Bailee sighed. “That sounds perfect.”
“And I’ll put the kids to bed tonight, so you can rest and relax the rest of the evening.”
Her smile sparkled in her eyes. “And that’s why I love you so much.”
Shifting Bella Rose to his hip, he draped an arm around Bailee’s shoulders. “I love you, too, Bailee Anne. More than you’ll ever know.”
∞∞∞
Paige snuggled into Ben’s side, staring at the sonogram picture in her hand. Her head rested against his chest, and a smile crossed her lips when she thought of their sweet baby growing inside her, a testament to how much their love for each other had grown.
“When should be tell everyone?”
“We’re getting together with Gish and Becky on Saturday. We can tell everybody then if you want.”
“Think they’ll be excited?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, our family has become baby crazy lately.”
Paige chuckled. “I’ve noticed. But do you think they’ll be surprised that we’re having a girl?”
“I think they’ll be ecstatic. You sound nervous though.”
Paige shook her head. “No, not nervous. A little anxious. Excited. Curious. I can’t help but wonder what she’ll be like. I hope she has your eyes.”
“Nope. She’s going to be blond with blue-gray eyes, just like her beautiful momma.”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? As long as she’s healthy, that’s all that matters.”
Ben brushed his lips against her hair. “You’re right.”
They settled in to watch a streaming movie on the smart TV, but after a few moments, Paige looked up at her husband. “Ben? Do you think we could ask Wally and Mona to be our daughter’s godparents?”
The couple visited their friends in Ivy Springs often. Paige owed them and the town so much. They’d given her refuge when she needed it, and the town was where she reconnected with Ben.
“I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Paige smiled. Snuggling closer to Ben’s side, she went back to studying the sonogram picture, feeling contentment spreading though her chest. Life with Ben had been ideal, and the things in her life that had once been painful now brought her joy. With a daughter on the way, she was excited to see what the future held for them.
∞∞∞
“When should we tell them?”
“I’ll call them all right now if you want. I don’t know how to do that group calling thing on my phone, but I think I could figure out. I used to work for the CIA for Christ’s sake.”
Becky Lathan laughed as she snuggled close to English Barlowe’s side. A bird chirped outside their bedroom window, and an owl hooted in response. English drew circles on her arm with his finger, his light touch giving her goosebumps.
“Saturday. When we’re all together. What do you think they’ll say?”
“That it’s about damn time.”
Becky had to agree. After years of imagining a life with English, she was living her dream. Seeing the boys find true love with four phenomenal women inspired her. They’d overcome dangerous and life-changing circumstances to find happiness. It was enough to make Becky wonder why she was afraid to take a chance with English. So she cornered him one evening at the bar and told him as much.
He responded by kissing her. Then he told her she was staying at his place that night, and they would make their relationship official. They’d been together every day since, keeping it a secret from their kids until they knew it was going to last. Now that English was living with her, it was time to let their family know about their decision to be together.
“I don’t know. I was planning to talk to the boys about something else on Saturday while they were here,” English said.
“Oh? Sounds serious.”
