Corie pulls back and peers up at Knox. He nods and kisses her forehead. She turns to face us, but Knox never takes his eyes off her. “I just found out,” she says, wiping her eyes. “Today, before we came here. I had a plan, but this guy”—she leans her head on Knox’s chest—“had other plans.”
“It was the baby, Corie girl,” he says, placing his hand over her flat belly. You can feel the love radiating from the two of them.
“What’s going on? What did we miss?” Landry says, stepping next to his sister and best friend, with his arm slung over his wife’s shoulders.
They both have swollen lips, and their hair is disheveled.
“Are you crying?” he asks his sister, his tone suddenly serious.
Before Corie has a chance to answer, we hear “Baby!” in the cutest little-boy voice, which has us all turning to see Baker following his son into the house.
Camden rushes to where Amanda is sitting on the loveseat, holding Coral, and points at her. “Baby,” he says again.
“Be easy, bud,” Baker reminds his son.
“He loves her.” Foster grins. “Food’s ready,” he tells us.
“Hey,” Reid greets. “Thought little man was with his mom starting today?”
“Yeah, so did I.” Baker sighs, running his hands through his hair. “She called about an hour before she was supposed to pick him up to tell me that she was still in Paris and was staying longer, so she’d get Cam on her next week.”
“What can we do to help?” Bellamy immediately asks.
“I have Mrs. Ward, so I should be fine. I just hate it for—” He nods toward Camden, who is placing a soft kiss on Coral’s little hand.
“That sucks, buddy, and we’re here for you. Foster, my man, my stomach thanks you, but my sister and her husband were about to tell me why my baby sister is crying, and her husband, who might no longer be my best friend if he hurt her, is smiling at her tears.” Landry crosses his arms over his chest and glares at Knox.
“Stop.” Corie laughs. She drops her arms from around Knox’s waist and turns to face her brother. She pulls him into a hug. “These are happy tears, big brother.”
Landry returns her hug, and his shoulders drop, the tension leaving his body. “Happy tears?” he asks, and Corie nods. She keeps one arm wrapped around her brother’s waist and holds her free hand out for her husband, who takes it, stepping close to her.
“Baker, Cam,” Corrie coos to the little boy.
“I Cam,” he says, placing his hands on his chest, making us all laugh.
Bending down, I scoop him up into my arms and place loud smacking kisses on his cheeks. He squirms until I stop, then rests his head against my shoulder. I snuggle him close as I wait for the words that I know are coming.
“We’re pregnant,” Corie says, smiling as she wipes at her tears.
Landry’s mouth falls open, but then he missed the show while he was locked away ravishing his wife. “For reals?” He places his hands on Corie’s shoulders, and she peers up at him. “You’re pregnant?”
Corie laughs. “I am. You’re going to be an uncle again.”
Baker clears his throat from his spot next to me, and I glance over at Reid and see that he, too, seems to be feeling the moment, if his hard swallow has anything to say about it. We might not be blood, but we are family. I’m certain that Corie adding “again” to her statement is what has these two men all up in their emotions. Sure, they’re happy for their friends, but there is no question that their kids are our nieces and nephews by love.
That’s the greatest gift.
The room descends on them, offering them hugs and slaps on the back in congratulations. Well, everyone but Camden and me. I stand back with this handsome little boy in my arms, while everyone takes their turn. Not because I’m not happy for them, but because my hug is going to be longer, and I know as soon as I get close to her, I’m going to lose the battle I seem to be fighting with my emotions.
Rowan’s eyes meet mine, and she smiles. She makes her way to me, placing her hand on my shoulder and giving it a soft squeeze. “Cam, do you have a hug for Aunt Rowan?” she asks him.
“I hug,” Camden says, holding his arms out for her. Rowan takes him from my arms and gives him a huge hug and lots of loud smacking kisses, just as I did. He giggles as she walks away with him.
Finally, it’s my turn. I try to smile, but my eyes are leaking, and my heart is racing, so I can’t be sure. I stop in front of Corie, and she shrugs. I toss my head back in laughter, tears still coating my cheeks, before pulling her into a tight embrace.
“I’m so fucking happy for you, Core,” I whisper in her ear.
She doesn’t reply, but her hug grows tighter. I don’t know how long we stand together in our embrace, and I don’t care. This girl has been my person since I was five years old. Watching her dreams come true, seeing her become a wife and now a mother, it’s everything. She is my sister of my heart.
