Chapter Fifty-Six
Grace
–three years later
Children’s laughter rings in the cool breeze. Emmett and Amy’s daughter Monique is the boss, being the oldest, but Sebastian and Lucie’s kid Elise isn’t too bad, either. She knows how to bat her pretty eyes and make others agree with her.
Griffin and Sierra’s triplets are wrestling on the grass—as usual. “They never seem to get tired,” I say, slightly awestruck and stretching my legs on the picnic blanket. Nicholas suggested we have a fall picnic, and everybody agreed. Emmett rented an entire chateau in Sonoma, and Grant flew everyone up in his private jet.
I close my eyes briefly, letting the sun warm my skin. The weather’s just perfect, the sky cloudless. Huxley wraps his arm around me and kisses my temple. “Tired?”
“No. Just enjoying the sun.”
Elise says something I can’t make out, and Sebastian picks her up and swings her over his head. She lets out a piercing laugh, and Lucie snaps a photo. Aspen just found out she’s pregnant, and currently Grant is massaging her nonexistent cankles much to her amusement and embarrassment. He claims it’ll prevent her legs from swelling, but we’ll see.
Noah and Bobbi’s son Steve is only seven months younger than our son Charles. I love it that they’re so close in age and get along so well. Not to mention, they always act like they agree with whatever Monique and Elise want, but then do their own thing on the side.
“You really gotta keep an eye on those two,” Sierra says.
“No kidding,” Huxley agrees, looking at the little boys fondly. They’re currently doing somersaults. Their eyebrows pinch together, mouths tight. Then rolling forward they go…although they seem to end up rolling to the side more than forward. Then they stand up, legs together and arms spread, like Olympic gymnasts sticking a landing.
“Perfect!” Noah calls out.
“Flawless,” Huxley adds.
“Everyone gets a cupcake!” Bobbi declares, unveiling a big basket of gorgeous cupcakes.
The boys grin. Charlie grabs two and runs up to offer me one. I hug him, feeling his soft weight and smelling the clean sweat of my sweet little boy.
“Where’s mine?” Huxley asks.
Charlie gives him a startled look, then dips a finger into the pale blue buttercream frosting and puts it into his father’s mouth.
Laughing, Huxley wraps his arms around us. “I have my most precious treasures in my arms,” he says, bussing my cheek loudly.
Laughing, I kiss him back, then feel the brush of a rose petal over my forehead. I look up at the clear blue sky to give thanks for all my blessings…and to let Mom know I couldn’t be happier, surrounded by my family.
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