Page 171 of Through the Storm
Caroline and James are next, pulling both of us in, careful of the baby.
“We’re so happy for you.” Caroline squeezes my arm.
“And proud of you,” James adds.
Their words land soft and loving.
Rebecca suddenly appears in front of us with two glasses. “Okay! Speech! Or kiss! Preferably kiss!”
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Ella starts chanting immediately.
“Absolutely not—” I start.
But it’s too late. Ben’s already smiling, one hand sliding to my waist, the other steady at our son’s back as he leans in. My cheeks are on fire.
“You don’t want to disappoint them,” he murmurs.
“Oh my God.”
He kisses me anyway, and the entire room erupts with cheers and whistles.
Mini Ben makes a tiny noise between us like he has thoughts about this.
I laugh against Ben’s mouth. “Okay, okay. We’re traumatizing our child.”
“He’ll survive,” Ben murmurs.
When we pull apart, I’m laughing, breathless, still a little sticky from champagne, and completely overwhelmed. In the best way.
“Okay.” I shake my head. “This is ridiculous.”
“A little bit,” Grandma Patty says, raising her glass. “And we’re just getting started.”
I look around one more time.
Some people don’t get to be part of your joy.
But the right ones?
They don’t just share it—they make it theirs too.
epilogue
BEN
The Next Spring
My parents’new house in Rose Bay is currently chaotic. It’s full of my friends and family, and none of them are being chill. At all.
There’s also way too much food that no one’s touching. Ella is pacing like a maniac. Uncle Jack is on the phone with God knows who, as if he could control what happens. Ali has her phone out, ready to film whether we ask her to or not.
Declan is chasing Mini-Ben all over the place. He’s playing with an unreasonable number of tiny footballs scattered across the floor. He grabs one and slams it against the floor. “Ba,” he announces proudly.
Jack crouches immediately. “James, did you see that arm?”
James nods calmly from the armchair. “Told you. He threw it two feet.”
Katy sits beside me, her knee bouncing.
