Page 37 of Beau & Autumn

“At the rate those two probably practice, I don’t doubt it!” Brook feels the need to add. Eden elbows him and Gayle clouts him on the back of the head as she walks over to hug Celeste. Us girls all follow suit as the guys all get up to give Callan pats on the back and handshakes. Jack looks pretty pleased himself about becoming a grandad.

“Are you excited about being an Aunty?” I say to Trudy as I wait in turn to give Celeste and Callan a hug.

“It’s so exciting!” The pint-sized little blonde gushes. She’s only twenty-one and such a sweetheart. “She’s going to make the cutest pregnant person ever.”

“You sure about that?” Celeste says when Hart and Skye step out of the way to let us in.

“You really are, Celeste!” Trudy hugs her for all she’s worth as tears fall down Celeste’s eyes. “Sorry, it’s silly. I’m just so happy.”

“It isn’t silly,” I say. I know it’s been a long time coming for her finding her happiness. It’s a lovely thing to witness. “It’s so beautiful. Congratulations to you both!”

“Yes, congrats!” Beau says next to me. “You two are going to be great parents.”

“I knew I’d knock her up sooner or later,” Callan jokes.

He’s just as big and strapping as his cousins, but not quite as dark.

He looks extremely proud of himself as Celeste playfully hits him on the arm.

“See, I wasn’t half wrong, was I?” Brook gives Callan a hefty pat on the back. “I’m hoping me and my old lady will churn out a few more before long,” he chortles.

That makes me smile. I know Eden has always wanted more kids.

“Not before the wedding season is over!” Georgia jibes him in the ribs. “We need Eden! If anyone else is next, I’m predicting Hart and Gray are on the baby train.”

“Heard that!” Hart flashes us a wink over the table as everyone starts returning to their places. But she doesn’t deny it, or look affronted, which is interesting.

“We can certainly have fun trying.” Gray slings his arm around her and snuggles into her neck as Gayle gives her son another withering look on the way to the kitchen. Patti and Gayle start busily putting everything together into dishes and taking the roast out of the oven.

“We knew you had it in you.” Hudson is the next to give Callan a huge pat on the back.

“Celeste did all the hard yards,” Callan muses as she swipes at him again.

“Ooh does that mean you’re going to make it official and get married now?” Georgia says, shoving Hudson out the way so she can give Celeste another hug.

“Not sure if you realized, but two people don’t need to get married just to have a baby, Blue Belle,” Hudson jokes..

“I know that, GP!” Grumpy pants. “I meant we have a great wedding venue if they want to make it official.”

I smile. Yep, they’re definitely fighting it.

“We are talking about getting hitched before the baby is born,” Celeste says. “We’ll see in the next few weeks how I go.”

“Well, you’re looking very glowy,” I say as we start making our ways back to our seats.

“Let’s give Callan and Celeste a toast,” Jack announces after he’s given his son a huge bear hug and his daughter-in-law to be.

“Wait for us!” Patti looks flustered as she places a huge bowl of potatoes in the center of the table and then a roast chicken at the either end. Gayle follows with more vegetables, Skye and Trin put out the dinner rolls and Eden is on the gravy.

“I’m waiting, woman,” he hollers as everyone stands. Trin is bouncing around excitedly on her chair waving her little bunny rabbit around in one hand, with a cup of soda in the other. “Family and friends, to Celeste and Callan. Patti’s and my first grandchild, congratulations kids!”

“And many more to come!” Patti hollers.

Everyone laughs and cheers, raising their glasses. Beau gives me a wink. “Nice hula hooping,” he bends a little to whisper.

I feel the warmth of his breath on my neck, causing a shiver to run through me again.

I turn to him. “I bet you never knew I had those skills either, did you, Beau?”

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