“Yeah, it’s not like you don’t have the money. Right, Daddy?” Opal grinned at him, and while she and Tag had talked extensively over the past couple of weeks about having her parents so close, and how sometimes her mom treated her like she’d never lived on her own, Tag knew Opal loved her parents with everything inside her.
She would sob uncontrollably when they finally had to return to Coral Canyon. She’d been the last one to get married and the last one to start having babies, and Tag had known her long enough to hear her pray over her father, begging God to preserve his health and life just long enough to walk her down the aisle and then to meet their baby girl.
“Well, now that we all have pajamas,” Gerty said. “It’s probably time for some of us to get to bed.” She grabbed onto West, who erupted into a fit of giggles. “I mean you, mister. Come on.”
“I don’t want to go to bed, Momma.”
“Well, Santa won’t be able to come until you’re asleep,” she said. “That’s the rule straight from the North Pole.”
West sobered then and looked right into his mother’s eyes. “Do we have to follow all the rules, Momma?”
“Yes,” she said. “You have to followallthe rules.” She grinned at him. “It’s how you get the most blessings.”
Mike groaned as he got to his feet. “Come on, buddy. I’ll take you to the bathroom, and then Momma will come, and we’ll tuck you in.”
He swept his son up into his arms and paused at Gerty’s side. He whispered something to her, and she nodded. He turned around and stood at her side.
“Before we go put West to bed,” she said.
The atmosphere in the quaint, homey farmhouse changed on a dime. Opal pulled in a breath and reached for Tag’s hand.
“Mike and I wanted to announce that we’re going to have another baby next year.” Gerty grinned around at everyone, and then at her husband. Mike put his arm around her, tucking her into his side while he held West on his opposite hip.
“Oh, praise the Lord,” Bree said, and she pushed her way to the edge of the loveseat and stood. She reached Gerty and Mike first, enveloping them both in a hug.
Wes joined them, and Tag got to his feet and offered his hand to Opal, because he knew she would want to congratulate her best friend and sister-in-law.
“This is so exciting,” Opal said as she waited for her daddy to finish hugging Gerty. She took her turn, gripping the lithe, strong woman tightly with her giant pregnant belly between them. “When are you due?”
“Not until July,” Gerty said. “July fourth, in fact.”
Opal’s hand dropped to her belly, her eyes widening. “Oh, there’s a little bump there.”
Gerty grinned and shook her head. She wiped her eyes and said, “No, there’s not. That’s just my food baby.”
“Congratulations,” Tag said, and he hugged Mike and then Gerty, turning to find that Opal had wandered into the kitchen with her mother.
She nibbled on a shortbread cookie, because she never really ate very much these days. She wasn’t the tallest woman, and their baby had definitely moved a lot of her organs around, finally protruding straight out. She couldn’t see her feet anymore, and she couldn’t put on her own shoes. Watching her smile and laugh, though he knew how very miserable she was, made his heart fill with love for her all over again.
She was bringinghisbaby into this world, and no greater sacrifice could be made.
“Come on, Westy,” Gerty said, taking the boy from his father. “It’s time for bed.”
“Auntie Ope have a baby,” he said.
“Yep, Auntie Ope’s gonna have a baby,” Gerty said. “And Momma is too, in a few months.”
“Momma baby?” West asked, turning and putting his hand on his mother’s face.
She slid him to his feet and took his hand. “Yep, Momma’s going to have a baby, and you’re going to be a big brother.” She led him down the hall with her hand in his and Mike trailing along behind.
“Not long until you two will have your baby,” Wes said as he came to Tag’s side. “Have you guys decided on a name?”
“I think Opal’s pretty set on Rose,” Tag said. “But she changes her mind every now and then. So it could be Lily or Marigold. She really likes Mary, but not plain.”
He shook his head because he didn’t have much of an opinion on what they named their daughter. He only wanted Opal to be happy and healthy and have everything she wanted.
As he watched, she put one hand on her belly, then leaned into the counter with the other. He heard her gasp even from across the room, and something inside him shifted once more.
