20
GRACIE
Six monthslater
“Cora, Put down the puppy, sweetheart.” Ma holds open her arms to take the Chihuahua who normally snarls at everyone and everything except my ma and me from the little girl.
Cora is wearing a tiara and sparkly pink dress for her fourth birthday party. Something we’ve spent weeks planning.
At the moment, she has two sets of grandparents hovering over her—Ryder’s parents and mine.
Ryder’s parents have become really close to my family over the last few months. They drove up and stayed here at the house with my parents over Christmas, and ever since, they have kept in touch. My mother makes it impossible to lose touch unless you actively block her, but Deloris fits into Ma’s gang of lady friends so well, I’ve overheard my parents talking about the Coopers buying a cabin near Star Falls so they can be a lot closer to their grandchildren once they retire.
When Ryder went to Columbus for Thanksgiving, he told Elizabeth’s parents he was seeing someone, and they promised to try to make it to Star Falls for Christmas and then New Year’s. But time after time, they made excuses not to come.
I can’t say that I blame them.
Once Ryder and I started seeing each other, all the pictures he sent them either came from me or had me in them. It was probably very painful seeing someone raising their grandchildren. Someone who replaced their daughter, at least in their eyes.
Spring is in full bloom in Star Falls, and my entire family is in on the birthday celebration.
“Yeah. Yeah. Got it. Okay, thanks, sis. Love you too.” Ryder slips his phone into his back pocket and loops a hand over my shoulder. “It’s not official, but my sister thinks she’s got him.”
Austin claps his hands excitedly. “I knew it, man. I knew it. Great job, Allison.”
“I’m not Allison,” Cora whirls on Austin with a pout. “I’m just Cora.”
He bends down to pick her up and spins her in a circle. “I know, sweetheart. I’m talking about your aunt Allison in LA. She connected me to a very famous basketball player, and I am very, very excited.”
“I brought dessert. Not that we need it with that cake,” Chloe says with Franco and their little girl at her side, and what I can smell is a plate of peanut butter crisps. The second I catch a whiff, I have to turn away.
“Excuse me a sec,” I say and run up to my room for some fresh air.
While I’m up there, I grab Cora’s birthday gift, which I’d left wrapped on my desk. I have a small gift for Luke too. I hear footsteps on the stairs, and my dad knocks lightly on the door.
“Sweetheart,” he calls. “Rebecca and Daniel just pulled up.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I grab the gift bags and turn to face my father. “Thanks for hosting. I feel so much better doing this here.”
Pops pulls me in for a hug. “This will always be your home, sweetheart. I’m just glad we can share it with more people than your idiot brothers.” He starts to head downstairs, but I hold back a minute.
“I’ll be right there, Pops.”
I run my hands along the bedding and my drafting table. All the familiar things that make up my home. I’ve lived in this room and under this roof almost my entire life. Everything has changed so fast over the last year.
I savor the sounds of the dogs barking and yipping. My brothers chatting. My parents shouting back and forth through it all. And now, adding to the lovable chaos, is Ryder. His beautiful kids. More grandparents and friends. It’s the family I always dreamed of. And I am so blessed to have it. And everything else that is to come.
I pop a ginger sweet into my mouth and breathe in through my nose. I’ve been avoiding peanut butter crisps, but until we make the big announcement, I haven’t told anyone. Not even my parents. I’ve changed my two-cup-a-day habit to one decaf, but thankfully, I’ve also been working out with Ryder regularly, so Chloe just thinks I’m trying to be more fit.
I stroke my still-flat belly and wonder if everything is okay in there.
My very own little one.
Only Ryder knows I’m fifteen weeks along, but he and I plan to share the news when we’re all together today.
He was worried how Elizabeth’s parents would take it, but I told him this is our news. Our family. And they are part of it.
If they are unhappy, they can tell us.
