A Bossy Roommate (Next Door to a Billionaire #2)

Epilogue Carter

I used to think people were full of shit when they talked about being on their feet twenty-four-seven after having a newborn. I really want to give past me a swift kick in the balls, because that level of alertness is no damn joke.

Ellie’s quiet most of the time. But when she’s hungry, oh, boy, does that little girl have some pipes on her. We have a sassy queen on our hands, that much is sure—and I couldn’t love her more.

Even though my business has taken off in the last couple of months, I’ve put everything on hold for paternity leave. There’s no way I’m going to juggle phone calls in between feedings and diaper changes. And, truth be told, I have no inclination for juggling of any kind. Unless it’s for my little one’s entertainment. All I want to do is be there with my girls.

Aunt Eleanor had stayed with us for a few days after Ellie was born, and by the time she next surprises us with her presence, our daughter is three months old, and we’ve gotten into a routine.

Bancroft Consulting is growing faster than I’d anticipated. Once word got around that I was on my own, it seemed like every client I’d ever had had come out of the woodwork, wanting my expertise on their projects. I find myself glad to represent them.

Harbor View Developments were my first major clients. Once they heard that Huxley had “retired” and I’d left, they were concerned about their account. During a phone call, Bradley had organically let it slip that I was starting my own business, and they’d called me that same day, wanting to hire me. So had other clients.

Bradley had a challenging time keeping a straight face when he delivered the news. He was amused by the entire thing. So was Bernie.

The rest of the board? Not so much.

Harbor View had opened many doors. In fact, things have been going so well that I have a couple of realtors on standby for when I’m ready to look for office space. Of course, Eden and I enjoy working from home, and we’re more than happy to take our daughter with us wherever we go. At least until she’s old enough to attend preschool.

I’ve never appreciated Hattie more than over the last few weeks when she’ll show up at our door, offering to watch the baby while we catch up on sleep or go out to dinner for a date.

Eden is already referring to her as Auntie Hattie, and not just for Ellie’s sake.

On the day Aunt Eleanor’s surprise flight touches down, Eden has a doctor’s appointment. I’ve just put Ellie in her basinet in the living room when the front door opens, and Auntie makes her grand entrance.

“Cartie! Mon amour ,” she says, arms wide for a hug. However, when I go in, she completely bypasses me and goes straight to the baby. “Where is she? Where is mon trésor ?”

Without missing a beat, she gathers the baby into her arms and cuddles “her treasure” close. Ellie coos, kicking her feet as the faux fur from my aunt’s coat tickles her arms.

In the hallway, I see Hattie dragging all of my aunt’s belongings toward her apartment, where Aunt Eleanor will be staying during her visit. “Here, Hattie, let me help you with that,” I say, quickly stepping forward.

“Oh, Eleanor, my dear! One should be tending to one’s own belongings!” Hattie chimes to her best friend, even as I swoop in to help.

Eleanor waves her off, too focused on the baby to care.

After I help Hattie take everything inside, the two of us can’t help but smile at the scene in front of us. My aunt has made herself comfortable on the sofa, rocking Ellie in her arms. “I knew it!” she exclaims, whipping off her sunglasses that Ellie has been grabbing for and using them to point accusingly at me. “I told you so, didn’t I, Hattie?”

“Neither of us possesses the gift of telepathy, you know, love,” Hattie says, sitting next to her on the couch with a heavy sigh. “You do tend to make quite a few statements, my dear, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to narrow it down just a tad.”

I sit in the armchair across from them. “What did you say, Auntie?”

“That Eden was pregnant.” She has a smug look on her face. “I knew it.”

“You couldn’t have known it then because we didn’t even know it then.”

“Oh, come on, Cartie, we talked about this. You don’t have to sugarcoat things on my account. I knew Eden was pregnant the first time I met her.”

Hattie and I exchange glances. I have to hide a grin behind my hand and so does Hattie.

“Pardon. Will someone tell me what is so funny?” Auntie asks, annoyed at being left out of the joke.

The front door opens before I can answer, and Eden comes home. “Auntie! Hello!” she exclaims excitedly. “I’m so glad you’re here. When did you…” She looks between me and Hattie. Neither of us have stopped grinning. “What’s going on here?”

Aunt Eleanor throws up her hand. “Who knows?” she says, bouncing Ellie in her arms. “These two started grinning for no reason.”

Eden comes closer, and I pull her next to me, gently rubbing her back. “We’re laughing because Aunt Eleanor was just saying that she knew you were pregnant when she visited for the weekend.”

Eden bursts out laughing, and it sends me and Hattie into a giggle fit.

Auntie is not impressed. “Pardon? I want to know what’s so hilarious.”

“It appears your calculations may be a tad off, my dear.” Hattie patiently explains it all like a pro, sorting out the tangle of dates and months that connect her surprise visit to the day of Ellie’s birth.

“Oopsie-daisy!” Aunt Eleanor eventually says. “Well, you know, it seems my math skills took a vacation while the stork decided to pay a visit. Forget counting the months, let’s instead celebrate this bundle of cuteness!”

That’s when Ellie starts crying.

“Duty calls,” I announce. Kissing Eden on the forehead to give her a few more moments of rest, I pull away, happy to let her sit there a little longer while I take care of our daughter.

Eleanor hands the baby to me while shaking her head in disbelief that she’s crying.

As soon as I lean over her, she stops and smiles up at me, that beautiful sunshine smile I had witnessed on her mother’s face a moment ago.

“Come on, little lady,” I say, scooping her into my arms. “Let’s go see Mommy.”

After a while, Hattie politely excuses herself, realizing that her feline companions are also longing for nourishment. Once we all wish her a nice evening, Aunt Eleanor sits next to Eden, who cradles Ellie in her arms as she sways gently and sings to her. Auntie joins in with her, seamlessly blending with Eden’s voice and the melody.

I watch them, captivated.

This is one of those moments I will never forget. Having my three special ladies here together is my very own happiness jackpot—past, present, and future merged into a single moment of unforgettable bliss.

Once Ellie is old enough to travel, I want to take her and Eden to France again.

“Cartie,” Aunt Eleanor says, turning to look at me.

I slide my arm around her. “Yes, Auntie.”

She reaches up and pinches my cheek, which she hasn’t done since I was small. “Seeing you with Eden and Ellie is beautiful. And her name is perfect. Have I mentioned what a brilliant decision it was? Oh, I have? Well, brace yourself for a rerun of my wisdom. Eleanor has such beauty and elegance attached to it.”

“It really does.”

My aunt nods. “She’s going to be just like her aunt. Pretty, witty, beautiful!”

“Nobody is like you.”

She looks down at the baby. “See, little one? You’ll be just like me. Lucky you.”

That’s when a knock sounds at the front door.

It’s here, a special delivery I’d had made. I excuse myself.

Only a few moments later, I stand on a ladder in the foyer area, carefully hanging the big, framed photo on the wall. With satisfaction, I step back to admire the finished display in the center of our photo wall.

“Eden, Auntie. You can come now.”

Eden and my aunt rush into our foyer, their eyes instantly locking onto the new photo hanging on the wall. They burst into laughter, unable to contain their amusement.

“Well, well, well! What do we have here?” Auntie asks in disbelief, putting on her glasses.

“Carter!” Eden laughs, Ellie in her arms. “You actually did it!”

“Oh! Mon Dieu ! Am I seeing this correctly?” my aunt exclaims, blinking, eyes huge as saucers behind her thick glasses, her jaw still wide open in sheer disbelief. “Cartie! That photo is priceless! It’s the perfect addition to our little gallery of family memories.”

We stand there, gazing at the photo.

It’s the one that captures the unforgettable moment when I accidentally stepped on Eden’s bridal dress. It’ll be one of the first things we and guests will see when they enter, setting a joyful tone. We’ll continue to chuckle at the comical mishap forever preserved in that frame.

“It’s a reminder that life’s imperfect moments have a way of drawing us closer together,” Eden says.

“And a testament to embracing the humorous side of life.” My aunt turns to me, a twinkle in her eye. “I guess there’s still hope for you. Turns out, you’re funny too!”

The End

Thank you for reading my novel.