“You’re a natural.” I rub her shoulder.
“Maddox and I read a lot on boobs.” She tries to laugh, but the result is short intakes of breath as she holds back her sobs.
Maddox looks at the nursery window and holds a blanket, shielding her breast.
“Look out that window, sweetness. Look at all the people who love you two.”
“Three. Us three, Maddox.”
She laughs when she sees Ava holding up a sign that says “Of course I will be her godmother. Baby Coach bag, Tiffany jewelry, nothing but the best for my Piper Ava Hines.”
I laugh and look at Harper, who is nodding at her and mouthing “Thank you.”
“She does know it’s Ann, doesn’t she?” Maddox asks.
“I’ll give you two a few minutes alone and go break the news to her.” I kiss all three of them then walk out into the hall.
I show them all the pictures I took on my phone.
“She looks exactly like your niece, Sydney, did when she was born.” Lucas laughs.
“How do you know?” Ava asks.
“I was there,” he answers, giving her a look I suppose that’s supposed to keep her quiet.
“Oh, that’s right; you two used to be lovers.” Ava saysloversin a husky tone.
“Ava,” Lucas scolds her.
Jade and Phoebe both laugh. Hell, so do I.
“Okay, focus time. I need clothes. I assume they will be here a few days. It’s a long drive home. Piper Ann …”
“Piper Ava,” Ava corrected me.
“Sorry, it’s Ann, but you can pretend if you’d like.” I throw my arm over Ava’s shoulders. “Piper has to stay the night in the nursery, so I am staying in with her so Harper and Maddox can get some sleep.”
“On it.” Jade and Phoebe both hug and kiss me before they head out.
“You should come back tomorrow and see her. The pictures do her no justice. She is absolutely beautiful.”
?
I call my parents and tell them about Piper. They are so excited. Piper is their first great- grandchild. To people like us, money isn’t anything. Family is everything. I could have told my parents we won a million dollars, and they would have said, “That’s nice.” Tell them we are adding to the Ross family, and it’s as if electricity was just invented.
“You sound good, Tessa,” Dad says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I am. I don’t miss him any less, Dad, but the show must go on, right?”
“Absolutely. We miss him, too, you know.”
“I know.”
“Didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“It won’t last long. Piper deserves as happy and loving a support system as I have.”
“You sure that’s it? Piper changed the direction of the planet?”