The Key West Anthology (63 page)
Read The Key West Anthology Online
Authors: C. A. Harms
“How are they doing, Mom? Have we heard anything?” Alexis asked.
“They’re good, all three of them,” Ms. Jameson said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “We don’t know the exact situation yet, but the doctor assured us that the three of them are strong and healthy. Easton went back, and we came out here to tell everyone.”
The news made us all sigh in relief.
Kade squeezed my hand, and I turned to face him. “They’re okay,” I whispered, and he nodded before kissing me softly.
***
Kade
After hours of worry, everything had fallen into place.
Jett now understood the pull Willow had on me because he too was a father. He now knew what it felt like to have a little person that relied on you for everything and that you would do whatever it took to make them smile.
My life had changed so much, and I had Avery to thank for that. Yes, the pregnancy was unplanned, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It woke me up and gave me the strength to face my past.
Avery and Willow were my girls. They are the best part of me, and loving them more would be impossible, considering the depth my love had already reached. I knew that without the two of them, my world would be empty.
As we walked toward the nursery to see the twins and Tucker, I held her hand securely in mine. Once we stepped up to the big glass window, I grabbed her hips and pulled her in front of me. Leaning over her, I kissed the exposed skin of her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her waist as we waited.
One by one, the nurses wheeled the babies over for all of us to see, and I was immediately brought back to the day Willow arrived. The joy I felt when the nurse placed my daughter in my arms is something I could never explain. There truly are no words to express the happiness and love that flowed through me like a tidal wave. I was motionless and completely speechless as I scanned over her sweet little features.
“I want more,” I whispered before I could stop myself. Avery looked back at me in confusion. “Babies. I want more.”
“Oh you do, do ya?” she said with a smile. I nodded, and she just shook her head. “Let’s at least get through the first year of Willow before we talk about more,” she said as she turned back around to look at the babies.
We would be talking about this later, because I wanted a house full of little Averys and Kades. Now I just had to convince my wife she wanted that too.
Christmas, Two Years Later
Callie
As I waddled up the pathway toward Harper’s front door, I swear I missed my feet. I can’t remember the last time I was able to paint my own toenails. Matthew and Zoey were ahead of me, in a hurry to get inside.
As I stepped up on the first step, Jude gripped my waist. “I got ya, babe,” his domineering voice assured me. “Don’t want you or my boy getting hurt by falling.”
I was eight months pregnant with our first child—a boy. Yeah, Jude was real proud of that one. Zoey and I were hoping for a girl, but we decided we would just recruit this little one to be part of our team. Meanwhile, Matthew had grown into a miniature version of Jude, and seeing the two of them together was a trip. They were the men of the house, and they were overbearing and sometimes a tad bit cocky.
“Thank you,” I said as I allowed him to help me up the three steps to the front door. By the time we reached the door, Harper was waiting with it wide open.
“Hey, Momma, how you feeling?” she asked.
“Fat and jolly. All I need is a red suit to play the part.”
“Oh, baby, you’re not fat. You’re sexy,” Jude said, and I rolled my eyes. Even Harper looked at him as if to say,
“Really?”
Being pregnant with Jude’s baby was like carrying a second me. I swear this little guy had to weigh a ridiculous amount.
Jude guided me toward the living room, and I found a comfy spot on the chair next to the fireplace. Zoey and Matthew had run off to play with the kids on the other side of the living room. Diesel, Harper’s huge mastiff, lay in the center of them, unaffected by the squeals and the toys flying around. Living with Faith and Hope, Harper and Easton’s twin girls, had obviously trained him for chaos.
Willow came running into the room with her diaper-clad butt on display. Kade trailed behind her, holding her tights in the air. “Momma, we need you.” I looked over at Avery, who was holding their six-week-old son, Drake. “I’ll take my boy, and you can tackle the diva.”
Kade exchanged Drake for the pair of tights and took a seat on the couch. Avery laughed as she tracked down Willow, and with no resistance from their almost-three-year-old, slid her tights on with ease.
“Figures,” Kade grumbled, and everyone laughed. Willow was always testing her daddy.
“How are you feeling, Callie?” Jett asked as he stood near the end of the couch with a beer in hand.
“Swollen and cranky,” I replied as I stretched out my legs.
“But you’re always cranky. The swollen part is a bitch, though,” Jett teased, and Kade and Easton chuckled.
Once all the kids were settled in the center of the room, Jett began handing out one gift at a time, and my heart immediately shifted into pure, overwhelming joy. Zoey and Matthew had become such an important part of everyone’s lives. They were surrounded by aunts and uncles that adored them and by cousins who looked up to them. They fit right in.
The adults watched as each child yelled in excitement as they opened gift after gift. Jett had turned into our own version of Santa Claus after he and Quinn had Tucker. He went overboard every year, and even if we all told him not to, he ignored our concerns.
Jude took a seat next to me on the couch and placed his outstretched hand over my abdomen. “I can’t wait to have our little guy here to share moments like this with us.”
I snuggled into his side. “Me too.”
***
Jude
When I thought about my life years ago, I never imagined it would turn out the way it had. I had a wife I adored and would do anything just to see her beautiful smile. I had the amazing kids I was blessed with. They were so loving, caring, and happy, and I had Callie to thank for part of their joy. She treated Zoey and Matthew as if they were her own and spent every day making sure they knew just how much they were loved.
And now, in less than a month, I would meet our son. A part of Callie and a part of me, created in love.
“Look, Uncle Jude,” Matthew yelled in excitement. “I got an Xbox.”
My head whipped around, and I found Matthew beaming brightly. He held out a box that had a picture of some warrior on the front. When I looked back over my shoulder, Jett was avoiding my stare. The asshole still had a problem with going way overboard. As if spoiling his only child wasn’t enough, he made it a point to spoil all the other kids as well.
“Let it go. You know giving him hell will only make him want to do it even more.” Callie nudged my side, and I knew she was right. Between Easton and Jett, it was hard to determine which of the two was a bigger pain in my ass. I needed their help anyway over the next month, so getting them fired up wouldn’t benefit me.
Tonight I had planned to give Callie one of the presents I had gotten her. With our family growing, we had outgrown the apartment, and it was time to move on.
Easton had one hell of an eye for places that just needed a little renovation, and he’d helped me find the perfect home for my family. So for the last three months, his team had been gutting and refinishing every inch of a four-bedroom oceanfront home. It had the most amazing view, and the space we would have went on and on. With the guys’ help, it was now ready to move into. Keeping this entire plan hidden was a lot harder than I had accounted for, but in a few minutes, I would share the news of our new home with the woman who has made my life complete.
Everyone was so interested in what the kids were doing that it was easy for me to retrieve the small box from my back pocket without even Callie noticing my movements.
I looked up as a smile spread over Easton’s face, and I could tell he knew what was coming.
Callie shifted at my side and brought her attention back to me. “What is that?” she asked, looking down at the small box in my hand.
“It’s for you,” I said as I handed it to her.
“We were waiting until tomorrow to exchange gifts.” Her gaze shifted to mine as a look of panic covered her face. “I didn’t bring your gifts.”
“This is more for the entire family, but I wanted to share it with you tonight. I thought Easton, Kade, and Jett should see the look on your face when you open it. They helped make it possible.”
She looked around the room and noticed that every adult was looking at us. “What did you do?”
I chuckled and pushed the package closer toward her hands. “Just open it, sweetheart.”
Callie watched me as she took the box. She took a deep breath, and her gaze shifted to her hands and she began picking at the edges of the paper.
My stomach was in knots and rolling with excitement. Time felt like it slowed down, and I fought against the urge to reach out and rip the lid off myself.
“A key?” Callie whispered as she lifted the lid and looked up at me.
“Yeah,” I replied. “To our new home.”
Tears began to roll along her cheeks as she lifted the key from the box. “Just when I think you couldn’t possibly give me more than you already have, you prove me wrong.” She leaned in and kissed me softly. “I love you so much,” she said against my lips before kissing me once more.
“I love you too, baby.” Using my thumb, I brushed away her tears. And the smile that spread across her lips was one of the things I lived for. Callie made everything brighter. She gave my world the soft, happy feel that Katelynn had always said Callie brought with her whenever she was near. My sister found that brightness within a few minutes of being in Callie’s presence, and I would get to spend the rest of my life with that sweet feeling.
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About the Author
C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband of 14 years and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.
