Page 10 of Faith Notes
She’s not the only one afraid she wouldn’t make it here—to a place of peace. I was in that place not long ago, too, but now I’m in a place of happiness.
A smile creeps up on my face to match hers. “We’ve made it through the bad, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. We did.”
A heard of feet head our way, running through my house like a stampede, and when Brooks and Grayson race into the kitchen with Avery on their heel, Emryn and I turn to look at them, staring them down until their feet slow. Their heads hang as they stare guiltily at their feet, but I see the sneaky smiles on their faces. They feel no remorse.
“Hello?” A voice calls from the foyer, and then more footsteps are heading our way.
Kip, Grayson and Brooks’s father, my mom and dad, Ellie, and Harper all enter the kitchen at the same time. And I think my heart might burst with the amount of love I have for the people in this room.
An array of voices erupt into the space, greeting the others with laughter and warmth, and I sit on my stool, watching it all.
Instinctively, I place my hand over my stomach, happy to watch the people I love.
Grayson meets my gaze and sends me a wink, walking over to where I’m standing. When he’s beside me, he leans down, kissing my temple. His lips brush my skin, and I close my eyes, leaning into him.
“I’m sorry I’ve been grumpy,” I whisper so only he can hear me.
“I’m sorry I pointed it out.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Peach. How about we tell our family?”
Tilting my head up, I meet his lips and kiss him. “Let’s do it, Gray.”
Chapter 4
Grayson
12 Weeks
“Avery, come here.”
From her place on her stool, Georgia gives me a strange look, but if we are ever going to share our news, I need this pack of fools to be quiet.
And the only person they will ever stop talking for is this cute little five year old standing beside me.
Bending down, I whisper in her ear, and when I pull back, she’s smiling at me like I just gave her permission to raid the candy drawer I started keeping for her when she comes over.
“Are you ready?” I ask, placing my hand out for hers.
She slaps hers into mine, a sneaky grin slipping onto her lips. “I was born ready, Uncle Grayson.”
With a smile, I lift her up to stand on the bar stool. “Do your thing, kid.”
She smiles sweetly at me, and then it turns a little scary, and I fear I messed up.
“HEYYYYY,” she yells, “Uncle Grayson’s got something to say.”
All the talking comes to a screeching halt as eyes swivel our way, and Brooks narrows in on his daughter standing beside me.
Before he can start fussing, I pull Georgia up to stand beside me and take the spotlight off Avery.
Georgia’s arms wrap around my waist, squeezing me tight. My hand instinctively falls over her belly, and my chest squeezes, happiness seeping in.
“Georgia and I would like to say that we are so happy to have you guys here today. There was a time when—” I pause, clearing my throat, “when I didn’t know what it was like to have a family. And now, I can’t imagine what it would be like to live without any of you. There isn’t one of you here today that I don’t consider family.” My eyes fall on each person around the room, meeting Brooks and Emryn’s, then my dad’s, glistening with tears. I meet the happy stares of Georgia’s parents and then finally land on Ellie and Harper. This speech is as much for them as it is for anyone. Ellie has always been like a second mom to me, but my relationship with Harper has always been tumultuous. Since marrying Georgia, though, I’ve come to understand her more. We still might drive each other crazy, but she’s my best friend’s little sister—and she will always be family. “And because we consider you all family, we wanted you guys to be the first to know. We are having a baby.”
