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He tried to hide how pleased he was that I finally admitted that Freddy’s loyalties had changed quite a while ago. “Hey, life’s better with a dog,” he said, smiling at me.
“I knew he’d admit it one day,” I said, giving everyone a smug look.
“Hey, we have a big announcement,” Eli said, pulling Violet off her chair and onto his lap.
“Another magazine?” Will asked incredulously.
“Yeah, you need to slow down,” Ben said. “You’re making us look like slackers.”
“We do have a new magazine in the works, but this is even better,” Eli said. Violet grinned from ear to ear, but neither of them said anything else, drawing out the suspense until Laurel looked like she might explode.
“Baby?” she guessed hopefully.
Violet nodded and Eli held up his beer bottle for Will and Ben to clink with theirs. “Yes. Finally. We’re having a baby.”
We all cheered, making the kids come running to see what was going on. “Aunt Vi is going to have a baby,” I told them. “A new cousin!”
“I hope it’s a boy,” Harrison said. “I’m tired of being outnumbered.”
“I’ll do my best,” Violet said, popping off her chair to give him a big kiss on the cheek.
Embarrassed but pleased, he lay down in the grass between his father and me. I opened my arms to the twins, who scrambled up onto my lap, while Ava wedged herself beside me on the lounge chair. Freddy yipped, as excited as the rest of us, and climbed down to settle himself on Harrison’s chest.
“This is the best party,” Lottie said, laying her still chubby hand on my arm.
“Oh, honey, it hasn’t even started yet,” Will told her.
I caught Laurel and Violet’s eyes over the kids’ heads, and we shared a knowing smile. Eli noticed our look and thought we might be conspiring about something.
“What was that look for?” he asked suspiciously.
“Nothing,” I said.
“We were just thinking how lucky you guys are to have us,” Violet told him.
The guys cracked up, but then Ben grew serious. “She’s actually right,” he said, smoothing a strand of hair from Laurel’s cheek.
Eli reached over and laid his hand on Violet’s belly. “Yep,” he agreed.
Will sat up and leaned down to kiss me. “There’s no doubt about it.”
He kissed each of his daughters’ heads and ambled over to oversee the barbecue again. Eli and Ben went to join him, and the kids got up to play after their mini rest. As I watched Will flip a burger, my heart was so full of happiness I thought it might burst. That was a feeling I was well acquainted with and still never got used to.
“I think we’re the lucky ones,” I said in a low voice, my eyes glued to my perfect husband.
Violet and Laurel laughed, then wholeheartedly agreed.
*****
THE END
