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“Does this need more salt?” I ask, offering her a spoonful of mashed potatoes, her favorite side dish. She adopts a serious expression as she spoons the potatoes into her mouth, then shakes her head.
I transfer the potatoes to a large serving bowl that’s been warming in the oven. At the thud of footsteps behind me, the twins commence their tango. I have no idea how they’re able to discern Gavin’s footsteps from anybody else’s. Must be baby magic, as Olivia would say.
“Something smells great,” Gavin says, wrapping his arms around me. “Food smells good, too.”
I lean against my husband as he kisses my neck and rubs his hand over my belly. “How enormous is the tree?”
“So big, I’m shocked we didn’t have to remove the door. Did you finish your blog post today?”
“Yes, I did.” I’ve been running a recipe and lifestyle blog for going on two years now. What started as a fun hobby has exploded into a job I adore, not least of all because I can do it from home. The blog and companion YouTube channel have done so well that I’ve decided to write a cookbook.
I shift in Gavin’s arms so I can kiss him properly, prompting Olivia to tug on my skirt.
“I want kisses, I want kisses,” she says.
“You want kisses?” Gavin picks her up so we can both plant kisses on her cheeks.
“Auntie Lexis, can I talk to the babies?”
“Sure you can,” I say.
Gavin lowers her so she can press her ear to my belly. I rest my hand on his shoulder and smile, knowing it won’t be long before he’s holding our babies in his big, strong arms.
“What are they saying?” Gavin whispers.
Olivia grins. “They’re saying...we want ‘tatoes!”
I kiss my adorable niece on the forehead. “Then let’s give them lots of ‘tatoes.”
“All right,” my mom says. “The roast is done and the gravy has thickened beautifully. Who’s ready to eat?”
“I am, I am!” Olivia flings her hand up, missing Gavin’s left eye by a hair.
“That was a close one,” he says, setting Olivia on her feet.
“She nailed poor Lorenzo in the nose last week,” Erica says. “In case you thought the dark circles under his eyes were from sleep deprivation.”
“I just assumed that was your handywork,” Gavin says with a smirk.
She jabs his arm in good fun. “I’ll have you know, my husband likes it when I play rough.”
“Let’s get those paws clean.” My mom takes Olivia to wash her hands while the rest of us take care of moving the food to the dining room.
Once we’re all seated around my parents’ table, my dad raises his wineglass.
“I just want to say a quick word before we begin,” he says. “Four years ago, we were blessed with a precious gift in the form of our sweet Olivia. In a few short weeks, we will be blessed again with the birth of two more little ones.”
Gavin squeezes my hand. I brush my foot against his leg under the table.
“I wake up smiling every day,” my dad continues. “I open my eyes and see my beautiful wife, who’s usually just come to bed. I think of my brilliant daughters and their wonderful husbands. I think of my dear Livvy, and I feel like the luckiest man alive. Not only to be surrounded by all of you, but for the second chance you all afforded me. That’s all I have to say.”
My throat tightens. I take in the smiling faces of my beautiful, loving family, coming to rest on my dad. I’m so proud of him and the work he put into shifting his priorities after Olivia was born.
When he announced last year that he was going to begin writing a book about George Washington’s childhood, I was afraid he’d slip back into old habits. But so far, he’s managed to keep his work life and his real life in balance.
I raise my glass in cheers. “We’re lucky to have you, Dad.”
We clink our glasses as a tear runs down my father’s cheek. Olivia climbs down off her chair to go comfort Grandpa, while my mom motions for the rest of us to eat.
