Playing With Fire

Prologue 25 years ago

25 years ago- Del Lago Hospital. July 15th

“John. My man. How is Laura?” There stood Evan Belmont, next to his best friend John Kingsmen. Best friends since high school, both on the football team, both married to their high school sweethearts. Both standing in the window in front of the nursery peering in, looking at their bundles of joy. “Congrats man. She is beautiful.”

John grabbed Evan’s shoulder and gave him a man hug. “Thanks Bro, and Laura is doing well. She’s sleeping right now. How is Tori? How’s the little guy? He looks healthy and happy.”

“She is doing great. Tired, but great. I am just relieved that everything went as planned,” Evan said. “Tori wants to meet her when Laura is up for it. I actually think she is going to ask the nurse if they can be moved into the same room, if not next to each other.” Both guys laughed. These two were like brothers. They did everything together. At the age of 23, they both got married to their wives.

John and Laura Kingsmen.

Evan and Victoria Belmont.

The funny thing with these four, is they always seemed to be doing everything together.

Tori and Laura were best friends, both on the volleyball team in high school. John and Evan both played football. They met through a group project during their freshman year of high school and since then, the four of them have become inseparable.

Evan was working on opening his first Bed and Breakfast with Tori in hopes of expanding into a larger hotel. With the help of John with renovations, they were close to making it a success. John and Evan had plans to work with each other when they both made it big, planning to partner with each other to make their dreams come true.

“What did you guys name her?” Evan asked, looking at the two babies who were next to each other.

“Andrea May. You named him Liam, right?” John asked.

“Haha no, I didn’t name him Liam, Tori did. She had been obsessed with that name, so I really didn’t have a choice. I wanted a junior, but maybe next time.” He chuckled to himself.

“Do you think they will grow up to be like us?” They both looked at each other and smiled.

“Nah, I think they will grow up to be better. With us being best friends and in each other’s lives, they are bound to eventually fall in love. I know it. It isn’t a coincidence that these two were born on the same day.” They both stood there in silence, basking in the moment, the new moment of fatherhood.

“You know…it would be perfect if they grew up to love each other. I don’t think I would want any other family for my little girl.”

“You two. Your wives are looking for you both. They are in Tori’s room. We are bringing the babies in there. And can you please stop planning your children’s future already? They are not even 24 hours old and you are planning their wedding.” The nurse chuckled to them before she went into the room to get the kids.

“You can’t blame us. You cannot deny that it would be perfect,” John said.

The nurse went into the room and got Liam first to take him to Tori. Once Liam had moved away from Andrea, she started crying and wailing, making both the fathers peer into the room.

The nurse came back, rushing to a screaming Andrea into Tori's room where there was a crying Liam. Tori tried to calm him down, but she was unsuccessful. Andrea was rolled next to Laura and Laura picked her up and both the new mothers sat next to each other on the bed. The baby’s heads were right by one another and you could see that they were trying to reach for each other’s hands. Once they touched hands, the crying slowly started to cease. Both sets of parents looked at each other in amazement.

“This is…interesting.” Evan said, chuckling.

“Tori, let's lay them both next to each other and see what happens, and then let’s pull them away. I have a feeling…”

“That they were made for each other.” Tori finished Laura’s sentence. They did just that. They laid Andrea and Liam together and they both went for each other’s hands and gripped them, eyes shut and relaxed. John came over and took Liam away from Andrea and they both started screaming. He rushed over and put Liam back down and they both instantly stopped crying.

“I can’t believe it.” Laura said. “My little girl seems to have already found someone.” She laughed.

“I can already imagine it. Them growing up, learning to love each other, falling in love, dating, getting engaged, married.” Tori was gushing.

“Hey now. They’re not even a day old. Let’s not plan their future already. Let’s enjoy the time that they are little.” Evan stated.

“You just basically copied what the nurse told us in the hallway,” John mentioned. The four of them laughed.

“Well, this is the start of something new. I guess we will be spending even more time with each other than before, if that is even possible.” Laura said, peering down at her daughter. “I cannot wait to watch them grow up together.”

“It will be perfect,” Tori said. They lean their heads against each other, taking a huge sigh, and beginning the start of the rest of their lives.