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They waited. Ava had no idea how much time had passed. Ten minutes? An hour? Three? But she didn’t move, standing sentinel in case her friends needed her.
The door to the room finally opened and closed, before water ran and shut off again. Ava couldn’t wait anymore, ducking her head into the bathroom. “Is everything okay?” she asked Ezio, interrupting him drying his hands.
He smiled from ear to ear as he tugged his stained polo shirt off. “They have a beautiful baby. I’ll let them reveal details.” He laughed happily. “I delivered bubs. My first delivery outside of an emergency room.”
Bryce waved the others into the house, shushing the kids as they migrated into the lounge room just off the front door. There was an air of anticipation, a quiet excitement that set Ava’s pulse fluttering. She couldn’t wait to catch a glimpse of the new baby, mum, and the two proud dads. Her pulse skittered in her veins, her heart bursting with joy for the newest addition to their family.
She looked around the room, kids babbling happily and adults whispering quietly as they waited on tenterhooks and smiled. Yeah, they were family.
The door opened and a collective ripple of excitement flowed through the group. Jake came out first, holding hands with Phoenix, tears streaming down his face. Phoenix wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled Jake close. “Cass and bubs are doing great.”
“We’re parents,” Jake babbled with a sob. “We have a baby girl. Little Charlotte Dawn.”
Cassie was holding their baby chest to chest, a light muslin wrap covering them both. Although flushed and tired, the love shining in her eyes was like nothing Ava had seen before. Cassie brushed her thumb gently along the tiny bundle’s cheek and smiled proudly at her friends. The ambos paused just long enough that she could lift her hand, Charlotte’s tiny fingers curled tightly around her pinkie.
Ava’s heart was fit to burst. “Congratulations,” she whispered, blowing them a kiss.
It might have been an unexpected ending to their get-together, but it was perfect, nevertheless. New life, new beginnings. A new addition to the next generation. Ava couldn’t have asked for anything more. Finding the loves of her life, meeting friends who’d become family, finding happiness and a peace within her that she hadn’t known she needed. They had a beautiful future together and she couldn’t wait to spend it loving her guys.
“To family,” she murmured as the door closed behind the happy trio with their beautiful bundle of joy.
And they lived happily ever after.
*****
Five years later
