Page 95 of Taming Georgia

“You know, my offer still stands,” I tell her. “It would be an honor to be a surrogate for you. I’m serious. I’d love to help you, if I can.”

She leans her head to the side and rests it on my shoulder. “I know,” she says softly. “And I love you for it. We’ll decide what’s next after this last round. Who knows? Maybe the fourth time will work?” She raises her head and pulls in a steady breath. “So, you’re really not finding out with this one?” she asks, changing the subject.

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Our last is going to be a surprise. We have our girl and our boy. This baby is our bonus baby, and we don’t care what it is. We just want Happy to be healthy.”

“I get that you’ll be pleased either way regardless if it’s a boy or a girl, but how can you wait nine whole months to find out? That would drive me crazy.”

I chuckle. “It’s kind of fun, reading the old wives’ tales, trying to guess if it’s a boy or girl based on the heartbeat or position. It’s great.”

“If you say so.” She raises her eyebrows. “If I get pregnant someday, I’m finding out.”

“When you do, you should do one of those gender reveal parties. I’ll throw it for you. It will be awesome.” I grab her hand that rests between us and squeeze it, letting her know how much I want her dreams to come true.

“Will Lucy’s parents cater?” She puckers out her lips in question.

“Of course, the Rubio-Reyes are the official caterers of the Gates’ household.” I let out a chuckle.

“Thank God Wyatt hired someone who married someone whose parents own a Mexican restaurant,” she says dramatically.

“Right? How lucky did I get? Us Wright girls need tacos.”

“Agreed.” London nods her head.

“I’m so glad you moved back to Michigan,” I say to London as I wrap my arms around her.

There’s nothing better than living by my sister and raising our kids together. Asher and Lindi are best friends. I know, in a year or so, Ray-Ray is going to join them once she gains a little more language.

“Yeah, me, too. It just seemed right. Ann Arbor has a great VA Hospital where Loïc can work with veterans, and I can write from anywhere. We’ve never really had a home base with Mom and Dad constantly moving. I’m so glad the two of us are now settled and can raise our families together.”

“Me, too,” I agree. “Maybe, someday, Mom and Dad will move here for good once Dad retires.”

“Maybe,” London says thoughtfully.

“Can you even believe our lives?” I ask, my voice thick with emotion.

London shakes her head. “No, we’re so lucky. It’s pretty amazing.”

“It is.”

Ethel walks over to us. “Everything’s ready, babe.”

“Thanks, Nana,” I tell her, now calling her what my kids do.

I’ll never get to know Wyatt’s birth mother, but his surrogate one is the best that there is. We’re so fortunate to have her.

Ray-Ray runs to me, and the little Minnie Mouse ears with a bow that I pinned to her fine blonde hair has slipped down and is now hanging by her ear. I snatch her up in my arms and spin her. Her giggles are infectious.

I unclip the Minnie ears. “Your hair’s not quite ready for bows yet, I’m afraid. Soon, you’ll have thick hair like Mommy, just not yet.”

Ray’s little pudgy hands slap against her hair as she attempts to repeat the wordhair.

I nod. “Yep, soon, you’ll have long hair, birthday girl. How old are you today?”

She raises her whole hand and smiles wide, proud of herself. We’ve been working with her all week, teaching her to show one finger, but she’s set on raising her whole hand, and that’s fine, too.

“Are you one hand old?” I ask in a silly voice and nibble at her cheek, eliciting another round of giggles.

Wyatt steps beside us with Asher in tow. “Are we ready to eat? Do the birthday babies want some tacos?”

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