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Before Melissa could return, the early bird guests started making their way over to their table, offering their congratulations to Gabby. Gabby stood there, wide-eyed, as Holly introduced the various people to her. Most of them Holly hadn't seen in decades, but they all seemed to remember as if it was only yesterday.
"Don't ask me how old she is," Holly whispered to her daughter as an elderly woman was escorted back to her table. "Misses Thompson was ancient when she was my first-grade teacher. I'm pretty sure she's secretly a witch and found a spell for immortality."
Gabby put her hands over her mouth to stifle her laughter. By the time Melissa returned with two of the largest desserts Holly had ever laid eyes on, Gabby had looked positively overwhelmed. Having lived her whole life in Miami, she had never gotten to experience the charm of a small town where everyone knew everyone and where gossip spread like wildfire.
Heck, there was a good chance the rest of the family would know about Gabby's news by the time they got back to the inn. But that was a risk you took when you lived in the Keys, and even though Gabby was overwhelmed, she had a broad grin on her face as she dug into the cookie-brownie-sundae concoction Melissa and her chef had created just for them.
"I'm starting to think it's not the baby that makes you fat when you're pregnant but the cravings!"
Holly laughed and grinned. "Oh, honey. Let me tell you, the cravings are just the beginning. Before you know it, you'll be wanting to eat non-stop!"
"Well, then maybe I should stick around, at least for a little while. I can't think of anywhere in Miami that makes food like this place!" Gabby looked around the little restaurant appreciatively. It wasn't much to look at, at least not the little inside portion, but Gabby wasn't wrong. There wasn't anywhere in Miami that quite had this place's charm or delicious cooking.
"You'd be welcome to stay as long as you would like." Holly didn't bother asking her mother. Gabby was an Archer. Even after she got married, she would still be an Archer. And Archers were always welcomed at the Archer House and the inn.
Family didn't turn away family, not ever.
"Your grandmother's going to be so surprised when she finds out the news, though. If you think Melissa got excited, just wait until you get back to the house!" Holly could already see her mother jumping up and down for joy. She had been out of this world when Sean had had his baby three years ago. She was going to be just as excited about this one.
Yes, this was what the universe had been guiding her towards. And not just her either but the entire family. This baby would give them a fresh breath of life again. It was just what Nelly needed to keep pushing forward, and it would remind Randy there were still good things in life to look forward to.
And as for Holly? She couldn't express just how she felt, knowing she had another grandbaby on the way. Even when life seemed like it was nothing but doom and gloom, there was always dawn if you just waited and looked for it.
It wasn't there just yet, but Holly felt herself inching closer and closer to it. And yet, at the same time, she was also apprehensive, like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But she refused to focus on those feelings and kept them locked up and buried away.
She wasn't about to let her anxiety ruin a good thing!
