Page 14 of A Very Montgomery Christmas

Since Aaron was close friends with Meredith, and Zia was practically a Montgomery, it would only make sense that that was the way they would go. They had already talked about it with he and Madison as a possibility, and soon there’d be more to our family.

And I couldn’t help but cry at the love, the aching aspects of it surrounding us.

My mom let out a gasp, and Lake started clapping. “Oh, it’s so pretty, thank you,” Lake said, and I tried to move to look at it.

“Keep sitting, Bristol, before you topple over.”

I blushed under my mom’s happy chiding, and she turned the picture frame at us.

It was all of us, the Montgomerys, by birth, by happenstance, and by family.

Somehow the photographer, and I had a feeling it was Kincaid, had taken a photo of us all smiling or laughing and looking at one another or at the camera itself, but it was completely candid. Everybody looked wonderful, happy, and we’re standing in front of Liam’s cabin, the one we went to as a family as often as we could, with the mountains and blue sky behind us, and love on all of our faces.

“Kincaid took this photo while he was there, and I asked him if I could find the perfect frames for everybody and give it to you. I realize that technically it should be a gift from Kincaid, so think about it as from all of us.” Madison began, leaning against Aaron.

Kincaid blushed and ducked a little bit behind his husband and wife. “It was no worries. I just happened to find a good photo, and Madison knew what she wanted to do with it.”

“Each of you guys will have one for your homes. You can hide it and only bring it out when we’re over, but it seems that we’re going to need lots of babysitters,” she said, patting her still flat stomach. “Meaning I expect you guys to have it out all the time.”

I laughed as Marcus took out our picture and unwrapped it so I could look at it closer. I couldn’t help but cry, looking at everybody. At our family. The one we’d made, loved, and cherished.

“This is perfect. There’s so many of us.”

“And only a snapshot in time,” Marcus began, squeezing my hand. “That’s not even all of our family, but so many.”

“I don’t know how I got so blessed,” I whispered. “But I’m so happy.”

We had been through so much heartache, pain, attacks. And somehow we had found our family, and it kept growing.

My father brought in a cheese board, and Julia followed him, another cheese board in her hand.

People started making up their little plates, snacking on the eight different kinds of cheeses they had in front of them. My mouth watered, but since most of it was soft cheese, I couldn’t partake.

A Montgomery without cheese for an entire pregnancy was not a happy, bubbly Montgomery.

I needed to have that crocheted somewhere. We could hand out the pillow to every pregnant family member.

I looked down at Marcus, and he rubbed my knee.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m honestly happy. This is the best Christmas ever. I wish we’d be able to share it with our little one.”

Marcus kissed my knee. “We will. Maybe next Christmas will be their first Christmas. They’ll come out when they’re in the mood.”

“It’s a Montgomery and Stearn. They’re going to take their sweet time no matter what.”

Marcus shrugged. “I took my time finding you. They should take as much as they want.”

“Look at you being so romantic.”

I nearly leaned down to kiss him, but I knew the angle wouldn’t work. Although at that exact moment, the baby decided to twist, and I groaned, clutching my stomach.

Marcus’s eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m pretty sure Mom’s going to need a new couch,” I said, and everybody shot up from where they were sitting, and I looked down to where my water had broken.

“Well, it looks like a Christmas baby it is.”

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