Page 106 of This Heart
Everyone cheered, including Winnie.
“In all seriousness, I’m so blessed to be able to call every one of you friend. This past year has brought sadness and loss, but also happiness and new beginnings.”
Liam and I exchanged smiles.
“To keep it short and sweet, thank you for being here, and may we each have a blessed and healthy new year!”
Glasses clinked amid the sounds of cheers.
Before Harper sat down, she added, “Oh, and I’m pregnant.”
Everyone paused.
“Wait, what?” I said as I looked around the table to make sure I wasn’t the only one who had heard her.
Blushing, Harper looked at Declan and they both smiled.
Everyone jumped up and started making their congratulations to Harper and Declan before Harper finally said, “Everyone, sit down! Our food is getting cold!”
After the last dish was dried and put away, I leaned against the counter, a dish towel tossed over my shoulder.
“Man, I love all the prep work and the eating, but the cleaning up is the worst part.”
This year, the unlucky ones who drew the short straws for kitchen cleanup were me, Harper, Mary, and Gavin. Mary and I had begged Harper to just sit and relax, but she had informed us that she was pregnant, not injured.
“I don’t know, I kind of like doing dishes,” Mary said as she handed Gavin the last of the pots to put up.
Gavin snatched it from her hand and said, “Freak!”
“At least you didn’t have to deal with the blowout from Lily,” I stated with raised brows.
His body shuddered, and Gavin said, “That was a blessing, indeed. That little girl can have some pretty powerful blowouts. I don’t know how something so small can expel such…vile shit.”
Laughter filled the kitchen.
“Sounds like you guys are having too much fun,” Declan said as he walked in and surveyed the sparkling clean kitchen. “Wow, I’ve got to say, you wouldn’t even know a Thanksgiving dinner had been made and served in this kitchen. Well done, troops!”
Harper laughed, then reached up and kissed her husband.”
As a former Marine, his assessment of our clean kitchen felt like a reward.
“It’s snowing!”
The sound of Winnie’s excited voice had us all piling out of the kitchen and into the living room.
“Oh my gosh,” Brystol said, tears in her eyes. “It’s Lily’s first snowfall!”
“We need pictures!” I shouted, reaching into my back pocket to pull out my phone.
“I don’t have her in a coat, Aurora!” Brystol cried out as I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door.
“Wrap her in the wool blanket! Just a couple with the snow falling around her. I swear, you will thank me later!”
Gavin wrapped Lily up snug as a bug in a red and white wool blanket, and we all rushed outside. I snapped photos of Brystol and Gavin with Lily, a few with just Brystol and Lily, and some with Gavin and Lily. When they headed back inside, I turned the video on and filmed Liam and Winnie running around Harper and Declan’s front yard, trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues.
“It’s freezing out here, you two! Get back into the house!”
About that time, Jake and Opal drove up the driveway and parked. When Winnie saw them get out of the car, she ran to them. Jake bent down and picked her up, hugging her.
