“I’m down with that.” Sal said.

“Us too,” Romero said, his eyes opening wide. “Izzy, next year we’ll have our baby with us.”

“Yep,” Grace smiled. “There will be three more little ones by next summer. Its gonna be a circus.”

“That’s if Valerie and Alex don’t pop out another two-fer,” Romero laughed.

Valerie dropped her head back. “Don’t even say that. My God.”

“Why not?” Alex frowned. “We can handle it.”

“Yeah, you’re not the one that has to carry them for nine months.”

Sal glanced at Sarah and Angel. They were the only ones who didn’t seem to be smiling as big as everyone else. “Since this is our first night doing our new family tradition, I propose a toast.” Sal lifted his beer. “To family.”

“May it only get bigger,” Alex added

“And may we always stay this close.” Sofia said.

“Love you guys.” Angel lifted his beer.

“Salud!” Romero said.

“To family,” they all said before finally taking a drink.

The End

Alright you guys, I’m sure you’re wondering why Angel didn’t get his own POV in the epilogue. Well, that’s because he gets his own bonus short story! You guys asked for more Angel and Sarah and what my readers want my readers get. Enjoy!

Only Eight Days

A Moreno Brothers bonus short story

Chapter 1

An entire ten minutes had passed or maybe more and Sarah still sat staring at the phone. She knew she was being silly for getting choked up about something like this but Angel had to know that hearing about other couples getting pregnant was hard for her. Sure she played it off when Valerie and Isabel announced their pregnancies a few months ago, and she’d cried in private in the restroom when they got home. Even if she didn’t say it Angel had to pick up on her change in mood. Didn’t he?

How could he drop the news on her like that so nonchalantly? Oh by the way Sofie’s pregnant. They’d only been married three months and already they had what she wanted so bad. She was happy for them. She really was, but she couldn’t help the pain in her heart—and yes, the jealousy—from their news.

A tear slid down her cheek. They were all pregnant now. In nine months they’d all have new babies. The pain was becoming excruciating and the worst part is she was sure it was her. Obviously the Moreno’s baby making powers were just fine. And it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying.

Painfully she and Angel knew they could make a baby. Just eight months ago she was delighted to find out she was pregnant, then six weeks into it she lost it. It was the most devastating loss of her life. The doctors told them it was nature’s way of saying that baby just wasn’t meant to be but they could try again as soon as she got her next period. Sarah was almost afraid to. She didn’t know if she could survive a loss like that again. But they had tried again and ever since. Each month that passed and it didn’t happen was more painful than the last.

By that afternoon, Angel’s announcement to her about Sofia and his total disregard for her feelings when slapping her with the news had her so worked up she needed to vent.

Ever since Sydney married and moved clear across the country to North Carolina, their communication had dwindled down to a phone call every few weeks then it turned into months, with texts and Facebook comments and messages replacing the calls. During the past year he’d reached out to her a bit more often since he’d begun to have marital problems. It didn’t look good from what he’d told her. Every time she spoke with him it was worse. He wasn’t even sure he was in love with his wife anymore. The last time he called he sounded really distraught.

Sarah was completely open with Angel about Sydney and had been for years since he didn’t seem to be bothered by their relationship anymore. She wasn’t sure if it was because he finally got that Syd was truly just her friend or because the times she actually spoke with him were so far and few in between it wasn’t worth getting worked up for.

Usually it was one of the girls she’d reach out to whenever she was upset with Angel and needed to talk. But how could she tell any of them, their pregnancies were part of the reason she was feeling so down? And she wasn’t about to call her mom on her honeymoon. She’d be gone the whole week. She needed Syd now. She called him but it went to voicemail so she left a message.

When she heard the garage door open that evening she couldn’t help feel angry. She wasn’t really angry at Angel as much as she was angry at the world. The past thirteen months since they’d begun this baby making journey had really begun taking its toll on her emotionally.

She was just days away from when she was supposed to get her period and if her mood was any indication it looked like it was going to be right on time… again.

Angel walked in from the garage door that opened into the kitchen. He smiled as soon as he saw her and she had to look away. “What’s wrong?”

Oh now he was attuned to her feelings. She shook her head and walked away toward the stove where she had rice simmering. He came up from behind her and hugged her, kissing the side of her head. “You not feeling well?”

“I’m fine, Angel.”

She felt him go stiff and he turned her around to face him. “All right what is it?”

Before she could answer her phone rang. “Ignore it,” he said staring into her eyes.