Page 88 of Found By You

Butch grins wide, sitting next to Maci on the couch and popping the bottle in Gage’s mouth. Cassidy perches on the arm of the couch beside him.

My mother comes into the living room, beaming as she snaps even more pictures. “We’re going to do presents in a few minutes. Parker’s just finishing up his gingerbread house,” she tells us.

“Well, what’s the verdict?” my father asks. “You kids having more grandbabies for us or what?” He chuckles.

“Hell yeah,” Butch says, looking at his wife. “We’re starting a football team.”

Cassidy laughs. “Probably after the wedding. We’ll wait a little bit, then start trying for another.”

My mother nods eagerly before turning her attention to Maci and me. I look at my wife with a raised brow. We haven’t talked about it, truthfully. She knows I’ll give her anything she wants. And if that means Olivia is an only child, then so be it.

Maci smiles coyly, her eyes on me as she says, “Dr. Sanderson recommends waiting a full year. So, I’m thinking…after Olivia’s first birthday, we’ll start trying.”

I didn’t think my heart could be fuller, but hearing that… Well, I was wrong.

I kiss my wife. “I love you.”

My mother’s phone rings, and she quickly excuses herself. Rhett, Levi, Lily, Parker, and Uncle Jim gather in the living room to watch the babies and Parker open presents.

“Well, get to it.” Uncle Jim coughs. “Let’s see the little tank and angel tear open their first presents.”

“We’re just waiting on Mom,” Lily says, glancing to the kitchen where Ma disappeared several minutes ago. “I don’t know what’s taking her so long.”

“I got twenty that says Olivia gets her gift open first,” Levi exclaims, slapping a twenty-dollar bill on the coffee table.

Rhett scoffs, pulling out his wallet. “You’re on, bro. Have you seen Gage? The kid is going to rip his open in one fuckin’ tear.”

“Language!” Maci and Cassidy balk, earning a hearty laugh around the room.

My father grunts, tossing a twenty down as well. “I’ve got money on my little Livy.”

Levi claps. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Anyone else?”

Uncle Jim thumbs through a wad of cash. “Gage.”

Cassidy shakes her head. “I don’t know… Gage has the strength, but Olivia is fast. She booty scoots quicker than Gage can throw toys.”

Levi rubs his hands together. “Then this’ll be a damn good wager.”

Maci props Olivia up on her knee to burp her. “You guys can’t bet on the babies like that.”

“Shhh,” I whisper. “Bean’s got this. I’ve been training her on the sidelines.”

Maci laughs.

I’ve never been happier than this moment. Who am I kidding? I’ve been saying that every day since I met her.

My mother slowly steps into the living room, her phone clutched to her chest with tears in her eyes. My father sits up straighter. “What is it, Julie?”

“It’s…Beau,” she says. “He’s coming home.”

“About damn time,” Uncle Jim says with a raise of his beer.

Mom starts to cry, and I share a concerned look with my siblings scattered around the room as my father stands to go to her. “H-He’s been shot,” my mother cries. “My baby’s been shot.”

The End.

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