Zach slid the band onto her finger, and the room broke into renewed applause. Friends wrapped them in hugs and patted their backs in congratulations, but Lauren held onto Zach’s hand with a force that said shewasn’t letting go.
Anthony gave Zach’s free hand a firm shake. “Looks like we’re family now.”
“I told you I had family here.”
Dawson pushed Anthony out of the way and wrapped Lauren in a bear hug. “Congrats.” He turned to Zach. “Is it my turn now?”
Zach chuckled. “Go ahead.”
Dawson grabbed Olivia’s hand and turned to face everyone in the room. “We’re having a baby!”
Lauren grabbed Olivia’s arm. “What? Really?”
Olivia nodded wildly as their friends’ excitement roared through the mess hall. “Yes!”
The two women embraced as everyone gathered around them. Their shoulders shook as they cried tears of joy together.
Because she struggled with endometriosis, Olivia’s chances of having children of her own had always been slim. When Dawson wanted to make this Thanksgiving a double celebration, there’d been no question.
When Lauren stepped back to let the next person congratulate the parents-to-be, Zach gripped her hand. Tears raced down her cheeks, and she buried her face against his chest.
His arms wound around her, tucking her as close to him as possible. “I love you, angel,” he whispered just loud enough to be heard above the celebration of their friends.
“I love you too.”
He rested his cheek against her hair and held hertight. Lauren had rescued him from a dark life and showed him how to live in the light. Now, he wanted to spend forever right by her side.
Bonus Epilogue
LYRIC
“Nora!” Asa shouted from the kitchen.
Lyric lowered the mascara wand and stuck it back into the tube. Little Nora’s giggles floated into the bedroom from the hallway where she was fleeing whatever mess she’d created this time.
Asa’s lumbering footsteps followed a toddling Nora into the bedroom where he scooped her up to blow a strawberry against her neck. The girlish giggles continued as he peppered kisses over her rounded cheeks.
Lyric reached for Nora as she tried to dot kisses on her daddy’s face in the same way he had moments ago. “I hate to break it up, but Miss Priss needs to get dressed.”
Asa handed the squirming Nora to Lyric. “We should have named her NoNo. I swear I say that more than I say her name.”
Lyric nuzzled her nose against the soft button nose of her daughter. “What did you do this time?”
“I think she tried to put her carrots back in the ground. I have a mushy, orange mess to clean up in the kitchen.”
Lyric leaned Nora back to see the pureed carrots smeared onto her white onesie. “It’s a good thing I didn’t put my dress on.”
Jacob appeared in the doorway wearing a navy suit, holding a silver cuff link in each hand. “Can you help me with these?”
Lyric passed Nora to Jacob and took the cuff links. “You know, this isn’t going to be a formal wedding.”
He adjusted a squirming Nora on his hip and held out his arm. “I know, but I want to wear the suit. It looks really cool.”
“You’re right about that.” Lyric gave Jacob a once-over. “You look like a grown man. How did my baby get so big?”
Jacob rolled his eyes and shifted Nora to the other side. “I’m not a baby, Mom.”
He was right. In fact, she hadn’t known him when he was a baby, but he’d been hers since they met. He’d been ten years old when she became his mom, but she still saw him as her little boy.
