The Billionaire's Twins Play Matchmaker novel Chapter 41

And Baby Makes Five

Macey stirred. It was late. A glance at the clock confirmed it was one o’clock. She sighed wondering what had woken her. Turning she thought to ask Julius if he was awake as well only to find his side of the bed empty. Startled she sat up. Was that why she had woken?

She took careful stock of the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Even the baby monitor remained on the bedside, green light quietly blinking. But something felt wrong. It was too quiet. There should be some sounds coming through the monitor as the baby moved around but it was completely silent. Shivering with apprehension she stood and quickly pulled on a robe.

Stepping out of the bedroom she paused finding a warm light glowing from the kitchen. Seated on the couch and relying on this light was Julius. He sat cradling a small bundle noisily suckling from a bottle. Caught off guard Macey stood memorizing the scene in her mind as she leaned on the door way. This was a sight she never thought she’d see, a sight she sometimes dreamed of seeing when the twins were little.

It hadn’t been easy when the twins were babies. Despite Victoria’s help there was still many times she had been on her own. While Caden usually remained quiet through the night Aria was quite loud. There were nights she simply wouldn’t settle and Macey woke up on the couch with the baby in her arms after she had fallen asleep trying to nurse the hungry infant. Aria would often be quietly looking up at her as if waiting for her mother to waken before fussing again.

No sooner would Macey succeed in getting Aria to sleep again in the early morning hours then Caden would stir and demand attention from his mother. She would change him and bring him into the living room to feed him and hopefully allow Aria to stay sleeping for a little while longer. It was a constant juggling act that left Macey sometimes falling asleep at the table or even in the middle of her online classes her college allowed her to take to keep up with her studies.

Victoria helped where she could but she also had classes. There were several days Macey was simply on her own with two babies demanding her attention. More than once she had broken down.

* * *

“Macey what is wrong!” Victoria exclaimed as she entered the apartment.

Two crying infants lay on the floor on blankets with their mother seated in front of them in tears. Taking in the situation is a moment Victoria disappeared into the bathroom to run a steaming bath. When she returned to the living room she pulled Macey to her feet and shoved her into the bath. With the mother taken care of she gathered up the loudest of the infants, Aria, taking care of her first. Changing the infant and feeding her Victoria quickly put the baby to bed before repeating the procedure with the other. Once the pair was contentedly napping Victoria settled in the kitchen to wait for Macey to emerge again.

Macey stepped out of the bathroom in a robe her hair heavy and damp. For the moment her hair was fairly straight but that would only last as long as it was wet. As it dried her natural curls would return.

“Here.” Victoria said sliding a cup of steeping tea toward her.

Macey grimaced but sat down and lingered over it. She had fallen asleep while soaking in the tub but it hadn’t been restful as she listened to Victoria quickly and efficiently take care of the twins. As hard as she tried it seemed she simply couldn’t be the mother she wanted to be.

“Macey, look at me.”

With a sigh she looked up to see Victoria staring at her intently. Despite how intense her look was it was still kind and more than a little worried. Macey wasn’t sure what she should say to alleviate her friend’s concern.

“Macey, you are a good mom. You are a great, fantastic, awesome mom.”

“Vicki.”

“Say it.”

“What?”

“Say it Macey. Say you are a good mom.”

Macey sighed.

“Say it.”

“I am a good mom.”

“You are a great, fantastic, awesome mom.”

“Vicki…”

“Say it.”

“I am a great, fantastic, awesome mom.”

“Good. Now keep saying it.”

“Vicki…”

“I mean it Macey. Do you think it’s easy to do what you are doing? You’re going to college. You have not one but two babies. They are adorable and perfect but they outnumber you. Do you think that is easy?”

Macey hesitated.

“I mean one would be hard enough, but you have two. Two babies that need your constant attention. Two babies that need you to feed and change them and hold them and love them. Two babies who keep you up at all hours and you’re here alone, taking care of them by yourself. Do you honestly think anyone else could do what you are doing right now?”

“But you handled them so easily right now.”

“Yeah, I also got a full night’s sleep and just came from the café where I had a leisurely lunch,” Victoria said. “Macey, I could never do what you are doing. One baby would break me. I’d need a team of nannies to help me.”

Macey didn’t answer.

“Look, I know we’ve talked about this before and you don’t want to do it…but I really think you need to hire an au pair.”

“Vicki…”

“Macey look at me. I’m worried about you. Sweetie you need to sleep. You can’t keep stretching yourself this thin anymore. I won’t allow it. I’ll go over your head if I have to.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m going to call your father-in-law.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I do.”

“I thought you didn’t like him.”

“He’s a man and he’s been in charge so long he’s forgotten he can’t bend the universe to his will. But what he can do is hire an au pair for you,” Victoria said. “I’ve seen enough to know he really does care about you and wants the best for you and the kids. And that is fine. He can foot the bill for an au pair too.”

Macey shook her head.

“Macey, it’s not a sin to rely on other people. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Look you can get someone part time at least so you can actually rest. It’s okay to be selfish and take care of yourself too. Let me and your father-in-law help. You can’t keep going on like this. How much sleep did you get last night?”

Macey breathed deep. In truth she didn’t remember, maybe an hour between nightly feedings. Deep down she knew it wasn’t enough. Perhaps Victoria was right and she was pushing herself too hard. Augustus told her to call him for anything.

“Well?”

“Okay. I’ll talk to dad about possibly getting an au pair, but only part time so I can focus on my classes a little. I need to catch up on the work.”

“Fine. Good.” Victoria breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s all I ask.”

Victoria would take her victories where she could with someone as stubborn as Macey. She didn’t want to upset her friend so she held back what she really wanted to say. They had spent many nights talking about Macey’s one-sided love so Victoria knew all there was about her friend’s past but she wasn’t satisfied. Love or not, marriage or divorce, he should at least be helping her take care of the children they had brought into the world if nothing else. Yet Macey was insistent not to involve him. He didn’t know she was pregnant when she left so there was no need to drag him into it now.

Victoria had been keeping tabs on Macey’s ex. While Macey insisted he probably moved on with his life with another woman Victoria saw no evidence of that. He was certainly a drinker but there was no sign of a new woman. Augustus expressed his desire to bring the two back together. After what Macey went through Victoria couldn’t agree no matter what the old man said but at the same time it was not hard to see Julius wasn’t moving on either.

Macey claimed her love was one sided and he never cared for her but that isn’t what Victoria saw. It was clear her leaving had a devastating effect on the man she claimed never loved her. Perhaps it was her French sensibilities at play but Victoria was certain Julius not only cared about Macey but, in fact, loved her. If only she could meet the man then she would know for sure and until she was sure Victoria would never suggest Macey get back with her ex. Still…he should take responsibility for the kids he helped to bring into the world.

For now Victoria would settled on Macey hiring an au pair. With help she could get some rest and focus on her own health in addition to the babies. If Macey was nervous about hiring someone Victoria would be right there to help her sort through the applications. Together they would find someone they both could trust.

* * *

Macey smiled at the scene in front of her now. How different it was from when she had the twins. Juggling toddlers in addition to a baby certainly wasn’t easy but she also wasn’t alone. Julius was intent on doing his part not that it didn’t come with difficulties. Watching him change a poopy diaper for the first time was video worthy and Victoria lamented on missing the opportunity.

One whiff of the diaper had the poor man gagging to the point of doubling over much to the twins’ amusement. Macey herself could barely contain her laughter as he first tried to change the diaper using tongs and his nose stuffed with cotton. Even now she could recall his protests.