Page 127 of Sweet Madness

“So do we have a name for this beauty?” one of the nurses asks.

I look down at the baby, who looks like a perfect blend of Shaw and me, with soft blonde hair and the prettiest blue eyes.

She is perfect and already otherworldly beautiful.

“Halley,” I whisper lovingly, the biggest smile on my face. “Halley Everly Banning.”

Shaw’s smile matches mine as he looks down at his daughter and then at me. “Like Halley’s comet.”

I wink while patting Halley’s bottom lightly.

Then the nurses leave, and it’s just the three of us. Shaw holds my hand as we watch our baby together, with love in our hearts and boundless joy for this new chapter in our beautiful book.

The chapter where we’re no longer just two but a party of three with our little comet girl between us.

Space Note

“Most stars, except for Binary star systems, prefer to live in solitude. That won’t ever be me.”— S

Little Astronaut

ELLA

“There was only ever you. You’re the person I was waiting for.” — E

“Oh my God! She’s so cute.” My little sister Everly gasps the second she sees my baby girl, Holley, in her sparkly pink space suit.

I must say she’s the prettiest girl ever, and I’m not saying that because she’s mine but because it’s true. My daughter is all chubby cheeks and delicious rolls. She has hair the same shade of blonde as her father and blue eyes just like mine.

When she was born, I thought she looked more like me, but now that she’s a little older and growing into her future, all I see is her father.

Which I’m glad about.

“Stop hugging her, Mom.” Haven frowns while trying to snatch Holley from my mom, who has indeed been hugging my baby since arriving at the ranch.

I look around with a grateful smile on my face as I watch my entire family gather around to celebrate my daughter. They all travel to Montana to celebrate Holley’s big day.

She’s turning one today.

Her first journey around the sun, and in true Kenton fashion, we go all out.

It’s a sunny day with a blue sky and no gray clouds in sight. It’s perfect.

The entire ranch is decorated with a spectacular astronaut-themed party. We spare no effort in creating the most magical atmosphere, with pink, silver, and brown decorations accentuating the space theme.

A large banner proudly proclaims, “My First Trip Around The Sun,” with balloons of various shapes—stars, planets, and rockets.

My aunt Mila helps with the decorations and even hand-paints most of the party favors, while Mom goes all out and hires the entertainment.

There are clowns, magicians, various food vendors, face painting, and four bouncy houses.

My Aunt Kadra has the idea for a tea party for all the young kids in attendance.

The funny thing is that I’m the first to have a child, so there really aren’t any kids here.

Yet we throw this over-the-top birthday bash for a one-year-old who will likely not remember a single thing from today.

But we will.

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