Page 99 of Jonny’s Redemption

“Yep.”

“And she said you’ll come up to visit after.”

“You still up for the company?”

“I’m always up for my son and daughter to come visit.”

Before Jonny could reply, Aurora skipped over and tugged on Anita’s hand.

“Grandma! Did you hear? Mama’s having a boy,” Rory chirped.

“I heard, angel. How exciting.”

“Mama said you’re spending the whole weekend with us,” Rory continued. “And don’t worry, we took Pooper Cooper to Aunt Kennedy’s house so he won’t make you sneeze. Oh, and Daddy said since it’s a special occasion I don’t have a bedtime. We can stay up all night. Caleb, too. Will you teach me how to make brownies? Mama says yours are the best. Even better than Grandma June’s but I’m not supposed to say that to—”

“I heard that, Aurora,” June Hartley teased, joining their huddle. “Though your Grandma Anita does make the best brownies in the whole county so I have to agree.”

“Thank you, June.”

Yeah, Anita was wasting no time getting back everything she’d lost.

“Love you, Ma,” Jonny whispered.

Anita Spencer exhaled a breath she’d been holding in for decades. She let it go and took in clean, fresh oxygen. She had years and years and years to make up for. Wrongs she had to right. And she would, one day at a time.

Kennedy Grant—three years later

“Mom!”

“What? I’m old, not dead.”

Jameson chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at my husband.

“Jameson!”

“What? Your mom’s not wrong. I do look incredibly hot holding my daughter.”

Before I could explain all the things wrong with that statement, Miss Janice cut through my thoughts.

“Don’t bother, girl. You know they’ll gang up on you.”

My mother’s long-time friend was correct. Jameson and my mom often took each other’s side. This didn’t bother me, though I always complained when they did it, I secretly loved watching big, tough Jameson’s soft spot for my mom.

“May I have my daughter back?”

“No,” Jameson said and protectively held the little girl to his chest.

So, my mom was right. Jameson did look incredibly hot holding Lola. But considering I’d given birth less than an hour ago, I wanted to hold my new daughter.

“I think she’s hungry,” I tried.

“She’s not.”

I sighed and switched tactics.

“You should go out to the waiting room and get Noah so he can meet his sister.”

Jameson’s eyes lit the way they always did when he thought about his son. And in return that look made me think about when I’d first met Jameson and the shadows that had clouded his handsome features. I hadn’t seen the darkness in years. But it wasn’t until Noah was born that a new light had dawned in my husband. And with the addition of Lola that brightness was blinding.