Page 97 of Devoted

“Towards the end. I figured I could push Devon in the stroller if he passes out later.”

“Good thinking.”

“Okay, I’ll see you over at the stage.”

He kisses my head before turning to chase after our son who’s running back towards the ducks.

“How is it that you live two houses down and I feel like I hardly see you anymore?” Piper comes up to me now under the easy-up where our team has set up camp.

“Because we’re both working mom’s with kids that take up every spare moment of the day.”

“Touché. How’s she doing? Sleeping through the night yet?” Piper rubs her hand over April’s head and bends down to stare at her face, showing off that appreciative smile only a woman can when she stares at a sleeping baby.

“We’re down to usually only one or two wake-ups, so I hope some solid sleep is on the horizon.”

“Well, Chance is finally down to one time a night, and he’s one and a half,” she counters, referencing her son with Cash. They struggled to conceive for years because of her infertility issues, but last February she gave birth to a beautiful little boy. He is such a perfect blend of his parents too that it makes me laugh. I’m sure that kid will keep them both on their toes.

“Devon does pretty good, but he’s almost two. We’ll see. I’m not rushing it. Just trying to soak up every moment, grateful I even have them.”

Piper grins as her eyes tear up. “I understand that feeling one-hundred percent, girl.”

“Where’s Cash?”

She rolls her eyes and then glances at me knowingly. “Where else do you think my husband is? He’s with all the kids and babies. You know that man can’t stay away from the smell of baby powder for too long.”

My chest bounces up and down from my laughter as the baby moves with it.

“Please tell me one of you has some crackers I can munch on?” Rachel appears under the shade, looking a lovely shade of pale green.

“Morning sickness still bothering you?” I ask, reaching down into the diaper bag and fetching a bag of goldfish crackers. “Sorry, this is all I have, besides formula.”

Rachel snatches the package from my hand and tears it open. “I don’t care. Thank you. Why do they call it morning sickness when it’s really all-day-long sickness?” She whines, inhaling the cheddar crackers. “I’m out of my first trimester, shouldn’t I be done?”

“Unfortunately, not all women get that lucky.”

“This little girl better be really stinking cute,” she declares, looking down at her belly and rubbing along her bump with her free hand.

“Oh, I’m sure she will be because Cassie is. Believe me, Rachel. It’s worth it.” I stare down at my baby girl again and breathe her in once more, soaking up every moment I can while remembering how sick I was with her too. But women are crazy enough to do it more than once because the end result is incredible.

“This is all Luke’s fault. I pop out one kid, and five months later, I’m pregnant again. Cassie’s pregnancy wasn’t this bad.” Crumbs fly out of her mouth as she lets out her frustration, and Piper and I can’t help but be amused by her antics right now.

“Hey, you guys ready for the opening speeches?” Olivia comes up to us holding her daughter Evelyn’s hand as she munches on a giant bundle of pink cotton candy and her son Tucker on her hip, who’s devouring an ice cream cone covered in sprinkles.

“Yes. Let me just give April to Brooks really quick.” I head over in that direction and shuffle the sleeping baby between us before everyone gathers around the stage.

“Welcome everyone to the fourth semi-annual Cancer Walk put on by The Harris-Bennet Foundation and Pearson Advertising!” Clara shouts into the microphone as the crowd cheers. “As is customary, Jessalyn Harris and Vivian Bennet would like to say a few words before the event gets under way. Ladies…” She gestures to us with the microphone as I move to intercept it. Vivian, Brooks’ mom, stands right beside me as we say a few words to kick off the walk.

“Thank you everyone for being here today, for showing up season after season to support a cause that is near and dear to us both. Both Vivian and I are breast cancer survivors…” The crowd cuts me off in a deafening applause that makes me tear up. I reach for Vivian’s hand as we wait for the noise to die down, squeezing her palm in reassurance.

One look across the crowd and I find my husband staring up at us with so much admiration, he has tears in his eyes as well. He’s squeezing Devon’s hand while holding April to his chest, and my heart just swells with love for my little family.

A family that could have been stripped away from me had I not found that lump when I did.

“Thank you.” I turn back to look at Vivian before continuing. “We have both survived and continue to fight for the lives of others battling this disease. But it’s not just breast cancer that strips loved ones from us, it’s all cancer. So each year, we donate as much funding as we can from these events to all cancer research hoping for a cure. This would not be possible without all of your unwavering and continued support. So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate it and so do the people who have lost and won the fight. Thank you.”

The cheers ring out again as Vivian and I make our way back to our booth and under the easy up, changing into our shirts. Survivor and In Memory of April Harris are written in bright pink across the chest and back, displayed for everyone to see why we walk, why we’re still here and living our lives.

“Jess, come here. You and Vivian.” Piper waves me over to a circle where Rachel, Olivia, Clara, Perry, Amy, Mariah, Olivia’s mom, Penny, Birdie, Alice, and a few of the nurses from the hospital are all gathered.

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