Page 85 of The Love Comeback
“What?” I grab for a tissue, wiping my nose.
“I think it’s a girl,” she repeats. “I know Colton hasn’t stopped talking about getting a baby brother, but I bet it’s going to be the cutest little, brown-eyed baby girl in the entire world. Kade and Colton will be absolutely smitten with her.”
“Well, I had no idea you were a psychic.” I giggle, shaking my head at her. “But we’ll know soon enough. I opted to get the blood test that tells me the gender. I haven’t looked at it yet, though. I’m planning to hand the envelope to Colton and Kade today.”
“No gender reveal party?”
“I think it’d be more fun to do this way,” I say with a smile. It took some extra planning to make it all work, but honestly, I think Colton willlovegetting to be the one who reads the gender.
Especially if it’s a boy.
“You know your family best,” Mom hums, reaching out and pulling me into a hug. She squeezes me, though not too tightly, and then plants a kiss on the side of my head. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. You’re an amazing wife to Kade and an amazing mother to Colton. I know how happy Katie would be to see you in this role.”
I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat as the tears start to roll down my cheeks. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.” She gives me one last squeeze and then releases me.
Kade’s voice carries through the house. I straighten and wipe the tears from my cheeks. This has been thehardestsecret to keep from my boys, and now that it’s time to share it, I’m bursting at the seams with anticipation.
“Mom!” I hear Colton’s voice above all the others as I exit the bathroom. “Where are you?”
I step out into the hallway, just as Colton pops his head in the opening. “Hey honey, I’m right here. Are you okay?”
He gives me a huge grin and then comes running to hug me. “I made the school hockey team!”
“Congratulations!” I wrap my arms around him and kiss the top of his head. “I’m so proud of you.” As I release him, Kade appears, mirroring Colton’s excitement.
“I take it he told you?” Kade heads toward us, his expression full of pride.
“He did,” I say, ruffling Colton’s hair. “It’s something to be proud of.”
“Yes, it is,” Kade confirms, wrapping an arm around my waist. “It’s all that hard work he’s put into it.”
“I agree.” I reach up and peck Kade’s cheek. I breathe in his familiar scent and then pull away to usher them into the diningroom, where the crowd of our closest friends and family gathers for the celebration.
I press my hand to my belly, the anticipation building like a pent-up breath.
Colton wanted forever, and we gave it to him.
And today, I get to tell him—he’s getting something else he asked for, too.
Kade
My heart soars as Colton opens the gifts that family has brought for him. My parents are all smiles, and Nate and my new sister-in-law Mallory stand hand in hand. Valerie and Aaron aren’t far behind. The team also files into the back. This is a big day.
And Colton needs to see just how much we all love him.
Near the back of the room, Colton’s grandparents from his dad’s side watch quietly, hands clasped, smiles soft. They flew in from across the country for today—just wanting to be here to support their grandson.
We haven’t seen much of them over the years, but they’ve always remembered birthdays and holidays, sending postcardswith handwritten notes. When Ella called them to share the news about Colton’s desire for adoption, they didn’t hesitate.
“We know we’re not part of his everyday life,” his grandfather said. “But we’d like to be there to honor the moment. And his parents.”
Colton slipped away from the group earlier to give them each a hug. His grandfather pulled him in with a quiet, “Brett would be proud,” while his grandmother cupped his face and said something that made his eyes shine. I didn’t catch the words, but I caught the weight of them. Love. Loss. Gratitude. It was all there.
They don’t say much, but there’s a quiet steadiness in the way they’re here—present, supportive in their own way. The kind of presence that doesn’t ask for anything but somehow gives everything that matters.
Family comes in layers. Past and present. Joy and memory. And somehow, today, it all fits.
