her baby in her arms.
“Oh, my,” Olivia whispered as she reached the bed. “She’s so tiny.”
“She didn’t feel so tiny a little while ago.” Mary Jo looked up with a comical expression. “I felt like I was giving birth to an elephant.”
“It was worth it, though,” Olivia said and ran her finger over the baby’s head. “She’s just gorgeous.”
“I never would’ve believed how much you can love such a tiny baby.” Mary Jo’s voice was full of wonder. “I thought my heart would burst with love when Mack put her in my arms.”
“Do you have a name for her?” Grace asked.
“Not yet. I had one picked out, but now I’m not sure.”
“She’s a special baby born on a special night.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Mary Jo said, kissing the newborn’s forehead. Her gaze fell lovingly on the child. “When I was first pregnant … I was so embarrassed and afraid, I prayed God would just let me die. And now … now I see her as an incredible gift.”
Grace had felt that way when she discovered she was pregnant with Maryellen all those years ago. It was shortly before her high school graduation; she’d been dating Dan Sherman and their relationship had always been on-again, off-again. She’d dreaded telling him she was pregnant, even more than she’d dreaded telling her parents.
For weeks she’d kept her secret, embarrassed and ashamed. But like Mary Jo, she’d learned to see the pregnancy as an unexpected gift, and the moment Maryellen was placed in her arms, Grace had experienced an overwhelming surge of love. The birth hadn’t been easy, they never really were, but as soon as she saw her daughter, Grace had recognized that every minute of that pain had been worth the outcome.
“If you need anything,” Olivia was saying to Mary Jo, “make sure you give me a call.”
“Thank you. That’s so kind.”
Olivia turned to Mack, who hovered in the background. “Are you taking her to the birthing center in Silverdale?”
He nodded. “We’ll be leaving in about ten minutes.”
“Then I won’t keep you,” Olivia said. “I’ll stop by sometime tomorrow afternoon,” she promised Mary Jo.
“Oh, please don’t,” Mary Jo said quickly. “It’s Christmas—spend that time with your family. I’ll get in touch soon. Anyway, I’ll be with my own family.” She looked up, her eyes widening.
“Mary Jo?” Grace asked in alarm. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, my goodness!”
“What is it?” Mack’s voice was equally worried.
“My brothers,” Mary Jo said. “They never showed up.”
“That’s true.” The entire matter had slipped Grace’s mind. “Mary Jo’s brothers were due here—” she checked her watch “—three hours ago.”
“Where could they be?” Mary Jo wailed.
Grace tried to reassure her. “They’re probably lost. It’s easy enough with all these back roads. They’ve never been in this area before, have they?”
Mary Jo shook her head.
“Don’t worry. When they arrive, I’ll tell them what happened and where to find you.”
Mary Jo smiled down at the infant cradled in her arms. “They’ll hardly believe I had the baby—but then it’s hard for me to believe, too.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Olivia said.
“Thank you, but please …”
“Yes?”
“Don’t tell your parents about the baby yet. Give them a chance to settle back into their routine before you let them know about David and me … and the baby.”
“I won’t say a word until you and I agree the time is right.”
Mary Jo nodded.
Grace was impressed that Mary Jo wanted to spare Ben and Charlotte the unsavory news of David’s betrayal until they were more prepared to accept it.
“I’ll leave you now,” Olivia told her. “But like I said, if you need anything, anytime, please call. You’re practically family, you know.”
Mary Jo thanked her softly. “You all feel like family to me…. Everyone’s been so wonderful.”
Grace walked down the stairs with Olivia. She was surprised to see Jack and Cliff still outside, huddled with the children.
“What’s Cliff up to now?” Grace wondered aloud.
Jack glanced over. “You gotta see this!” he said, waving at Olivia. He sounded like a giddy child.
As soon as Grace saw the huge carton of fireworks Cliff had dragged out, she groaned. “Cliff!”
“I was saving them for New Year’s Eve, but I can’t think of a better night for celebrating, can you?”
“What about the horses?”
“They’re all safe in their stalls. Don’t worry about them.”
“And Buttercup? She hates that kind of noise.”
“She’s locked in the house.”
“Can we, Grandpa, can we?”
The children were jumping up and down, clapping their hands with enthusiasm.
“Why right now?” Grace asked.
Cliff sent her a look of pure innocence. “I was just casting about for a way to keep the grandkids entertained.”
“Oh, all right.” She sighed loudly, holding back a grin.
“Okay if we stay and watch?” Jack said.
Grace and Olivia glanced at each other. As they’d often had occasion to observe, most men were little boys at heart.
“If you must,” Olivia murmured.
The front door opened and Kelly stepped out with her husband, Paul, who still held the baby. Grace’s daughter balanced a large tray filled with mugs and Lisa followed with a tin of Christmas cookies.
“Anyone for hot chocolate?” Kelly asked.
“I’d love a cup,” Olivia said.
“Me, too,” Grace put in.
Paul gestured at the kids. “What’s going on?”
“Fireworks
