Page 149 of Forever After All

Tall evergreens passed as he turned into the private drive leading to their house on the ranch. The cabin was nestled in a secluded meadow with a small creek running along the eastern side. A wall of tall windows covered the front, and a porch wrapped around one corner.

Some days, Ava woke up wondering how she’d gotten here. Other days, she couldn’t remember her life before she moved to Wolf Creek Ranch.

She looked down at Ron and gently lifted his hand with two of her fingers. She’d waited weeks to hold the fragile hand. Now, she couldn’t go a second without touching him.

They’d prayed for a baby, and those first prayers were calm and respectful. Then, as time drew on, the prayers became more urgent and fearful. The requests were so general.

Please, Lord. We just want a baby. Someone to love. Any baby will do. Girl or boy, we’ll love the baby with all our hearts.

When the good news came, nothing could have dampened that happiness. Not even the morning sickness that ruled her life for countless weeks.

And when she’d laid eyes on Ron for the first time, it was almost like meeting an old friend. The Lord had made the perfect little boy for her and Jameson. Ron was exactly as he was supposed to be. She couldn’t have imagined him any different.

Through the long nights of worry and uncertainty, she’d sat by his side, praying she could keep him.

In His time, the Lord had answered her prayers, and they were finally home. Though the weeks in the NICU would be a time in her life she’d never forget. Everything they’d gone through to get to this moment was worth it.

“We’re home,” she whispered to Ron, who slept softly in the bucket seat.

“Looks like Colt and Remi beat us here,” Jameson said.

Ava looked up to see Colt’s truck parked in the driveway. Ben and Abby waved their hands over their heads from the porch.

“They couldn’t wait to meet you,” Ava whispered.

Jameson parked the car, and the kids leapt from the porch.

Ben plastered his face and hands to the truck window and gasped. “He’s tiny!”

“Let me see!” Abby shouted behind him.

“Kids! Keep your voices down!” Colt demanded from the porch.

Jameson opened the door to the backseat, and Ben and Abby shoved back and forth trying to get a better view.

“Why’s he so little?” Ben asked.

Abby clutched her hands to her chest. “Can I play with him?”

“Let’s get inside first,” Jameson said, reaching around the kids to unlatch the baby carrier.

Ava stepped out of the truck and took the longest, deepest breath she’d had in months. They were finally home.

Colt and Remi waited on the porch with baby Landon. They’d only been released from the hospital two days ago, and Ava hadn’t gotten the chance to meet the newest bundle of joy at the ranch.

Remi held the baby in one arm and opened the other for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

Ava sank into the embrace. “Me too. I’m glad you’re home too.” She smiled down at sleeping Landon. “Hello, little love.”

Remi stretched her back. “We’ve already started calling him LJ. I guess we’re destined to have shortened names in this family.”

“LJ sounds cute for Landon Joshua,” Ava said. “I like it.”

Remi looked down at little LJ with a smile. “Maternity won’t be so lonely now that we get to do it together.”

Jameson stepped onto the porch with Ron in the carrier. Ben and Abby trailed right behind him. “I think the babies have a fan club.”

Ava bit her lips between her teeth. These kids were loved more than they could imagine, and they’d get to grow up together. Being an only child hadn’t been terrible, but she wouldn’t trade this life for the world.

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