Page 151 of Feels Like Home

I watch as our friends pass Hazel around, each of them falling in love with her as quickly as I did. And as Bri and the boys tumble back into the room, all I can think is, I’ve never felt so at home as I do in thismoment.

Extended Epilogue

ExtendedEpilogue

Bri

“Ican’t tell her,Andy.”I can hear through the door that my mom is crying, and it makes my stomachhurt.

I’ve only been home from college a few days, and most of that time has been spent cuddling and playing withHazel.

I can already see that the boys basically treat her like the little princess sheis.

“We’ve been over this. She has a right toknow.”

“No. She doesn’t. Drop it. I’m telling you, now, don’t gothere.”

“Christine, I love you. You know I do. I couldn’t be more in love with you. But this? She needs to know. You realize now that Heather has it in her head after Preston left her, she’s gonna spread that shit far and wide. I know she is. And if she doesn’t? That asshole little brother of his will. Especially after all the shit that went down with him and Grady. You need to make sure she hears it from you, rather than the damn Liberty rumormill.”

What?

What does Grady and Dawson have to do with what’s upsetting Mom? I hear a sniffle and then Mom ask for atissue.

“I don’t want her to think differently ofhim.”

“If she hears it from you, she won’t. You explain it to her how you explained it to me. Make her see it the way it happened, not the ugly everyone else is going to turn itinto.”

I hear more sniffling and take a step backward, not wanting to hear what I know is something that will change my life forever. Unfortunately, when I move back, the heel of my foot lands on one of the damn dog’s toys, and itsqueaks.

“Boys?”

I blow out a breath, knowing I can’t just sit here in hiding like I wantto.

“No, it’s me.” I walk around the corner into Mom and Andy’s bedroom. They’re sitting on the bed, Mom’s head is on Andy’s shoulder, always her pillar of strength. The baby is asleep in the bassinette next to the bed on Andy’s side; he never allows her to be too far away from him, so it’s no surprise that’s where he set it. Mom tried moving it to her side, so it would be easier when the baby would wake up in the middle of the night to feed her, but Andy kept moving it back to his side. Eventually Mom just gave up and let him have hisway.

When Andy and Mom got married, Dad had been gone for so long. And seeing them together? It feels like it was always supposed to be them. I loved my father, but I don’t remember seeing my mom in love the way she is withAndy.

“Bri?” Mom lifts her head from Andy’s shoulder and she wipes under her nose. Andy rubs my mom’s shoulder, and she looks at him like she’s begging him for something. He nods a couple times then stands up and leans back down to kiss her on thecheek.

He walks over to me and places both hands on my shoulders and looks into myeyes.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice is quiet andunsure.

“Just listen to her,okay?”

“You’re kind of scaring me,” I admit, a quiver in myvoice.

“Don’t be scared. Your mom and I love you, that’s all you need to remember. But promise me you’ll listen toher.”

I look back and forth between his dark brown eyes, the exact color of his twin boys’, and Hazel’s. “I promise,” I whisper and look at Mom, who’s wiping tears from under hereyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, after I hear the door click closed behindme.

“Nothing’s wrong, sweetie. It’s just something I should have told you a long time ago. And you need to hearit.”

“Okay?”

“First of all, you know Andy’s ex-wife Heather was with Preston,right?”

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