He sighs happily. “I’ll try. I’m just so in love with her. I don’t understand how it keeps growing.”
Jenny and I smile at each other. Jackson is a good man.
We each lean over to give him a hug, and then we walk over to say goodbye to the baby.
“Oh, I forgot something,” Jenny says, going over to the bag she brought. She digs through it and pulls out a little blue blanket. I smile when I see it’s made from Rachel’s sewing kit scraps. She’s lined the edge in soft satin ribbon.
The baby is already cuddled up in his swaddling, so she drapes it over the bottom of the bassinet for Willow to find when she wakes. She rubs her thumb over a tiny dragonfly she’s stitched in the corner, and then she closes her eyes.
I get the distinct feeling she’s talking to someone.
Maybe she’s thanking an angel for today, because I know I have been.
We walk out of the hospital hand in hand, but our day isn’t over. We’re headed to take over the babysitting duties.
When we get to the farm, we find Aspen already asleep.
“She had a great day,” Lily says as we walk them to the door, thanking them profusely for watching her.
“It was good,” Dan says. “I realized I’m going to need to start working out again if I’m going to be able to keep up with this one.” He rubs his wife’s belly, and we all laugh.
Jenny hugs him. “Well, you better get to it, big brother. You’ll be back in the thick of it soon,” she teases.
He shakes his head, heading out the door. “You didn’t warn me that she’s a smart ass,” he tells his wife who’s laughing.
It is kind of funny that they’re stepsiblings now. I hadn’t really thought about it.
Life is really strange sometimes.
We shower together, both barely able to keep our eyes open. “I kind of feel bad for Dan and Lily. I hope they find the energy to do this,” she says.
“Eh, they have an entire club to help them,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“That’s true.”
Aspen is asleep right in the middle of her parent’s bed, so we slip in on each side of her, both of us kissing her soft hair at the same time.
“She’s going to be so happy when she gets to meet Rowan tomorrow,” Jenny says.
“Let’s just hope she doesn’t try to tote him around like she does the chickens.”
Jenny laughs quietly, taking my hand when I offer it to her. We intertwine our fingers, and we’re finally able to close our eyes.
“I have missed you,” I say after a few minutes, thinking she’s already asleep.
A smile pulls at the corners of her mouth, but her eyes remain closed. “I have missed you too.”
Epilogue
Jenny ~ Christmas Time
Ray ratchets the tie downs on his trailer as I stand there watching with tears in my eyes. I didn’t think I’d get so emotional at seeing it again.
He smiles at me as he moves around to the other side. “You want to stop and get breakfast before we head home?”
I nod, climbing up on the trailer to check that Raffe’s bike is secure.
“It’s not going anywhere,” Ray assures me.
