Page 56 of Crossing Lines

I let out a long breath of air and even though my hands were shaking, my heart was melting. He’d done this for us, for our growing family. I was completely blown away and possibly in a bit of shock. Flip a coin, either would work right now.

The giggles and loud whispers coming from my right had me turning slightly. The parade of littles made my heart melt even more. Some were carrying balloons, which were tied to their wrists from the looks of it.

Lana and Carter each carried a platter of drinks in their hands, moving slowly toward the table. Derek had a big wrapped box in his. My nephews, my devilish little hellions, ran to me, their hands gripping the handles of two small brown bags. The yellow tissue paper crinkled as they leaned into my legs.

My eyes closed as I sucked in a pained breath. Someone had just clobbered my leg, and I was afraid to move or open my mouth; I’d probably scream, and I really didn’t want to scare them. They didn’t need that. It wasn’t their fault that the inside of my calf decided to get infected. Nor was it their fault that the stitches had to be removed so it could finish healing from the inside out. It was almost there. But…man alive, the fires of hell were escaping through the poor battered leg right now.

I chanted ‘it’s not their fault’ in my head until I felt the coolness of their bodies being removed. A finger ran under my eyes, and I realized I was crying.

“Damn, Stel, I’m sorry. They didn’t mean to hurt your leg.”

I looked up and shook my head at Anna. “No, they’re fine. Come here, babies. Give Auntie a big hug.” Trace stood and helped each of them up onto my lap. I kissed their faces and took the bags they shoved at me.

Laughing, I wiped my face again.

“You alright, princess?”

My head fell back so I could see my daddy. My grin grew. “Yeah, Daddy, I’m okay, just…” My hand waved around us at nothing in particular. I wasn’t sure what I was. This was a lot to take in at once. “I’m overwhelmed.” I looked over at Trace and let my smile free then.

This house sat on a huge plot of land just up the road from my dad’s. He’d taken my feelings into consideration and surprised me with a house I’d love. I’d been here while this one was built and after. It was huge and absolutely gorgeous inside and out.

My heart couldn’t take this much happiness at once. I mouthed “I love you” and watched his grin brighten that handsome face.

“Steya!”

“Sewa!”

“Stella!”

The little voices had me rolling my head to the right. The entirety of the next generation stood there, beaming. They had their cute little dresses and jeans with dressy shirts on. Sunday best, looked like. My heart clenched. Happiness radiated through me again.

I felt like the Grinch when he got his heart back. Or it grew to normal size, whatever.

Don’t ruin the allusion for me.

“My sweet little munchkins.” I leaned to the side, allowing myself the tears I felt coming again. Each hug had me meltingmore and more. Kaitlyn, Tyler, and Ryan stood to the side, grinning and giggling. I shook my head.

They were too damn cute sometimes.

“We got you something,” Lana said, cutting her eyes to where Derek stood with a big wrapped box. “If you don’t like it, we can exchange it.”

“Or you can kick your brother, he was the one who insisted this was ‘the one,’” Derek stated, laughing as Carter, still recuperating himself, took a seat at the table.

“You know, when I can punch you without dying, you’ll regret being an asshole,” he grunted, pain radiating along his features.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure.” Derek chuckled.

Everyone laughed as more gifts were set on the long table.

“All right, you have a lot of things to open, woman. Let’s get to it.” Dani Lynn set a notebook down where Lana sat and another where Kris sat beside her.

“What are those?” I asked, pushing myself over to see them. They turned them over, and my eyes once again tried to leak. The book Lana held had a baby boy on the front. He was holding a rattle, his diaper hanging low. The book Kris had was adorned with a pair of wedding bells, ribbon, and said ‘Just Married’ in a gold filigree script.

“You guys are making her leak. It’s a little unnerving,” Peter announced. “Please stop it.”

I glared over at him. “I won’t be on crutches forever. You do realize that, right?”

He had enough sense to take a step back. “I’m not scared of you. You’re pregnant, and I can outrun you too, so…”

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