Chapter 2 - Della
DELLA
I was practically bursting with excitement as all the guests in the living room and kitchen gave me their attention.
I grinned widely and said, “Welcome to the first annual Madigan Hot Cocoa Party!”
There was a little cheer that rippled throughout the room, and even Hayes cracked a smile. Chopper let out a happy little yip from his perch in the corner of the living room—a dog bed shaped like a throne.
“So everyone—fill your glass with milk and choose your hot cocoa bomb! We’ve got whipped cream and anything else you could want to add, plus my special sourdough cookies. I promise they taste better than they look!”
A polite chuckle rolled through our group of loved ones. Standing there, seeing the group, I couldn’t help but get a little emotional.
I had been used to going to my parents’ house and having Christmas with just the three of us every year. I loved them and always enjoyed the holidays because they both worked to make it special. But this? I couldn’t even begin to explain how special it felt.
After dreaming of having my own family for so long, my life just felt so much more complete with Hayes in it. Especially since his family was part of the deal. I loved them all so much—especially my best friend, Liv.
Everyone lined up to grab their hot cocoa bombs, and I stood next to Liv. I realized it was the first time in a while that she wasn’t pregnant, nursing, or even holding a busy toddler in her arms. Crazy how life changed, but our friendship’s stayed strong through every stage.
“Merry Christmas,” I whispered to her with a smile.
She gave me a hug and said, “Have I mentioned how cute your house is?” She glanced around. “I couldn’t create this much charm if I tried. And trust me, I have.”
I laughed. “I love your house though.” She and Fletcher lived in this gorgeous farmhouse outside of town with their four daughters.
“Me too,” she said, a happy gleam in her eye.
“I remember getting ready for prom with you that year you went with him,” I said.
Liv’s cheeks grew red. “I’m sure I was so cringy.”
Laughing, I replied, “You were the coolest. At least you didn’t have to figure out how to accessorize a headset.”
“True.” She laughed.
I shook my head. “You were so excited, and you said, ‘This could be the night that changes everything for us.’”
“It had,” Liv said. “I just didn’t know it then.”
I smiled at the thought. It was crazy how things worked out. Hayes had told me while we were dating that he’d noticed me before but stayed away out of respect for my friendship with Liv—and because he just wasn’t ready for a relationship yet.
There was something to the “right person, right time” theory.
Fletcher walked over, handing Liv a paper mug with Christmas symbols drawn in Sharpie on the outside—something Hayes and I had done the last few evenings while watching the holiday season of Bake Off. The cardboard sleeve even had a cute Santa sticker on it.
Fletcher said, “I’ll let you pick your ball.”
“Bomb,” Liv corrected with a giggle.
Fletcher rolled his eyes. “You’d think you’d outgrow giggling at body parts.”
“You’re the doctor, not me,” she tossed back and stuck her tongue out.
I smiled at my friend and her husband, grateful she had found her person, and that they were still so happy together. They walked over to the display of cocoa balls, already getting lower, and I heard people drinking their cocoa, talking about the different flavors and how good it tasted.
A heavy arm rested around my shoulders, and I looked over to see my dad. With a smile, I leaned my head over and rested it on his shoulder.
“Thanks for coming.”
He kissed the top of my head like he used to when I was a little girl. “Always, honey. I was looking around for projects to do while people are busy talking, but...”
I looked over at him. “But?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I can’t find any.”
A happy chuckle bubbled past my lips. “Hayes is on top of it.”
Dad gave a nod of approval. “Glad to see it.”
It wasn’t an overwhelming show of support or a confession of love for my spouse, but Dad was great at showing in little ways how he loved me—and Hayes.
He winked, then walked off to fill a mug with hot milk and a cocoa bomb. Then my husband—the love of my life—came to stand beside me, slipping an arm around my waist.
“Looks like it’s a success.”
I settled my hand over his hand that rested on my waist and squeezed. “Thank you for putting this together with me. I know it’s not your idea of a good time.”
At that, he took his hand away from my waist and turned me so I was facing him. He held my face in both his hands and looked me in the eye as he said, “Any time I’m with you is a good time. I mean it.”
I melted a little more. It was a miracle I wasn’t a living, breathing puddle at that point.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Love you too.” He kissed me softly on the lips and then pulled back.
And even though I was nervous, and my heart was racing, I said, “I have a special hot cocoa bomb for you in the kitchen. Come with me.”
He drew his eyebrows together. “Did you find a mint-flavored cocoa bomb?”
I smiled back at him, thinking of the first time I had forced him to try mint hot chocolate—and his incredible poker face pretending he didn’t like it. “Something like that,” I said.
We walked further into the kitchen, where I had stashed a special mug on top of the fridge with a white hot cocoa bomb inside, decorated with a little pink and blue flower on top.
“Fill it up and tell me what you think,” I told him.
He nodded, taking it to the jug of heated milk and pouring some of the steaming liquid on top. He shimmied his shoulders a little, looking absolutely adorable—even in the pink sweater I had convinced him to wear.
Then he grabbed a spoon and started mixing as he walked back toward me.
His eyebrows drew together. “What the fuck is this color?”
The cocoa bomb had opened up, and there was a mix of blue and pink. He looked at me and said, “Did you poison mine? Am I that bad of a husband?”
I giggled, shaking my head. “Look at the marshmallows. Can you tell what colors they are?”
His lips pressed together as he eyed the cup. “They’re… pink and blue.” Then he looked at me, confused. “It’s cotton candy flavored?”
Even though there was a hum of conversation all around us, and I could feel his brother Knox watching us, I nodded and quietly prompted, “What typically comes in pink and blue?”
Hayes’s eyebrows pinched together. Then his mouth fell open and he shouted, “Holy shit—we’re having a baby?!”
I nodded, echoing, “We’re having a baby!”
And that was when the party really began.