After giving each other a long hug, Ryder kissed me on the cheek and asked, “How are you doing, mama?”
Letting out a huff of breath, I placed my right hand on my stomach. “I just can’t wait to get this little one out of me already.” I sighed. “This pregnancy was a lot different than my first.” When I gave birth to Noah there was a complication. The doctors said I wasn’t going to be able to have any more children. But somehow, we conceived our second child.. The beginning of the pregnancy was pretty terrible. I couldn’t get out of bed most days because I was so tired. When I did get out of bed, it was to throw up. I couldn’t hold anything down and the doctors didn’t know if the baby would survive. Eight months and they’re astonished. They say this is a miracle child.
Gabe and I decided to keep this child’s sex a secret. We were the only two who knew we were having a little boy. Well, actually, a big boy. The doctors said he was very healthy and he was already close to eight pounds.
I couldn’t believe how fast this week was going to go. Before I knew it we were halfway through dinner and Patrick was standing up saying, “Okay, everybody, we have an announcement to make!”
Quieting down, we all looked over at Patrick.
Looking down at Derrick, Patrick grabbed his hand and gently squeezed it. Priscilla was sitting on Derrick’s lap taking little bites of her mac n’ cheese. She had this cute little bob of straight black hair and this squeaky little voice. Patrick and Derrick adopted Priscilla four years ago from China. I knew one day they would make amazing parents. They had gone through so many struggles within their relationship, they deserved to be happy.
Clearing his throat, Patrick brought up his left hand and started to wipe away tears. Waving his hand, he said, “I’m sorry, but um—” He cleared his throat. “We’re having a second child.”
Clapping and squealing, we were all so excited. Derrick pulled out a picture from his pocket and started to pass it around. “We’re going to China next month to bring our daughter, Ava, home,” Derrick said with the biggest smile on his face.
Once dinner was over we all decided to sit in the massive living room. Everyone started to gather in their own conversations. Isabelle and Ashlynn. Ryder, Gabe, Neil and Jason. Jade was holding her daughter. The kids were all playing and watching a movie.
Sitting next to Gabe, whose hand was in my right one, I put my other hand on my very swollen belly, feeling my child kick and move around inside of me. A smile appeared on my face. Looking out at everyone, I got lost in my memories of where we all were and where we are now.
Ryder and Isabelle and their children—Idea, Gavin and Jase.
Ashlynn and Jason and their twins—Bennett and Jaylin—and their son Sam.
Jade and Neil and their son Matthew and daughter Daniella.
Patrick and Derrick and their daughter Priscilla. And I thought of next year and how Ava would be added to our amazing family.
Then, I looked at Gabe, who was talking and laughing, and I smiled. A long time ago I gave him my heart. I chose that and I wouldn’t change anything about it, because then I looked at our son Noah, and I couldn’t imagine my world without those two men in it. Rubbing my belly, I thought about our second son growing inside of me. We’d decided to name him Adam, after my dad.
Resting my head against the back of the couch, I remembered back to when we were all in college and the experiences we all shared together. Ryder and Isabelle having their ideas. Ashlynn and Jason messing up and finding the solution. Jade and Neil making their mistakes. Patrick and Derrick dealing with their struggles. Gabe and I making our choices. But in the end, we all came out mended.
Because with our ideas and our messes—with our mistakes, struggles and choices—we would be forever beautiful.
The End
Acknowledgments
I can’t believe this series has come to an end. I am so grateful to have every single of you in my life. Without your help, guidance, love and support this truly humbling, worthwhile experience would not have been the same. I love you.
Erica for being with me every step of the way from the beginning. Thank you for believing in me when at times I didn’t believe in myself.
Alessandra Torre for helping me through this process. It certainly would not have been the same if you weren’t a part of this journey.
Josh for being the amazing man you are. Thank you for believing in me and dealing with my hectic, crazy writing life. I love you so much.
My family for being there for me in pursuing my dreams.
Jennifer O’ Neill and Jessica Gunhammer of Limitless Publishing for taking a huge risk on me and making my dreams come true.
Robin Harper of Wicked by Design, Toni Rakestraw for editing, Dixie Matthews for formatting and Olivia Osland for marketing this series and making it all come together.