Page 86 of The Love Comeback
Colton was family to me before I signed the adoption papers, and honestly, he was family to me before I ever put a ring on Ella’s finger. However, now it’s official.
And I couldn’t possibly be any happier.
“Congrats.” Nate slaps a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as Colton begins to open up his last present.
“Thank you,” I say, looking over at him. “Congrats to you, too.” I nod toward Mallory, who’s now almost eight months pregnant. “Won’t be long until your little girl will be here.”
“Can’t come soon enough,” Mallory groans, rubbing her back. “I swear I have more back pains than a one-hundred-year-old lady. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
“Well, it’ll only get worse,” Addy says, holding Benny, she and Blaze’s baby boy. “And then finally, when it happens, you start to find yourself missing the moments of pregnancy.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen for me,” Mallory mutters. “If anything, I just think that I’ll be lucky to make it out of this thing without any permanent damage.”
“Oh, there willdefinitelybe some of that.” Addy giggles and then squeezes her little man tightly. “But it’stotallyworth it.”
I smile at the two of them, my mind filling with the image of Ella and a baby wrapped in blankets. We’ve been notnottrying for almost a year now, and nothing has come of it. I’m still trying not to get my hopes up, and Ella and I have already decided that we’ll consult with a doctor next summer if we can’t get pregnant.
“Everyone.” A voice catches my attention, and I look up to see Ella standing at the front of the dining room. “I have one more announcement I need to make before we start dishing out the cake.”
I furrow my brow in confusion.
Did someone park in the grass again?
Do we really need to repeat that lecture to everyone?
“Oooh, I’m so excited.” Valerie squeals from behind me—and subsequently, Ella shoots her a warning glare.
Okay, this isweird.
“I need Kade and Colton to come up here.” Ella’s gaze finds mine, and she waves me over.
I keep a smile on my face, but now I’m really confused. “Okay, honey.”
“Right here,” she tells Colton and me, gesturing for us to stand directly to the side of her. She turns to face us. “I have something for the two of you. Kade will open the first envelope.” Ella fishes two out of her sweater pocket. “Colton, you will open the second. Deal?”
“Deal,” we both say in unison. I glance down at Colton, who looks equally as confused as me. He clearly is not in on whatever his mother has planned.
“So, I go first?” I say, taking the small envelope from her hand. It’s the size of a greeting card, though I don’t totally understand why she would be getting me a card since this day is about Colton.
But okay.
I carefully open it, realizing that it’s not a card at all. It’s a photo. I pull it out, my heart instantly jumping in my chest as I take in the sight of the tiny little bean on the ultrasound picture.
“Is this…” My voice trails off as the emotion building in my throat cuts off my ability to speak.
“Yes,” Ella says softly. She meets my gaze. “I wanted to make it so special for the two of you, so I decided to wait until the party.”
“Wait…” Colton’s voice drops. “Is that … is that ababy?”
“It is,” I choke out, handing the picture to Colton. I struggle to maintain my composure as the tears fill my eyes. I reach for Ella, pulling her to me. “We’re gonna have a baby.”
“We’re gonna have a baby!” Colton explodes with excitement, holding out the picture for everyone to see. The whole room bursts into applause, and Colton wraps his arms around Ella and me. “I’m finally getting a sibling! This is the best dayever.”
“We’re not quite done,” Ella says, her voice cracking with emotions. “There’s still one more envelope to open.”
“What’s in it?” I pull away slightly, but still keep my arm around Ella. “Another picture?”
“No,” Ella answers and then turns to Colton. “The gender of the baby is in the envelope, and since you’re the big brother, I think it’s fair that you get to know first.”
