Page 49 of One Hot Daddy

The reaction is immediate.Josh stops mid-chew.Amelia's head snaps up from her phone.Charlotte bounces in her seat like she's been electrified.

"Are you getting married?"she shrieks before we can say another word.

My jaw drops."How did you---"

"I KNEW IT!"Henry jumps up and starts doing some sort of victory dance around the table, his arms flailing like he's conducting an invisible orchestra."Jennifer's going to be our real mom now!"

The way he calls me his "real mom" with such pure joy melts my heart.

"Wait, hold on," Amelia says, but she's grinning."You two are actually getting married?Like, for real?"

"Yes, pet, for real," Fletcher confirms, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand."I asked Jennifer last night, and she said yes."

Josh sets down his fork."When's the wedding?How many people will be there?Do we get to help plan it?"

Charlotte gawps at me."Will Jennifer adopt us?"

Fletcher chuckles."Slow down, love.We literally just decided twelve hours ago.But I doubt adoption is necessary."

Charlotte hops up and down in her chair so enthusiastically that I'm worried she's going to launch herself into orbit."What kind of dress will you wear?Can I be the maid of honor?Will there be dancing?"

"Breathe, Charlotte," I laugh, my own excitement bubbling over."We haven't planned any of those details yet."

"But you will, right?"Amelia asks, and there's something vulnerable in her voice that I've never heard before."You'll let us help plan everything?"

"Yes, absolutely we will," Fletcher says firmly."This wedding is about becoming a proper family."

Henry stops his victory dance and starts waving his arms around."This is the best day ever!Even better than when we went to the water park!"

I hug him back, breathing in his syrup-scented hair."I love you too, sweetheart."

"Group hug!"Charlotte declares, and suddenly all four children are piling on top of me, their arms tangling in a chaotic embrace that nearly knocks me off my chair.

"Careful," Fletcher laughs, steadying my chair before I topple backward."Let's not break Jennifer before the wedding, shall we?"

I'm laughing so hard I can barely breathe, surrounded by these four amazing children who have somehow become mine.When I finally extract myself from the pile of Murgatroyd offspring, I notice Fletcher watching us with tender expression.

"So, when are we telling the grandparents?"Josh asks, returning to his breakfast with newfound enthusiasm.

Fletcher and I exchange glances.

"Actually," he begins, "they might already know.In fact, they may have orchestrated quite the celebration already."

Amelia's eyes narrow."What do you mean?"

"Well, that's where things get a bit complicated."

Charlotte's brows furrow."Complicated?In what way?"

I hesitate and I try to figure out how to explain the American Wives Club without sounding completely unhinged."Your grandmothers seem to have contacted some, uh...friends to help us celebrate.But those friends won't arrive until after the wedding.Right, Fletcher?"

"That's right."

Amelia scrunches her lips, her tone suspicious."What sort of friends, Dad?The adult kind or the kid kind?"

Fletcher shrugs."A bit of both.A group called the American Wives Club will be coming to Millbrook Valley.They're, ah, a bit enthusiastic about helping couples in whatever way they deem necessary."

"Like matchmakers?"Josh asks, his forehead wrinkling.