Whatever this is, he’s thrilled about it. Obviously. “Okay, so what’s going down?”
He grins. “The family is inside. They wanted to throw a little gender-reveal party.”
I roll my eyes and groan again. “You haven’t told them yet, have you?” I can’t see how, since we’ve been together every second since theultrasound. Well, except for when I went to the bathroom. Man, if he told ...
“I haven’t. I swear.” He releases his seat belt and gets out, then rushes around to my side of the car and opens the door.
I release my seat belt and climb out. “I didn’t see any cars. Are you sure they’re coming?”
He escorts me out of the garage. “We have to go through the front door.”
I look up and down the street just in case I missed something, but I still see no sign of the vehicles his family drives.
“They parked the next street over so you would be surprised.”
“I see.” I loop my arm around his. “I guess you weren’t supposed to warn me in advance.”
He shoots me another lopsided grin. I do love that face. I hope our little boy looks just like him.
“Thanks.” I lean my head on his shoulder as we pause at the front door.
He unlocks and opens it, and we walk in. The house is utterly silent. I can just imagine the whole Preston crew all hidden behind curtains and hovering behind the sofa, waiting to surprise me. We share a secret smile and head deeper inside.
The boxes that once crowded the foyer have been unpacked. I am fully moved in. I decided the best way for me to show my love and respect for the man and woman who gave me their love and security was to donate the farm to an organization that will turn it into a safe haven for abused children. The money the Newhouses left me will fund the transformation of the property as well as the operation for years to come. No matter that what they did was wrong—divisive, even—their intent and the relationship that developed between us as the years passed was loving and generous. I will always love them as if they were the family I was born into.
I saw to it that their daughter, the other Olivia, was given a proper burial next to them.
As for me, I’m working with a brilliant therapist who is helping me get used to what my history actually is versus what I’ve believed for the past sixteen years. Lots more memories have seeped in—none good, sadly. But I deal with them. I remind myself that none of it can touch me now. It’s in the past. This is my life now.
“Surprise!” an array of voices shout as we enter the great room.
I put my hands to my chest in faux surprise. “What is all this?”
David’s entire family is here, all wearing either pink or blue. I can’t blink fast enough to stop the tears. I do a lot of that these days. His family really has embraced me in a way I only dreamed of.
It’s the tallest of the guests who draws my lingering attention. Walt is wearing a blue tee that looks a tad too small. He winks at me. I glance at David, so very grateful that he included Walt. The man is family, too. I can’t imagine my life without him.
I’m suddenly surrounded by people trying to give me hugs and begging to know whether we’re having a boy or a girl.
David pulls me away from the others, and we move to the long table that stands in the center of the room, where all sorts of food and decorations wait. My goodness, the whole room is full of streamers and baby decorations. In front of the table, two good-size boxes with question marks on them wait for us. One question mark is pink and one is blue.
“You ready?” he asks me.
I nod. We lean down and take hold of the box lid that has the blue question mark and lift. The moment we do, dozens and dozens of blue balloons float up.
The cheering and clapping goes on and on. Suddenly, I am swallowed up in more hugs and teary congratulations.
I hear the popping of champagne corks and more cheering.
“This is quite the celebration, kid.”
I turn to Walt and savor a big hug from him. When I draw back, I narrow my gaze at him. “And you didn’t say a word.”
He puts a hand to his chest. “Hey, I was sworn to secrecy.”
He leans down and we hug again. “Thank you,” I murmur against his ear. “I could not have gotten through the past few months without you.”
“You”—he draws back—“have got this.”
