“You’re going to have a grandchild. I’m pregnant.”
A series of gasps flew around the table. Concern immediately flashed in the eyes of the Colters, but so did utter happiness and excitement.
Tears filled Holly’s eyes. Callie wiped at her own eyes as she glanced back at Lily. Lauren smiled but her smile was wistful, almost poignant, as if it reflected her own wishes and dreams.
And the dads’ reactions ranged from shock to satisfaction.
The silence abruptly ended as everyone reacted at the same moment. Whoops went up. Cheers erupted. A barrage of congratulations flew. Despite her husbands’ attempts to keep her seated, Holly jumped from her chair and dashed around to where Lily stood.
She enfolded her daughter-in-law in her arms and whispered in her ear, “Oh my baby, I’m so very happy for you. You know it’ll be all right this time.”
Lily clung to her mother-in-law, closing her eyes as emotion knotted her throat. There were so many differing feelings to sort through. But best was this hug. This hug told her that she was loved and supported unconditionally. That her child would have the best the world could offer him or her. That her child would grow up in a family as strong and enduring as time itself.
“I do know,” she whispered back. “I’m okay. I’m more than okay.”
Holly pulled away and suddenly the dads were there, pulling her into big, bone-crushing hugs. Seth, Michael, and Dillon all got slaps on the back, hugs, handshakes.
Callie and Lauren crowded in and hugged Lily next, and Lily absorbed the moment, so very different from her first pregnancy, when she’d been so alone and isolated. This time would be different. This time she was loved.
Max came forward to hug her. He kissed her wet cheek and then shook the hands of Seth, Michael, and Dillon. Everyone was talking at once. Exclaiming. Such happy sounds. Laughter. Joy. It was a balm to a soul that had long suffered the agony of silence.
Adam cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention, and to Lily’s surprise, tears gleamed in his eyes. He looked shaky. Happy. A little unbalanced. He kept staring at his sons with such love in his eyes that Lily felt the answering sting of tears once more.
Seth wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as Adam motioned for quiet.
“That’s the best damn news I’ve had, apart from your mother being okay after she gave us such a fright.” His expression grew more serious and he stared at Lily, singling her out. “Lily, honey, I just want you to know that we’re all going to be here for you. You never doubt that for a moment. You and our grandchild will be loved and cherished and covered up with support, so much so you’ll probably want to tell us all to buzz off.”
Laughter filled the room and Lily smiled through the ache of tears.
He reached for his glass, wiped absently at his eyes, and then faced his family again. He held up his glass and enveloped Lily and his sons in the warmth of his gaze. “To the first Colter grandchild. May he or she grow up surrounded by love. May he or she grow up to become as wonderful as my own children are. And may he or she have the resiliency and indomitable spirit of his mother.”
“Hear, hear.”
The soft murmurs of agreement broke Lily. She could no longer hold back the sobs that welled in her throat.
“What would I do without all of you?” she asked tearfully. “No one has ever been as protected and loved as I have. My baby will be the luckiest child in the world.”
“And the most spoiled,” Callie said dryly.
Laughter met her declaration. Holly let out a humph. “If I can’t spoil my grandchildren, who can I spoil?”
“Sit, everyone,” Adam said, motioning everyone down. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
Dishes were passed around. Chatter buzzed in Lily’s ears. Questions flew. There was already the question of names. So much that she hadn’t allowed herself to contemplate yet.