56. Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Finnley
Laughter filters out into the entryway when we step inside the ranch house. The entire family is here, and my heart is so full it could burst. My hand is tucked firmly into Hudson’s as we take the hallway back to the kitchen and dining room. I’ve been in this house hundreds of times over the years, but it’s never felt like this. This time, I’m not stepping foot inside as Hudson’s best friend, but his wife. And just on the other side of this hallway is our family.
My stomach flips a little when I think about it. I have a family. A huge, loud, and sometimes obnoxious, but always loving and welcoming family.
As we step into the kitchen, Wrenley sees us first. Her wide smile stretches across her face and she nudges both Paige and Hank with an elbow. Paige looks up at her aunt, and when Wren tips her chin in our direction, her face lights up and she bolts out of her chair.
“Mama Finnley!” she says, running around the table toward us.
Tears stream as I crouch down and open my arms to her. When she collides with me, it’s the most incredible feeling I’ve ever felt. Gone are my worries of her being upset with me and my insecurity that she might blame me for her parents not getting back together.
“Hi, sweet girl,” I say and breathe her in. “Holy smokes, you feel like you’ve grown a foot since I saw you last.” And she does. Has it really only been days?
“You only saw me the other day,” she giggles, pulling back to look at me.
I run a hand over her hair and kiss her temple. “I know and I missed you so much,” I say, my voice wobbly with emotion.
“I missed you too,” she says. Then, as if it’s just a normal day, she pulls out of my arms and bounces back over to the table. “Come and feel the babies move! I felt a foot. At least, we think it was a foot. The babies are so small that you can’t really tell, but come feel!” she rambles, making us all laugh.
I stand and Hudson takes my hand again, leading me over to the table. All eyes are on us, and I suddenly feel so overcome with emotion that my eyes prickle with tears. Hudson senses it and wraps an arm around my back, rubbing small circles there.
“We have something to tell you all,” Hudson says, and I glance up at him, a bit of confusion creasing my forehead. “We’re getting—” he says, then shakes his head. “No, we’re staying married?” he asks, looking down at me with a laugh.
I nod and grin at him before holding up my hand, palm facing me, to wiggle my fingers and show off the black hair tie wound around my ring finger.
The family erupts into congratulations, with simultaneous squeals from Nat and Hayley, who both jump up and come around the table first, followed shortly by Norah.
Hutch is next, wrapping me in a bear hug and lifting me up off my feet. Then, he claps Hudson on the back, pulling him into a bro hug. “Maybe get her a real ring this time, dumbass,” he says, biting back a smile, making us both laugh.
Wren follows, and when she leans in, her voice is filled with emotion. “I hoped we’d be sisters one day,” she whispers through tears, and I choke up with emotion as she pulls back and presses a kiss to my cheek.
Hank gives me and Hudson both a hug, and then I’m pulled into Duke’s warm embrace.
“You’re not honorary anymore,” he says with a hearty laugh, making me chuckle, before Emily steals me away and hugs me to her.
“Welcome to the family, honey,” she says, then lowers her voice so only I can hear. “My son couldn’t have picked a better woman.” She beams.
I mouth a silent thank you because I couldn’t find my voice if I tried. I’m so overcome with emotion.
After everyone has had their turn, even giving Paige hugs, they all start gathering dinner plates and dishes to clean up. Hudson motions for Paige to come closer. She saunters over and he crouches down in front of her, taking one of her hands in his. With his other hand, he brushes back her hair. “Are you ok with this, Pipsqueak?”
She turns her big, dark eyes up to mine from where I’m standing next to her dad with a hand on his shoulder. She takes a big breath and meets Hudson’s eyes again with a nod. She’s such a brave and sweet little girl. “Yeah, but…there is a problem.”
Hudson flicks a quick, worried glance up at me and then back to Paige. “Ok, sweetheart, tell me what it is, and we’ll figure it out together.”
Her eyes shift back and forth between us, and then she leans forward and presses her lips to his ear, shielding her mouth with a tiny hand.
I see Hudson’s chuckle more than hear it. Then, he pulls her in and gives her a long hug before whispering in her ear. She pulls back and grins. “Ok, Daddy,” she says, then bounds away .
Hudson stands back up, his eyes finding mine. They’re full of amusement as he takes my hands.
“What’s the problem?” I ask.
He slides an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in close, kissing me chastely on the lips. When he pulls back, he’s grinning. “Shopping emergency.”
I stare up at him in confusion. “Shopping?”
“She needs another mommy doll,” he says, his eyes roaming my face. “One with brown hair.”
Tears immediately spring to my eyes and one word comes out garbled with emotion. “Really?”
“Really.” He nods with a grin.
I sniffle and bury my face in his shirt as he wraps his arms around me. Then, I pop my head up and twist my mouth into a smirk. “I don’t think they make dolls with itty-bitty crop tops and biker shorts.” I shrug. “Guess I’ll have to stop wearing them.”
His laugh is deep and vibrates my chest, spreading warmth through my extremities and dropping to my core when he hauls me against him.
He groans against the shell of my ear. “Like hell, pretty girl,” he says and then crushes his lips to mine.