Page 22 of Chased By the Mountain Man

“What are you all doing here?” I ask, looking around at them bewilderedly.

“Good question!” Grandma says, raising an eyebrow. “We thought you’d know. Jasmine is being very secretive.”

My wife giggles from beside me. “Well, I asked you all here today because I went for a scan last week.”

I gawk at her. “You did?”

She nods, beaming. “I wanted to surprise you.”

My heart thumps with excitement. “What did they say?”

“Well that’s obviously what she’s about to tell us all!” Grandma exclaims, tutting at me. “Honestly, Trent, let the woman speak.”

I hold back a laugh, catching my brother’s eye. Grandma can be a real livewire when she wants to be.

“I figured it would be fun to tell you my news in cake form,” Jasmine says, chuckling.

“Cake is the only correct way to present news,” Sophie chimes in.

Bobby gurgles, almost like he’s agreeing, and we all laugh.

“It’s in the kitchen,” Jasmine says. “I’ll grab it now.”

“I’ll get it, princess. I don’t want you carrying anything.”

I plant a kiss on her forehead and head inside to the kitchen, immediately spotting an open box containing a giant layered cake covered in white frosting. I grab it, along with a knife, and carry it outside, setting it down on the outdoor table.

Anticipation is thrumming through my veins. I’m not sure exactly what Jasmine has planned, but I can’t wait to hear it.

“I got this specially made from Heavenly Cakes in Winterdale,” my wife says brightly, looking at me. “When we cut into the cake, the sponge will be either blue or pink…”

I grin at her. She knows I don’t care what gender our baby is—all I want is for our child to be happy and healthy. But when I picture our baby, it’s always a little girl I see. Smart and strong like her mom; another bright ray of sunshine in my life.

“Ahh, this is so exciting!” Sophie squeals as Jasmine beckons me to the cake.

We hold the knife together, just like we did at our wedding.

“In my day, you popped the baby out and got what you were given,” Grandma mutters loudly to Rafe. “But this is much more fun.”

With our loved ones crowding around us, we cut into the cake, and a shout of glee goes up at the sight of the bright pink sponge.

“A girl!” Sophie cries, throwing her arms around Rafe. “A girl!”

I let out a whoop of delight, laughing as I hug my wife.

A baby girl.

A tiny queen to love and raise.

“Finally!” Grandma cries. “It’s about time we had some more girls in the family. Oh, I’m so delighted for you both.”

She bursts into tears, throwing her arms around me and Jasmine while Rafe and Sophie grin at each other. Even Bobby is celebrating, giggling loudly as he looks around at us all.

“That’s not everything!” Jasmine calls over the laughter and squeals. “There’s more…”

We all quiet down and stare at her. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.

“Notice anything about this cake?” Jasmine asks me. Her eyes are sparkling.

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