Standing, I move around the table to pull her into a hug. Her eyes are wet, just like mine. “Thank you for this,Harper. I don’t deserve your kindness. After everything I said?—”
“No.” I shake my head. “That’s all behind us. We’re moving forward. I love Marcus and the girls, and I want us all to be a family.”
Jane pats my cheeks, wiping my eyes. “I would like that very much. But you know what that means?”
“Don’t say it, Mom,” Marcus groans from behind me.
“What is it?” I look between the two of them.
“Grandbabies. I want lots and lots of grandbabies.”
“You already have two, Mom.”
“What?” She grabs her plate and carries it into the kitchen. “I want to spoil more. So get on it.”
More groaning from Marcus as he tugs me down into his lap. “Did you encourage this idea?”
“I had nothing to do with it.” I drape an arm around his shoulders. “But you know I won’t mind trying.”
That perks him up. “Are we already having the kids discussion?”
I whisper in his ear, “We’re already married.”
“Fair point. I kind of like this idea.”
“Really?” I ask. “You want more kids?”
“Are you having a baby?” Sam asks.
“Fuck me,” Marcus mutters, burying his face in my arm. “They had to come in now.”
“We’re not having a baby.”
“You’re not?” Sadie looks sad at this news.
“Do you want a baby brother or sister?” I ask them.
“Yes!” they answer in unison.
“I want a baby sister,” Sam tells me.
“Me too,” Sadie agrees.
“Do you want a baby sibling or a puppy?” Marcus asks them.
“Puppy!”
“Baby!”
Each of them gives a different answer that has the three adults in the room laughing.
“Well, we’re not getting both,” Marcus says.
“We can get a puppy later,” Sadie tells Sam. “I want a baby sister.”
“I don’t want a baby bother,” Sam confirms. “Boys are smelly.”
“Hey! I’m not smelly,” Marcus tells them.
