Nova (52 page)

“Sarah licks them.”

“She licks the bubbles?” Austin chuckled. He walked toward Nova, who had just picked up their one-year-old daughter from the blanket. “My beautiful girls,” he sighed, pulling them into his arms.

“You’re a day early,” Nova said as Ben turned out of the driveway. She pressed her face against his neck and couldn’t help the tear that slid down her cheek
. With Sarah in one arm and Austin in the other,
they
were
full of precious cargo and couldn’t wipe it away.

“I couldn’t
wait
another second,” he replied.

“We were about to walk down the road for dinner with your parents.”

“Daddy, come with us!”
Ethan
cheered.

With a smile Austin put him down and replied, “Well heck yeah. Let’s go see Grandma and Grandpa.”

He took Sarah and kissed her face. His little girl giggled slob
ber down her chin and hugged his neck
tight.
Ethan
bounded ahead because he saw Chap, so Austin put his other arm around Nova and finally kissed her hello.

She slid her arm around his waist and they began to walk.

“Man this is so much better than racing,” Austin said.

Nova smiled and playfully swatted him on the chest. “You mean I had to share you all that time for nothing?”

“Oh, no,” he shook his head. “What an amazing experience it was to have both. And it was incredible only because you guys were there for so much of it.
But this…
T
his is paradise.”

Nova had to agree. “Well, Mr. Champion
.
I’m happy you’re home.”

There was so much to look forward to. The holidays again, which were getting better every year. The entire Gaines family was growing and it was only going to get bigger. Ben and Sami had a daughter the same age as Sarah, and after two years of marriage, they were about to build a house on a few acres to the south. Austin’s brother had a little boy with his girlfriend, and Jeff and
Mischa
were getting married in the spring.

Family was a beautiful thing.

“Let’s grab Gramps on our way,” Austin
stated
as
they
were about to pass the guesthouse.

It was second nature to include Nova’s grandfather, who had been living at Harmony Acres for the past eighteen months. He absolutely loved it there, and because Scott and Meryl also visited often, he had the best of everything.

“
And after dinner,” Austin added,
“
we
put the kids to bed early so you can give me a proper homecoming.”

Nova snorted and swatted his chest. “How ‘bout you give
me
a proper welcome.”

With a shrug and a crooked smile he
replied, “Fine with me. E
ither way it’s a win.”