Page 76 of Christmas Crisis

“Duchess!” Caleb threw his arms around the German shepherd’s neck.

“We’re going to have to get a dog,” Brady murmured to Grace.

Twenty minutes later, the entire family was gathered together in the great room. Even the matriarch of the Callahan family, Maggie O’Hare and her new husband, Ian O’Hare, had come to the event. The four pregnant women, Kari Callahan, Joy Finnegan, Maddy Sinclair, and Kyleigh Finnegan were all seated on the sofa while everyone else stood.

The numerous kids were already becoming fast friends. Brady and Grace’s son Caleb, Aiden and Shelby’s daughter Eva, and their newest member of the family, Colleen, were the only kids on the Finnegan side. The Callahans were way ahead of them on that front. Miles and Paige had two kids, a daughter Abby and their son, Adam. Then there were Marc and Kari’s two kids, Max and Maggie, Dana and Mitch had Simon and Trina, Mike and Shayla had Brodie and Carly, Matthew and Lacy had their son Rory and a newborn baby named Olivia who was born last month just like Rhy’s daughter, Colleen. Lastly, Maddy and Noah Sinclair had a three-year-old son named Brian, and Maddy was expecting again. Between the adults, the kids, and Duchess, the house was packed.

“It’s chaos in here,” Joe whispered.

No joke. But she still loved it. The family members meshed as if they’d known each other their entire lives rather than reconnecting this past year.

“Excuse me, everyone, could I have your attention?” Elly shouted to be heard above the din. When the voices didn’t quiet, Joe let out a loud whistle. The group fell silent. She chuckled. “Thanks, Joe. Okay, I have an announcement to make about our family tree.”

“You do?” Maddy looked intrigued. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to wait until we were all together.” Elly lifted a small leather-bound notebook with yellowed pages from the coffee table. “I found Grandma Josephine’s diary in the attic. I know what happened between our grandmothers all those years ago.”

An expectant hush cloaked the room. Finally, Rhy said, “Don’t keep us in suspense, Elly. What does it say?”

“Grandma Josephine O’Brady, that was her maiden name, wrote about how she was sent away to help a family with three small children,” Elly began. “I guess this was a common practice back then. Older siblings were offered to other families to help during times of need. Sort of like free babysitting and housekeeping services. According to her diary, Grandma Josephine wasn’t happy about the decision but did her duty as requested.”

“Okay, but why did she break off communications with her own sister, our Grandma Margaret?” Maddy asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Grandma Josephine ran away from the family after the father of the children tried to force himself on her. He didn’t succeed,” she hastily added, “because she hit him with a cast-iron skillet, but she was too afraid to go back home, knowing her leaving so abruptly would bring shame to the family. And also, there was some resentment on her part because they sent her to stay with the family in the first place.”

“That poor woman,” Shayla murmured.

“Then what happened?” Mike asked.

“Grandma Josephine made her way to the city where she worked at a boarding house. And that’s where she met our grandfather, Michael Daley. They only had one daughter, our mother, Colleen who then married our dad.” She smiled. “Grandma Josephine had a good life despite never contacting her family again. Which is sad, I know.” She gazed around the room. “But look at us now. Here we are, three generations sitting in this room dating all the way back to our mutual great-grandparents, Thomas and Catherine O’Brady. I know our grandmothers Josephine and Margaret are in heaven looking down on us, thrilled to know we’ve been reunited.”

“That’s amazing,” Marc said. “I’m really glad you and Maddy did the DNA testing, Elly. Without you two starting this, we wouldn’t be gathered here today.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Elly grinned at her cousin Maddy. “And it’s obvious that being first responders is in our blood.”

“No lie,” Colin said. “It’s incredible how our similar our respective careers are too.” He frowned. “Except for you, Maddy. None of the Finnegans became a lawyer.”

“But I married one,” Kyleigh pointed out, smiling at her husband, Bax.

“Well, thank you, Elly, for bringing us together and for solving our family mystery,” Maggie O’Hare said. “I knew my mother had lost contact with her sister, Josephine, but even I didn’t know all of this. I’d like to review that diary in more detail if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Elly crossed over to hand the diary to the eldest member of the Callahan clan. “I’m so glad you and Ian could join us today.”

“Ah, there’s one more thing before we dig into the meal,” Joe said as he returned to stand beside her. “If I could have your attention for one brief minute?”

The group gazed at him expectantly. Elly caught a glint of satisfaction in Rhy’s eyes, seconds before Joe turned to her. Then he went down on one knee and held out an engagement ring. “Elly, I love you with all my heart. Will you please marry me?”

She gaped in shock. When had he planned this? Then she smiled and blinked back tears of happiness. “Yes, Joe. I can’t wait to marry you!” She let him slide the ring on her finger, then threw herself into his arms, ignoring the twinge of pain from her cracked ribs.

The entire family, including the youngest generation of kids who may or may not have understood exactly what they were excited about, burst into applause.

“Hey, you’re moving a little fast, Joe, don’t you think?” Colin asked with a frown. “You and Elly only began seeing each other over this past week. Who do you think you are, Speedy Gonzales from the old cartoon?”

“Gonzo!” Brady declared. “That’s Joe’s new nickname. Gonzo!”

“Gonzo, Gonzo, Gonzo,” Brodie and Caleb began chanting.

“I don’t get it,” Maddy said with a frown. “Why does he need a nickname? Do all the Finnegan spouses have nicknames?”

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