AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Look inside, Mum,” Liam suggested.
Her brow knit. “Huh?”
“Gimme.” Taylor grabbed the duck and split it open at the seam, handing it back to Bets. “It’s child-proofed, obviously.”
“Obviously,” she said, eyeing the pink fabric inside. “What’s this? A T-shirt?”
“We thought you needed something else to wear today,” Taylor said brightly, linking her arm through Liam’s. Both of them were grinning at her along with her other boys.
She unfolded the shirt and saw the words PROUD GRANDMA. She screamed. Jumping up and down, she clutched the shirt to her chest. “Oh, you two!”
“Land sakes, Bets,” Linc drawled, taking the shirt from her clutches. “What’s got you all—”
He let out a whoop when he saw the message before kissing her soundly on the mouth and then sneaking over to pluck Taylor off the ground.
Taylor cried out in delight as Linc spun her around. “We got you a T-shirt too, Grandpa!”
Bets turned to Liam. Radiant love shone on his face. “We’re expecting, Mum.”
She rushed him. “I didn’t think I could take waiting much longer for a grandbaby.”
“You’re not the one having the baby,” Taylor said dryly as Linc set her back down. “Now seemed like a good time with the museum finished and—”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Liam squeezed her tight. “We needed to do it in our own time, Mum, but now it’s here.”
“Takes the pressure off me and Wyatt,” Rhys joked, wiping his forehead in relief.
She shot him a look as she let go of her son to give another happy wiggle, pulling her T-shirt on over her head. “You young people, planning a baby around buildings. But I forgive you. Come here, Mama.”
Taylor was beaming after they hugged. “Congrats, Grandma.”
God, how she loved the sound of that. “Congrats to you too. Both of you! Wait! Why isn’t anyone else going crazy?”
The whole group of friends was grinning knowingly.
Brady wiped his brow. “Keeping this news a secret tested everyone. The whole village was in on it. When Taylor got served a drink, for cover purposes only, someone else would switch it out with theirs when you weren’t looking.”
“We thought it might be the kind of triple-decker of news days for you, being on the date of the museum opening.” Liam righted her shirt, pulling it down over her navy pants until the hem was even. “Heck, Mum, today might be one of the best of your life.”
Her heart was suddenly in her throat, and she cast a glance over to the original Lucky Charms—Nicola, Siobhan, and Brigid. They had known her highs and lows and been with her through it all, and her three friends lifted their glasses to her, because they understood what this day meant. “My cup overflows, as they say.”
“About time, don’t you think?” Linc bandied back with a grin.
She had a new rose trophy, a museum, and a grandbaby on the way. “Oh, I’m just thrilled. I’m—” Tears welled up and she uttered a wild squeak. “I-I’m having a grandbaby.”
Linc was right there to put his arm around her, tipping up her chin. “Oh, sugar. Don’t cry. This is a time for celebration. A big one.”
The back of her neck was on fire, which was spreading to her face. Emotion clawed at her throat. “I know. It’s just—”
She was starting a complete meltdown. Right in front of the museum, and she wasn’t supposed to be a sideshow on the tour.
“I’m going to—”
Since her voice had stopped working, she pointed desperately to Sorcha’s tree on the lower end of the pasture.
Linc kissed her softly. “Yeah, you go on and take a moment.”
She was unsteady on her feet as she walked off, hearing Linc call, “Now, where’s my T-shirt?”
