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“Let’s go!” she said from behind me as I started the car.
A twenty-five-minute car ride and several ballads from Disney later and we arrived at Dina’s Diner. I shut off the radio and stuffed the phone down in my pocket as I went to the back seat to get her out. The parking lot was rather crowded already, and even though there was still technically fifteen minutes before the party, it looked like just about everyone was already there.
Mom met me outside and offered to take in the bag and everything I had in my car. That let me be the one to open the door and bring Rose in to the diner all decked out for her birthday. There were balloons and streamers everywhere and a big banner that said “Happy Birthday Rose” on it, hanging above the register. Helen ducked her head out of the back as everyone in the diner turned to the door and a big cheer was let out.
Rose initially ducked her head into the crook of my neck, shy and retreating from the loud sound, but then she saw Malia and perked up. She reached out for her, and I let her go, transferring from me to my sister. For all the party atmosphere and people there for her, Rose’s primary concern was Alice and where she was. Malia turned around and showed her that Alice was with Gerry, across the room, and she seemed to calm down and take in the excitement.
“Bir-day!” Rose said in celebration as she came back into my arms. “Where’s Daddy?”
“Right here, princess,” Hawk said, coming up behind me. Rose nearly dove out of my arms and into his and he tucked her in his grip tightly.
Hawk walked her around to see everyone, and the party got underway. It was mostly a chance for the adults to hang out and talk since the kids, all under five except Olly, all played or were rocked to sleep. Olly was being a perfect little gentleman and being the protector of the little ones as they played, like a miniature bodyguard.
After cake and ice cream and the presents being opened, most of the little ones were drifting off to sleep. It left the adults to talk, and Hawk pulled me aside, gesturing at the group. I nodded. It was time.
“So, I had a little announcement,” Hawk said. “I know several of you have been helping me renovate my cabin and have noticed the extra room we put in off the master suite. I told you guys it was a flex space so we could use it as an office or a closet or something later on. That wasn’t entirely a lie. But it wasn’t entirely the truth either. Right now, it’s going to be a nursery.”
There was going to be more to that sentence, but the cheer that came from our friends drowned him out. The celebration was so strong that a couple of babies joined the chorus with cries of their own, only to be shushed back to sleep by rocking mothers, all of whom came over to congratulate me and Hawk.
“I knew it,” Deacon said. “I told Brett, I said flex space my ass.”
“He did,” Brett admitted. “Deacon called it.”
“Good, then you won’t be surprised when I ask if you can come help me paint it next week for the baby,” Hawk said.
Deacon laughed and rolled his eyes in an exaggerated motion.
“Fine,” he joked. “Seriously, no problem. I’m happy to hear my suspicions were right. You two already make wonderful parents. Rose is going to be so happy to have a little sister.”
“She will be,” I said. “I’ve already asked leading questions about it. She said she would prefer a brother one day, but she doesn’t seem to understand that’s not how it works.”
We all laughed, and I made my way back into Hawk’s arms. For the rest of the party, I stayed there, comforted in his grip and blissfully happy at the way my life had turned out. There was nothing I could ask for that was any better than my life with Hawk.
