Page 54 of Remembering You
“The Tripps are a lot to take,” Ronnie said. Even though she must be exhausted, her voice still held energy, her eyes sparkling.
Marty squeezed Chris’s hand reassuringly. “I’ll admit,” Chris said, “I don’t have a large family. It was just my brother and myself for years and he and I… well, we don’t exactly talk much these days.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Lydia gave him an exaggerated whisper, before elbowing Cam in the ribs. “And if this one gives you trouble, just come talk to me.”
Cam’s gaze narrowed. “Unless he deserves the trouble.”
Chris held his hands up. “I’d have to be an idiot to cause trouble with a family this large.”
A small smile softened Cam’s face and he seemed to be pleased with the fact that Chris knew his place… so far.
“As long as you know that,” Steve chimed in, to which Yvonne rolled her eyes, catching Lydia’s gaze. As the two women married into the Tripp family, Marty had no doubt, they had some connection.
Marty cleared her throat and all eyes fell back onto her. “I just wanted to be the one to tell you all… since we know how fast word travels in Maple Grove.” It grew uncomfortably silent within the hospital room and Marty fidgeted, shuffling her feet. Being in Chris’s arms in front of all her children felt suddenly wrong. Maybe the only man she should ever connect to in front of them should be their dad? Could they ever accept another man entering her life?
“Turn the dang camera around!” Noah’s voice called from the phone. “Let me get a look at this guy.” Ronnie snorted a laugh and spun the screen of the phone toward Chris. Noah gave a low, long whistle. “Way to go, Mom.”
Chris barked a laugh and pressed his lips to her temple. “At least I got one seal of approval.” He turned to the camera and waved at Noah, before adding, “That’s quite a compliment coming from one of People Magazine’s top 100 Sexiest Men.”
Callie stepped forward and hugged Chris and I together. “Welcome to the circus, Doc. You’re going to love it.”
One by one, each of Marty’s kids stepped forward, surrounding her and Chris and enveloped them in a mass group hug… all except Ronnie who was still bed-bound. And Cam hung back, too, glancing between Marty and Chris.
Slowly, a grin spread across his face as he crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Marty. With a clap to Chris’s shoulder, Cam rested his cheek briefly to Marty’s head. “What took you so long?” he whispered, a raspy chuckle vibrating in her ear.
Marty blinked slowly, glancing up at Chris. “I think I was just waiting for the right person.”
