Page 143 of The Way We Score

“She sneezed, Daddy!” Kimmie runs over to where Jack’s standing. “Did you see her sneeze? Wasn’t it funny?”

“It was.” He chuckles, glancing at me. “Pretty sure it’s the first time she’s been around a newborn.”

“It’s been a while for all of us.” Allie walks over to pat the baby.

“You set the bar pretty high.” Zane’s low voice is at my side, and I hold up my hand for a fist-bump.

“I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t do.”

Rachel is on Dylan’s other side, sliding her hand in small circles over Gigi’s back. “She’s just perfect, Liv.”

“Can I hold her now, Aunt Deedee?” Kimmie scoots closer to her aunt.

“Let’s sit on the couch, so I can help you.”

The two of them go to the couch, and Dylan helps my niece hold the baby in her lap. She puts a pillow under her little arm to lift Baby G’s head, and Rachel sits on the other side of her.

“Good work, bro.” Logan grips my shoulder. “I knew you could do it.”

“Hell, I didn’t do anything.” I exhale a laugh.

“It’s not true. He did a lot.” Liv argues, lifting her chin and kissing the side of my jaw.

Pride tightens my chest, and I lean down to kiss her lips briefly, holding her pretty hazel eyes and feeling like the king of the world.

Eventually, it’s time to feed her. Gigi gets fussy, and Jack scoops up his obsessed little girl.

“You need to marry Miss Allie, Daddy, so we can get a baby, too!” Kimmie announces, and Allie nearly does a spit-take in the kitchen.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Dylan calls from where she’s standing beside her, adding fuel to the fire.

“Night, everybody,” is all Jack says as he carries his waving daughter out the front door.

“Do I get a vote?” Allie teases when he’s gone, and Dylan points at her.

“I already know your vote.”

She wraps her fist around my sister’s finger, and pulls her in. “I’ve got to get home, troublemaker. School starts early.”

“I can’t wait for her to be big enough to stay with Granny.” Ms. Plum stops to give her daughter a hug. “You’re so strong and brilliant, Liv. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Liv kisses her mom, giving her a squeeze before starting for the stairs. “Night, everybody. I’ve got to feed the baby bear and put her to bed.”

We all say goodnight, and soon the house is quiet. Logan and Dylan retire to their room, and I climb the stairs to the second floor.

We’re snuggledin my bed together with Gigi right beside us in a bassinet, and I scroll through pictures of the house I’m planning to buy for our family. It’s a sweet little cottage not too far from Ms. Plum’s, but closer to downtown. It has three bedrooms in case we decide to do this again, but I know the rule, no pressure.

Liv is asleep at my side, and I look at our sleeping little baby. I’m not ready to sleep yet. I think about our sappy songs, and how I don’t want to miss a thing. I trace my finger lightly along the side of Liv’s hair, and I’ve almost forgotten the time when I was alone, unhappy, missing her. Even more of a distant memory are those days when I thought I’d never get her back, when I thought I’d never again feel the way I felt when I was with Liv.

By some miracle, it happened. My beautiful wife, our beautiful baby girl.

I miss my parents at times like these. They really liked Liv and me together, and I know they would love her even more now.

They gave us the best gift in each other. We’ll never be alone as long as we have our family, and with each new member, this tree, made strong by our love, continues to grow.

EPILOGUE

Garrett

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