Page 16 of A Very Montgomery Christmas

“That is the best part of being a grandparent,” Marcus’s mother said as she walked forward. I hugged her tight, and her husband gave a small wave. “Seriously though, you guys are going to catch up with us in terms of numbers of grandkids soon if you’re not careful.”

“You guys had a head start with your three girls,” I said with a laugh.

“It’s true. But I know Marcus and Bristol are going to want more than one, probably to catch up with the rest of Marcus’s siblings because you know how competitive they are.”

I snorted. “We’re going to end up with like eighty grandkids each, and that might be almost too much for me,” I said.

“Maybe,” Marcus’s mom said with a smile.

“His sisters and husbands wanted to be here, and I have a feeling they will be here soon, just taking turns of who’s watching the kids.”

“That’s what we’re doing here. Eventually, we’re going to overfill this waiting room.”

“That’s because this one is smaller than the one we usually end up in,” Aaron said, leaning against the wall behind Marcus’s family.

I looked over at him and down at the sleeping Madison in the chair next to him. She had her head resting on her thigh, looking sweet, and finally with a little more glow to her. She had been looking so ill before, I had worried for her. I would be a little grumpy that they hadn’t told me she was sick, but I understood. They wanted time with the pregnancy news for themselves, but now they were going to have many eagle eyes watching her, making sure that she took care of herself.

“I could do well with never seeing the emergency room waiting room or the surgical area waiting room ever again,” I growled. “But it’s too much for our family.”

“I agree,” Marcus’s mother said, her voice stern. “I know you always joke about the Montgomery wing of the hospital, but it was getting a little ridiculous.”

I visibly shuddered and leaned into my husband as he held me close. “I’m just sorry that we had to deal with it at all, but it’s ok now that they’re all safe. I’m going to knock on wood as I say that.”

I laughed, and I looked around at my family. Kincaid, Ronin, and Julia had gone home, and we had promised to update them. They had stayed at the house to clean up and put all of the Christmas dinner fixings in the fridge. I was forever grateful that I could trust them to do that and had left them a key saying that they could keep it because they were family.

They had all blushed, sputtered, but I had left, with the feeling I had gained new children. I knew that Ronin had parents that they spent time with, but the other two could use more parental figures in their life. And my heart was big enough for all of them.

Meredith was on the other side of Madison, looking down at her phone, and I knew she was stressed out as well. I knew from what I could gather, either she or Zia might be next after Madison if all things turn out well, and so we would be waiting again for the next family member, even if she wasn’t my blood.

Zia herself was in the room with Marcus and Bristol.

I loved Zia, and while I would have loved her to be my daughter in truth, having married Bristol, that meant I wouldn’t have Marcus as a son-in-law. But now Bristol and Zia were best friends, and Zia was in the room with them, helping as Bristol’s coach.

Zia and Marcus had become best friends as well, both ganging up to make sure Bristol took care of herself. And I loved to see it.

We were a loud bunch and all a little hungry, though we had all snacked a bit. This wasn’t the Christmas that I had planned, nor was it one anyone had imagined, but this was what we were used to. In all honesty. A big family, someone changing the curve, and us being together. We would be able to eat more than cheese and crackers later, though I knew my children would be fine with just that. Their love of cheese knew no bounds, and they would all be surprised when they opened up their identical Montgomery family charcuterie boards that I had had hand-carved and branded with the Montgomery logo.

They would open it later, once we welcomed the new Montgomery into the fold.

“How much longer?” Aaron asked, and Madison woke up and scowled at her husband. “I hope you don’t do this when I’m in labor. Constantly asking, are we there yet?”

“He was like that as a child and hasn’t stopped,” I joked, and Aaron blushed while everyone began to laugh. On the end of that laughter, the doors opened, and Marcus walked in, a grin on his handsome face.

“We have a girl, seven pounds, eight ounces, and perfect,” Marcus said.

“What’s her name?” Meredith asked, leaning forward.

“Bristol wants to tell you each personally,” he said, shaking his head. “I think she’s excited, and hell, so am I. I have a daughter,” he whispered, and I started crying, leaning into my husband.

“Are we allowed to see her?”

“Yes, they’re just getting everybody cleaned up and ready, and even though it’s late, because it’s Christmas, they’re going to make an exception for us. Only two of you at a time, and I’ll be in there with her.” He turned to Meredith. “Zia is on her way out, and she promised not to spoil anything,” he growled. “So, don’t try to get the name out of her.”

“Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Ethan laughed.

“Because I know you.”

“Why don’t you two go first,” I said, looking at Marcus’s parents. “The Montgomerys will bring up the rear. There’s a lot of us.”

---