Page 16 of New Year's Day

Our son gives my hand a resounding kick. “I feel like Mary and Joseph right now, tucked away at the inn.”

“Seriously? You’re getting your holidays confused.” More laughter. “First of all, that’s Christmas. And second, I am definitely not a virgin.”

“You’ve got that right.” I kiss her, my lips lingering on hers, my hand still on her belly. I can’t get close to her like I want to, her belly is so big. “I love you, Daze.”

“I love you too.” Her lips linger on mine when she asks, “Did you text Whit and let him know we can’t make it?”

“I’ll do that right now.” I deliver another kiss. “We can make our own party tonight. Ring in the new year together. Just the three of us.”

“I like the way that sounds,” she admits. “The three of us. A family of three.”

“If I had my choice, we’ll eventually be a family of…six.”

Her eyes go wide. “You want four children?”

“Maybe more?” I shrug. “It’ll be fun.”

“Right, because you’re not the one giving birth to them.” She rests her hand on her belly once more and I settle my hand on top of hers. “Let’s see how it goes with the first one.”

I smile, my chest tight. God, I love this woman. “Sounds like a plan.”

EPILOGUE

WREN

New Year’sDay

“Well?”My husband wraps me up in his strong arms, pulling on me until I’m lying practically on top of him. It’s many hours past midnight and the house has long gone quiet. “Was it a good New Year’s Eve for you?”

I told him a long time ago that I never liked this holiday. That it always made me sad and I was never exactly sure why. Since that confession, my husband has made it his mission every year to make this day the best possible. Sometimes even better than my birthday, which is on Christmas.

And he always does it well. This year is no exception.

“Yes,” I murmur, tilting my head back in the hopes that he’ll kiss me.

He does, just like I knew he would.

“Even partying with the children?” he whispers against my lips.

“Oh, that was the best part.” I kiss him, my lips lingering. “We should do that every year. Forget inviting anyone else and keep it a family affair.”

“That sounds nice,” he says.

“I agree. I think the kids would like it too. They had so much fun. I loved seeing their faces light up with excitement when we told them they were invited to the party.”

“They’ve been watching us for years.”

“I wish Arch and Daisy could’ve made it,” I say after a few minutes of silence.

“I’m just glad they’re safe in a hotel,” Crew says. “She’s about to have that baby.”

“I know.” Another baby in the family. I love all the babies. The children. I love witnessing them grow and thrive and enjoy their time together. It’s so nice, to have a large, close family. I didn’t have that as a kid and I’m grateful we can give that to our children.

We lie there in each other’s arms for a moment, my eyes falling closed. It’s been a long day and I’m sleepy but apparently my husband isn’t.

“You know, we used to watch our parents here when I was a kid. Though we’d spy on them by hiding behind a door and peeking around the corner. They had the party in the ballroom,” Crew says.

“I’m sure it was beautiful.”

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