Epilogue
April
Coronado
“Happy birthday to you,happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mom…” Tegan and Wyatt were louder, but as they sang, Grace saw Frank mouth her name.Gracie. Somewhere over the winter holidays he’d added the -ie to her name and it had stuck.
She blew out her candles in a single breath. It helped that there were just two of them, a wax number five and a wax number six.
“Thank you, my darlings,” she said as she served four big pieces onto plates. “So far, this has been a magical birthday.”
“And you haven’t opened your presents yet,” Frank said, grinning. He’d already given her a card, along with breakfast in bed—and an orgasm to start the day, too. But he’d kept the big present a secret until the kids arrived for cake. It was in the living room, a large box wrapped up in bright yellow paper. It had been there since she’d arrived three days earlier.
They’d been flying back and forth regularly, with Frank staying with her in Saratoga Springs more often than he was here in California. But two weeks ago, he’d flown out west ahead of her, saying he had some birthday preparations to take care of.
She was pretty sure the present was handmade, and that warmed her heart more than she’d ever have expected at this point in her life. Or any point in the past.
Frank was more than she’d ever wanted, and everything she would ever need.
He was even better than the birthday cake Tegan had brought, and that was saying something. “This cake is incredible, baby. Where did you get it?”
“This bakery I found near the—” Tegan stopped and looked at Wyatt. “Let’s give her the card now.”
He laughed and kissed his wife on the head as he got up to grab an envelope they’d set on the sideboard.
Grace took it from him, curious as she ripped open the flap. Inside was a birthday card. Bright green and pink. Very cute. And then she started reading it.
What’s the best way to say
Happy birthday?
Is it with a kiss, or a hug,
Or a cuddle with a bug.
What’s the best way to celebrate
Is it balloons or a nice big cake?
So when it’s Grandma’s day—
Grace’s eyes filled with tears and she put the card down, her hands shaking. Tegan flew into her arms and they hugged each other tight.
“Really?” she whispered into her daughter’s hair. “A baby?”
“Yep. Just before Christmas, I think.”
“That’s wonderful news. So, so wonderful.” She breathed in deeply and squeezed Tegan tight. “How are you feeling?”
“Just fine. Really, so good.”
When they pulled apart, she saw Frank was shaking Wyatt’s hand. She smiled at them. Frank would be a grandfather. What a special gift that would be.
He caught her eye, and she crooked her finger at him. He came close and gave her a gentle kiss. “Big news,” he said softly.
“I know. Grandma. Nana? Granny? I can’t choose.”
He laughed out loud. “I don’t think you need to pick right now. And I’ve heard the grandchildren sometimes have a say in that, too.”
