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“What picture?” Lucy demanded, finally coming forward, while I just stood there, gaping in disbelief between the two of them, certain I was misunderstanding what they were discussing.
Ava happily held the drawing up to show it off. “I made it to give him tonight when we told him about the baby, but I had to make sure he liked it first.”
As her mother sighed and rubbed at her forehead, muttering, “I guess I should be grateful you held out this long,” I finally burst out, “What?”
Lucy turned to me and ruefully lifted her eyebrows. “Surprise.”
My lips parted, and my gaze dropped to her belly. “Are you really…?”
She pressed a hand to her stomach and sent me a nervous laugh. “Yeah. I guess my IUD’s life expectancy ran out. I’m so sorry we didn’t get to discuss it first, but—”
“Oh my God,” I breathed, stepping toward her and cupping her face in my hands. “Holy shit, I can’t believe this. We’re having another baby?”
She nodded and grinned at me before laughing. “Yes.”
I kissed her and then hugged her and started laughing too, tears of joy filling my eyes.
“Ava, we’re having a baby,” I said, turning to include her in the moment.
“I know,” she said, sounding dryly logical. “I’m going to be the best big sister ever. Mommy already said.”
I opened one of my arms to include her in the hug, wrapping a hand around her shoulders. “Yes, you are,” I agreed. “Because this is the best family ever.”
And I stood there in that kitchen, holding the three most important people in the world to me as close as I could gather them.
I’d lost a lot in this life. I’d mourned, and I had suffered.
But I had also gained, and loved, and overcome. And honestly, it was all worth it.
Meeting Lucy’s gaze above Ava’s head, I whispered, “Thank you,” since it was because of her that I’d kept going and fighting to get where I was now.
She smiled and leaned in to kiss my lips, and life was good.
The End
To discover more about Chloe, her story,
The Opposite of Forbidden,
will be coming someday!
GRANDMA OPAL’S SNICKERDOODLE RECIPE
Cookie Mix:
1 cup shortening
½ cup butter
2 ½ cups sugar
3 eggs
3 ¾ cups flour
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
½ tablespoon baking soda
