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“Say cheese,” Payton tells her, pressing the button.
As soon as Kaylee notices her, she reaches for her face. Grandma leans in, and Kaylee smears her cheek with icing.
“Oh no,” I say, trying to stop it from happening, but I’m too late.
“It’s fine.” Grandma laughs so hard I think I see a few tears. Then Harlow pats the other cheek. “My sweet girls are gonna raise some hell. I just know it.”
My family forms a half circle as we watch the girls enjoy themselves and get their pictures taken. I’m happy everyone’s enjoying the party.
I’m grateful Knox is filming this. This is something I never want to forget, and one I want my daughter to see when she’s older. The memories we’re making are ones I’ll cherish forever. Kane grins as he holds Isaac in his arms. Ivy’s next to him with Isabella. The twins had their first birthdays two months ago, and it was a blast.
The older grandkids run around the B&B with water guns, and somehow, I know my dad’s responsible for that.
“Mama, you’re covered from head to toe,” my dad tells her.
“It’ll make a good story at church tomorrow. But we really have Maize to blame for this.” She wipes a finger down her cheek, then licks the extra icing before grabbing a napkin. “Tastes good, though!”
“Sorry and thank you!” Maize says from the back of the crowd as Payton gives Grandma her iPad back. She swipes through the pictures, smiling with approval.
Once we clean up the girls, Hadleigh and I serve sheet cake and ice cream.
“This has been a lot of fun,” I tell Hadleigh after we’ve handed out one pan. Thankfully, Maize made three.
“It has. I’m glad we got knocked up at basically the same time.”
I snort. “Ya know, I don’t think I’ve told you this, but I made Payton eat these Brazilian nuts that are supposed to make the swimmers more potent. But Kane and Knox kept eating them when he’d bring them to work.”
Her eyes widen, and she doubles over with laughter. “Oh my God! So you’re actually to blame for this?”
“Well, Ivy was already pregnant, but it’s Knox’s fault since he doesn’t know how to leave other people’s food alone.”
She snickers. “That’s true. But hey, look at how cute our girls are. They’re gonna be besties.”
“I hope so. Unless they’re the kind of friends who fight over the same boy.”
Hadleigh deadpans, and I cackle. It was only six years ago when my brothers were fighting over her.
“They’re gonna get into so much trouble together,” I muse.
“I’m already dreading the teen years with our three so close in age.” Hadleigh sighs. “Harlow already gives me a run for my money, and she’s barely walking!”
“I thought the third one was always the forgotten child?” I say loud enough for my parents to hear.
“The third definitely gets away with shit the first two didn’t.” Hadleigh cracks up. “With the first one, you’re always on alert and careful not to let them get into anything they shouldn’t, but now, as long as I don’t see blood, I’m not worryin’ about it.”
Once everyone’s done eating, we set the girls up in the middle of the room and bring them their presents. Payton and Knox help the girls rip the paper. Hadleigh’s older kids, Hendrix and Hannah, run around, playing with toys and knocking chairs over.
Grandma and Grandpa have a front row seat to the action.
Once all the gifts have been ripped open, we pick up the mess, and the guys start putting the toys together.
When I look around, I notice Zach’s not paying attention to anything but his phone.
“Havin’ fun?” I ask as I sit next to him on the loveseat.
“Yeah,” he says, focusing on the screen.
“Textin’ your girlfriend?” I smirk.
