36. EVERLEE – AND SO IT BEGINS
EVERLEE – AND SO IT BEGINS
Twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes until guests arrive and turn this peaceful day into love-filled chaos.
The creak of the rocking chair on the deck beside me and the sound of the wind whispering its song through the trees settles me, giving me false expectations of what the day has in store.
Wyatt offered his house when we told him we were having a gender reveal party and told us all the pups could come. It’s only Woodford, Blanton, Lulu, and Luna this time because Beckett and mom and dad didn’t want to bring their pups up for the weekend trip.
This will be the first time my family is meeting Knox’s dad. Knox seems both nervous and excited. Things have been going well between the two of them. Wyatt calls without fail at least once a week. They even went camping together one night around the lake almost two months ago. It’s when Knox told him we were having a baby. It was the same weekend Callum had to take off for his business trip.
“How are you doing, mama?” Wyatt asks stepping onto the porch. “Sorry. Is it ok if I call you that? If you’d rather, I can call you Everlee. I just…” He inhales a deep breath, then pats the railing before he turns to look at me. “I’m just so excited you’re all here. It really means the world to me.”
“Yes, that is fine and I’m happy we’re here, too.”
“I know this isn’t your baby shower and what not, but I wanted to make you all something. It isn’t much, but… I just.”
“Wyatt, that is very thoughtful. You didn’t need to do that.”
“Well, I know, but… I just.” Tears spill over the rim of his eyes. “I’m just so sorry for all the time I missed with Knox. I was stupid. And I know he doesn’t have to let me back in his life and I just want to do everything right this time, you know? Show him I’m in this. That I’m not leaving.”
“He knows that.” I pat his shoulder. “He’s been happier these last few months than I have ever seen him.”
“Well, I think it’s because of that little bundle of joy in your belly.”
“No.” I laugh. “I guess it’s been more than a couple of months. This summer just flew by in the blink of an eye. What I really mean to say is this year. This year, he’s been so happy. Now-” I hold up my hands. “I know that’s not saying much since we’ve only been together for just over a year and a half, but the light in his eyes. It shines brighter and I think that has a lot to do with you. He talked about your camping trip every day for weeks after he got home.”
Wyatt laughs. “That was just out here around the lake.”
“It’s not about where he was, but who he was with.”
“Everlee. You really are just a peach. These boys lucked out when you walked into their bar.”
“They did, didn’t they?”
We both laugh just as a large expedition pulls down the driveway. Lizzy and Tony got a new car over the summer. Hers broke, so she went big. Said this was going to be her car for the next ten years, so it needed to be big enough to go through kids and sports. Which is crazy to think about, but I guess she’s right.
She’s going to lose her mind when we share the news. They all will.
As the car pulls to a stop, my nerves and excitement get the better of me. My heart races and my hands get clammy.
The doors open and I take a deep breath before I step off the front porch.
Mom is out of the passenger side door first, scurrying over to me, arms wide in the air. “Let me look at you.”
Uncrossing my arms from my chest, I hold them wide open and spin in a circle.
“Oh Everlee. You are the cutest thing. Look at that belly. Remind me how many weeks?”
“Twenty weeks in a few days.”
She clasps her hands and sets her chin on her knuckles.
“Get over here, preggers!” Beckett yells, stumbling out of the car. “Did you see that? Will shoved me out of the car!”
When I glance over Beckett’s shoulder, Will is climbing out, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.
“Hello brother.”
“Hello sister.”
“Hello love,” Will says, walking over to give me a hug.
“Hello, dahhhhling.” A whiff of his cologne swirls around me, catching in my throat. I’ve noticed my sense of smell over the last month has gotten more sensitive.
“Is it too strong? Becks said you could smell everything now, and I almost didn’t put it on, but just did a little dab before we got on the plane.”
“No, it’s fine. It smells good. It just caught me for a second.” Looking over his shoulder, I wait for dad, but still don’t see him. “Where’s dad?”
“Oh, he’s getting something out of the trunk.”
“What?” My curiosity is peaked.
“A surprise.” Beckett sticks out his tongue, so I swat at him.
“Children,” Mom reprimands.
Gravel crunches behind me and my body tingles as my guys walk up.
“Dave. Hurry up,” Mom bellows.
“Mama McKinley!” Knox yells, pushing past everyone else and giving her a hug.
“Knox.” She grabs his cheeks. “How’s my sweet boy?”
“Doing better now you’re here.”
“Oh. You.” She swats her hand in the air. “Emmett, darling.” She opens her arms again, giving Emmett a hug, then Callum and Jax.
“Afternoon, boys,” Dad says, walking up with a large bag dangling from his fingertips.
“Mama McKinley, Dave, I want to introduce you to someone.” Knox steps to the side and waves out his arm. “This is Wyatt. My dad.”
“Wyatt. Pleasure to meet you. Knox has told us so much about you,” Dad says, sticking out his hand to shake Wyatts.
“Same here. Knox and Everlee talk about you both as well.”
“Nice to meet you, Wyatt,” Mom says, smiling. “Beautiful home. And the lake.” She points her finger in the air. “I love a lake front.”
“Yes. Everlee said you and Dave also live on a lake.”
Watching Mom, Dad, and Wyatt walk towards the lake talking about the water life brings a sort of peace within me. Maybe I was also nervous. My eyes flick to Knox, who is watching them with a smile on his face, when I hear a squeal, then feel arms wrap around me.
“Hey Lizzy,” I say, reaching up to grab the arm around my neck and turning to face her.
“How is my little niece or nephew doing?”
“Great. Moving around.”
“Probably trying to get away from that shrill and realizing they’re stuck,” Jax says, slipping his hand around my hip.
“Come here, you big lug!” Lizzy says, launching herself at Jax and wrapping her arms around his neck.
He gives her a hug with the arm that’s not around my waist smiling, then asks, “Where’s your better half?”
After she releases Jax, she fixes her shirt, pulling it down, and smiles at him. “I know you don’t mean that, but Tony is on his way. Should be here any minute. We took two cars because of Lulu. Didn’t think we could get all the people, luggage and puppers in the car. Plus, he had to get something.” Lizzy squeals and claps her hands together.
“This can’t be good.”
“You’re going to love it!” She pats Jax on the chest and he just looks down at her hand. “Ok, you probably won’t admit you like it, but Knox and Emmett will love it. Callum will likely be in your boat. Ev’s broody part of the collection.”
“We’re a collection?”
“So funny.” She bats her hand, ignoring his question, and walks past him towards Knox.
Jax kisses the top of my head. “Are you ready for this? You know she’s going to lose her mind.”
“I am.” My heart thumps fast in my chest. “I’m so happy.”
“Me too.” He gives my side a little squeeze, plants another kiss on my head, and walks towards the house. “I’m going to check on E and make sure he’s not stressing out too much with the food.”
“Remind me why we agreed to let him cater for his own party.” I slip my hand in his and walk with him to the house.