Page 121 of Devoted Enough

We had barely walked into the family room before people started coming up and congratulating us.

“Well, so much for counting on the kids to keep any secrets,” Haven said as she hugged my mother.

“Another grandbaby!” Mom said as she went from Haven to me. “How did this happen?”

“Your son never went back in to see if he was shooting blanks,” my father replied as he shook my hand, then pulled me to him for a hug and a slap on the back. “You and Lily will be having one together.”

“What?” Haven asked. “Lily is pregnant?”

Dad leaned in closer. “Don’t say anything, it’s a secret.”

Haven turned to me. “Must be the Shaw blood.”

“Must be,” I said, kissing her on the cheek.

As we walked into the crowded living room, I surveyed everyone. Grams was in the thick of it all, smiling as all her grandkids and great grandkids surrounded her. There was a bit of sadness in her eyes as she looked at some of her great grandchildren. Rose and Bryson’s daughter, Milly, who was the same age as Emma. Tyson, born a month before Milly, was holding a kitten in his arms as Grams asked him what her name was. Josh and Sophia’s daughter, Katelynn, sat on the floor with another kitten in her lap and giggled every time it tried to grab and bite her hand. Grams never did get a dog of her own, saying she simply needed to focus all her time on the kids.

Katelynn, Milly, Tyson, Emma, and Walker had never had the honor of meeting my grandfather, nor would our new baby, but I knew he was looking down on everyone with a smile. He was still so missed all these years later, and there was a constant hole that never seemed to fill. No matter how many new babies were born.

“Are you okay?” Haven asked, squeezing my hand lightly.

I nodded. “Yeah, I was just wishing Granddad was here to see everyone. He would have loved all of these grandkids.”

“He would have,” Haven agreed. “But he’s looking down on all of us.”

I smiled. “You said out loud what I was thinking only moments ago.”

Exhaling, I let my eyes take in the room. We may not get together as often as we used to, and family game night had slowly dwindled to monthly, then quarterly, until it was only done on Christmas, but when we all got together, it was a wonderful reminder of the love we shared for each other. These moments were devoted to family, and only family, and were some of my most treasured memories.

Aunt Lincoln stepped into the family room and got everyone’s attention. “If everyone would like to head on out back, we’ve got Rhett and Ryder’s cake and we’re ready to cut into it! Remember, there is a book for each of them to take if you want to write in it. It can be anything, congratulations, or maybe if you’d like to share some words of advice for them both as they head off to college this fall. I know they will treasure it.”

“Where did our kids go?” Haven asked as we held back and waited for everyone to leave the room and head outside.

“I saw them walking out with Katelynn and Sophia.”

Haven turned and looked at me, her beautiful smile on full display. “Do you know, almost eleven years ago you asked me to marry you, and I told you I was pregnant with Emma?”

I nodded. “Seems like it was just yesterday.”

“It does.”

“Are you happy, Haven?”

Taking my hand in hers, she replied, “I’ve never been so happy in my entire life.”

I pulled her to me, cupped her face in my hands, and kissed her. When I drew back, I met her gaze. “I have a surprise for you.”

She laughed. “Do you now?”

With a smile of my own, I nodded. “It was going to be an anniversary present.”

“Oh!” she said with wide eyes. “Diamonds?”

“No.”

“Pearls?”

“Nope.”

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