Misconstrue

Epilogue

"Hey, B." I lift my head upwards. "Can I join you?"

He sighs softly as he joins me on the couch. "Getting tired of looking at Emilio's trophies?"

My best friend and old roommate chuckles. "It was actually funny listening to him try and explain your research to Vicente."

I smile. "I don't think Emilio understands most of it, but he tries."

Ben looks over at me. "And he's placed your Copley Medal at the very top of the trophy showcase. Above all his Ballon d'ors."

My research was just an idea when I was a younger doctor, but luckily for me I found a team that understood my vision, and we were rewarded for our work. 

"He seems to think you'll get a Nobel Prize next year?" I shrug. "Your husband seems to know more that we do when it comes to awards for medical research."

Emilio and I got married during the third year of my specialty training. His proposal actually came as a surprise even though I knew how much he loved me, and we were already living together for a while before he popped the question. But before getting down on one knee, he was so supportive of my dreams. He didn't complain about my long hours, or the times I locked myself in my office racing against deadlines for journal entries.

 "He's my number one fan." I say softly. 

The lump resting on my chest shifts then makes a sound. "Is she waking up?" 

I look down and I'm met with honey coloured eyes blinking rapidly. "She's not sleeping. I think she doesn't want to miss anything."

Emilio and I have all our friends over to celebrate the Copley Medal win. It's an achievement that comes just three months after giving birth. 

"Mama!" The sound of little feet hitting the floorboards catch our attention. Ben and I turn our heads simultaneously to see a dark-haired little boy running to the sitting room.

"Can Auntie Beth sleep over?" Our six year old son smiles brightly at me. "She said I have to get your permission. Oh, and yours too Uncle Ben."

Elizabeth is Ben's fiancée. She's a professor currently teaching at the London School of Economics and Political Science, an activist, and she's also tough as nails. Ben is madly in love with her and I'm happy that he's also found someone to settle down with.

"Sorry, bud. No sleepovers on school nights."

He pouts then looks over at me. "It is way past your bedtime young man."

"But Emiliana's not sleeping." I smile at him because it's just so uncanny how much he looks like me. 

"Emiliana doesn't have school tomorrow." He frowns then pulls himself up onto the couch to sit beside me. "Do you want me to read you a story?"

He snuggles closer to me as he nods. "Okay." I turn to Ben who's sporting a smile. "What?"

"You're actually a mother of two." He shakes his head. "I never imagined it."

"Neither did I." 

There have been challenges during the first few years of motherhood and there were times when I wish my own mother was around just so I could ask her questions. Although Magdalena did stick around after I gave birth the first time, and I really appreciate her being here and helping out. She's due to return in two weeks and I'm really excited for her arrival.

"Bastian!" Emilio's voice booms from the hallway. "It's time for bed, hijo!"

Sebastian, or Bastian for short, grabs onto my arm as he shakes his head. When I was pregnant with Bastian, Emilio and I easily agreed to name our son after my maternal grandfather - a man who I never had the chance to meet.