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Conrad scoffs and looks over at his wife. She gives him a cut-it-out look that our mother gave us growing up. I watch as his shoulders fall, and with one last look at his son, he steps away to stand behind his wife.
“You too,” Dad tells Grant.
“Hey, I’m not hurting anything,” Grant argues.
“You’re cramping my style, son. Go spend some time with your wife or your brothers or your nieces or nephews. These two are taken.” Dad makes a shooing motion with his hand. It’s not lost on me that Dad referred to Madeline and Aria as our nieces. My family has accepted Wren and Madeline into the fold, and there’s no going back.
“Baby hog,” Grant mumbles, scooting over.
“How about a picture?” Layla suggests. “Lena and Stanley with all the grandkids?”
“Oh, I love that idea. Bring me more babies.” Mom smiles.
Grant stands, moving out of the way, and Owen places Carter next to Dad. Carter immediately moves over closer to Gramps to look at Everett. Royce hands Roan to Mom, so she has a baby in each arm.
“Wren, what are you waiting on? I have an empty arm.” Dad holds his arm in the air to prove his point.
“Oh, I just thought—” Wren starts, but Mom cuts her off.
“This is a picture with all of our grandkids,” Mom says, leaving zero room for negotiation in her voice.
“Bring me my granddaughter, darlin’,” Dad says gently.
Wren is unable to hold her tears as she covers her mouth with her hand. Madeline thinks it’s a game and mimics her mom. I want to run to them and wrap them in my arms, but I hold strong, staying in my spot, leaning against the wall where I’ve been enjoying having my family in my new home. I don’t move, letting my parents take the lead on this one.
Wren composes herself and takes small steps to the couch, where my parents are sitting. She places Madeline on Dad’s lap, and she looks up at him and grins. “Hey, pumpkin.” Dad greets Madeline with a kiss on her cheek.
“Say cheese,” Layla calls out.
“Cheese,” Mom, Dad, and Carter call out.
“Aria needs in here too,” Mom tells Jase and Sam. Sam takes Aria and sits her next to Carter. Aria has every adult in the room laughing when she puts her arm around Carter’s shoulders and pulls him into her, then says cheese, with the biggest brightest smile I’ve ever seen on a child.
Layla snaps a few more pictures before it’s time for the babies to eat. Grant and Conrad jump at the chance to take their sons back from our parents. Carter and Aria have had enough and climb off the couch before darting down the hall to the playroom. Yeah, I’m the cool uncle. The area’s not just for them. It’s for Madeline as well. She’s going to be too young to play upstairs while we’re downstairs, so I made the downstairs bedroom a playroom and made sure to lock that bathroom door. I know Wren, hell, I know me, and no way am I sleeping downstairs, leaving her upstairs all on her own. As our kids get older, we can transition our room to the downstairs and move the playroom to the basement.
Wren is still watching my dad with Madeline, and her eyes are still swimming with emotion. I’m no longer able to stay away. Pushing off the wall, I make my way to where she’s sitting in the recliner. I kneel beside her. “You doing okay?”
“More than okay.” She nods. Leaning over the arm of the chair, I kiss her lips softly.
“Hey, Wren,” Sawyer calls out. “We’re thinking of running to Target. Aurora needs diapers. You want to come?”
Wren looks at me and I nod. “I’ve got Maddie.”
“Sure. Uh, when are you going?”
“Now.” Sawyer laughs.
“I need a few things too.” Layla stands.
“Sam?” Aspen asks.
“We’re actually heading home,” Sam tells us. “Logan and Kacen are coming over later. There’s this new band Kacen has been working with that he wants Jase to hear.”
“Next time?” Aspen asks.
“Definitely.”
Jase and Sam say their goodbyes before wrangling their daughter, who cries to stay and play with Carter. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she can stay and play, but Jase reminds her that her cousins are coming over, and that does the trick to get her to dry her tears.
“Take the SUV,” I tell Wren. She opens her mouth to argue, but Aspen beats her to it.
“Thanks, Marsh. Lena, do you need anything? I’d suggest you go, but you look like you’re in grandbaby heaven.” Aspen chuckles.
Mom looks down at Roan. “I’m good, and yes, I am,” she says, looking over at Madeline. “Swap?” she asks my dad.
“I don’t know. She’s actually letting me hold her while Marshall’s in the room,” Dad tells Mom.
“You boys go do… something,” Mom tells us.
