Page 108 of Gideon's Gratitude

Charmaine hugged me and whispered, “Me, too,” into my ear.

Good Lord, that made three.

At the rate this family was expanding, the grandchildren would soon outnumber their parents.

The crew dumped their boots into the closet and hung up their coats.

Lewis grabbed Lansing’s hand and clearly followed his nose toward the kitchen.

Tally emerged from the powder room just in time to see her two wander off.

Chuck placed a protective arm around her shoulder.

“Sorry, Archer.” Her cheeks were high with color.

“All part of the package.” I eyed the rest of the family as Cherish and her brood piled in. The extra-long dining room table wouldn’t fit everyone.

Pia and Chad were the last to arrive. Chad’s grin was positively infectious as he wrapped me in a huge hug.

Some of my worry dissipated as my younger brother smiled.

“We have more news to share.”

Cherish perked up. “We having a gender-reveal party?”

Pia snorted. “Not hardly. No cannons or cakes.”

Chad placed a protective hand on her belly. “A girl. Everything looks healthy.”

“Fantastic.” I offered a prayer it continued to be so.

“Son, where are the canapés you promised?” Dad emerged from the kitchen, rubbing his belly. “After that long drive, I’m starving.”

“Yeah, me too.” Cherish’s eleven-year-old son Rogan’s contribution.

His sister Richelle looked distinctly disinterested. Eight, and she already had an attitude.

“There’s a second fridge in the wok kitchen.” I hung up the last coat. “Get Gideon to show you.”

“Your mother’s grilling him on his color preferences.”

I stilled. “Why?”

“She’s planning your wedding.”

Crap.

Should have seen that coming.

“Excuse me.” I pushed past Cherish’s wife Maris, who smacked my ass. As encouragement, no doubt. She’d always been in my corner.

I arrived in the kitchen to find all the kids at the table eating food meant for dinner, Cherry and Charmaine serving drinks, Chuck retrieving the trays of hors d’oeuvres from the extra fridge, and Gideon hunched over, facing my very determined mother.

In other words, the expected pandemonium.

Except instead of feeling irritated at my family, elation overwhelmed me. After seeing what Gideon was going through with his kids, I appreciated how lucky I was. And while I’d never had children of my own, I couldn’t help but see how blessed I was. Oh, having kids with Thea would’ve been a disaster, but now I could envision myself taking on a bigger role with the kids in my life.

Allthe kids in my life.

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