Page 121 of By the Letter

“They’re going to be all over us when Ruby’s here.”

Shira laughed, her hand moving to rest on her belly. “I can’t believe how mystified all four of you are that there’s going to be a girl Wells.”

“What can I tell you? We were convinced we only produce boys. I don’t know what to do with a little girl.”

I hadn’t believed the blood test telling us Shira was carrying a girl. Then, weeks later, I’d asked the ultrasound tech to triple-check. When she showed us the girl parts, I finally accepted.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want a little girl; it had just taken some time to wrap my head around it since I’d been expecting a brood of boys. Now, I couldn’t wait to see what being a girl dad was all about.

Since Shira said we had a theme, we’d chosen the name Ruby, after the New Zealand rugby player Ruby Tui. Whether my girl liked rugby or not, it was a pretty name from a strong namesake.

“I have a feeling you’ll do much the same as you do with a little boy—chase her around the yard, make her laugh, listen to everything she has to say.” Shira’s fingers squeezed mine. “You can do it.”

“You’re with me, I can do anything.”

I believed that deep down in my gut. We made each other better, stronger, and we damn sure made each other happier. So long as we stuck, we’d have all we needed.

We already had so much. One wild little boy. Soon, a little girl. Close bonds with my brothers. Strong ties to our friends, who were essentially family now. Countless memories and healing wounds we’d previously given up trying to fix. We’d built a life together with intention, the kind made brick by brick to withstand any storm that came our way.

We had given each other more than we’d ever hoped for.

All because a lost boy had written a letter, and a girl with a heart a hard life couldn’t break had taken the time to write himback. She’d told me way back then I’d have a beautiful life—and she couldn’t have been more right.

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