. Garrett and Janie met us at the stadium where they held Jaylin and Bennett as their mom and dad walked across the stage and got their diploma. I just could not believe the whirlwind roller coaster Ashlynn and I had been on this past year and how far we’ve come.
Sitting in the back of the student class with Jade by my side I had a perfect view of Ashlynn as she sat and waited for her name to be called. One by one we were each called up to receive our diplomas. Derrick with a major in Education, Isabelle majoring in Journalism, Gabe with a major in Mathematics, Sarah receiving a Nursing major, Maddox with a double major in Business and Marketing, Jade with a double major in Chemistry and Biology,
Once we received our diplomas and threw our caps in the air I ran over to Ashlynn. Wrapping her arms around me as I picked her up by the waist our lips met. I could never get enough of having her lips on mine. She started to swipe along my bottom lip and I could not help growling.
Smiling against my mouth she said, “I love you Jason.”
Placing her back down on the ground I said, “I love you Ashlynn.”
Releasing her arms from around my neck she took my hand in hers and we started to search out Garrett and Janie because we just could not wait to see Jaylin and Bennett. That last two months of school were pretty difficult on the both of us. We barely got any sleep as we took care of our children yet somehow we graduated with High Honors.
We spotted Garrett and Janie and were on our way over when I saw Jade wrap her arms around Neil and he kissed her on the neck. I instantly fumed and started walk over in that direction but Ashlynn pulled me along with her and said, “Leave them be Jason. Your sister looks happy.” I was glad my sister was happy but Neil made me a promise and he broke it. Big fucking mistake on his part because I would be watching him.
Reaching Garrett and Janie I grabbed Jay while Ash grabbed Bennett. Kissing each of our kids on the
