He and his two sisters, plus Z and Sugar’s two boys, Evander and Nash, age six and four respectively, have been climbing up a flat rock and jumping into the basin of a small waterfall. It’s not even a foot drop into the water but you’d think they were on the Olympic team for diving. They call it “cliff jumping.” My lips twitch.
Kurt has his typical mischievous （maniacal） grin on his face as he sticks his cold hands on Julia’s stomach. The water is freezing, a stream that trickles down the Blue Ridge Mountains in Ellijay, Georgia.
Julia smirks as she bends down and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m so hot your cold hands don’t bother me, munchkin.” She boops him on the nose. “Axe throwing is dangerous, and don’t you ever do it.”
“Swing me, mama, swing me,” he sings and she does, holding him under his arms as she twirls him around. She puts him back down on the pebbled rocks of the shore and he squeals in delight as he wraps his arms around her legs for a hug. Warmth spears me as I gaze at them, an almost tangible bond emanating from me to them. “Strings of love” is what Julia calls that feeling. Yeah, she’s more eloquent than me.
We hadn’t planned on having three kids at once. Hell, we hadn’t planned on getting pregnant a year after we got married, but hello, surprise baby. We went to the first ultrasound and saw that it wasn’t just one baby but three. We walked out of the doctor’s office in a daze. I don’t think we said a single word the entire drive back to our house. It didn’t really sink in until we started getting the nursery ready. Three cribs, three changing tables, pacifiers, toys, bouncy chairs, and so many fucking diapers. We had a walk-in closet entirely dedicated to Pampers. And when they were born, I was right there holding her hand, praying to God to let Julia and my babies be okay.
It wasn’t easy being a second-year rookie in the NHL and a father of three. Yet, unexpected things in life can be the blessing you never knew you wanted. We wouldn’t change anything about how our life fell into place.
Kurt lets her go and races back to the rock where the others are waiting for him. He’s wearing flamingo swim trucks that come down past his knees and a long sleeve white swim shirt. His longish hair sticks out everywhere under a floppy Capitals hat.
Kara is poised to jump in, but he hip checks her out of the way and dashes off the rock in front of her. He lives for thrills. He may act like me, but he looks like Julia with his sweet brown eyes and dark hair. But Kara and Kelli? Those two have my signature hair. Kara is the “mom” of the triplets—she was born first—while Kelli is the quiet genius behind their plots to overthrow the parentals.
Kara shakes her fist at Kurt when he pops up from the water. I can’t hear what she’s saying but I’m sure it’s all about rules and “know your place” and “I was born first so I’m the oldest” kind of thing. I’m still chuckling as Julia turns to me and puts her hands on her hips.
“Are you listening to me?” she asks.
“Hmm,” I say I take her in. She’s wearing a red bikini, huge sunglasses, and a big floppy hat. She looks like a movie star hiding out at an exclusive beach resort. Damn, I love her. She’s talented; she’s caring; she’s hot as fuck. I’m living the dream with her and my Triplets of Terror.
“Have I told you you’re beautiful today, my love?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not since this morning and don’t use “my love” on me. You’re trying to soften me up.”
“Never,” I say. “Is it working?”
She tosses an empty water bottle at me, and I laugh as I dodge it.
We’re at a cabin that Z and Sugar own. We flew into Nashville a week ago, hung out at their house for a few days, then caravanned the few hours to get to Ellijay, a quaint town nestled in the mountains. Bordered by a creek on three sides, their house is big enough for us to vacation with them plus toss in a few more people. We’ve been coming here for three years, and it’s perfect for a late summer getaway before the preseason starts.
“Eric? I’m serious. No axes.”
I grin. “Come on now. They have cages between each throwing lane and even a special section just for kids. The Terrors are always throwing stuff in our house. At us, at each other.” I waggle my eyebrows. “They’ll love it. Tell her Z.”
Z pauses as he pulls his oldest, Evander, out of the water. He gives me a look like he was hoping I didn’t need his help. The plan was to bring this up when Julia and I were alone, then get her to talk to Sugar, but this morning she kept asking what we should do tomorrow when it might rain, and I decided to go for it.