I saw Paige’s lips quirk. Lucy still didn’t quite get the whispering part of secrets at times. Luckily, “lots” to her was a bite or two before she got distracted when there was a large group. She left a trail of partially eaten tidbits everywhere she went. My job was usually to clean them up. I had been working out a lot more these days thanks to that endeavor.
“You can eat whatever you want tonight.”
“Maybe I take home a piece for Mr. Teddy and Fluffy?”
Her favorite stuffed animals were waiting at home for her on her bed. Her reaction to her new room had been nothing short of spectacular. She hadn’t known where to look, what to touch, or how to respond when she first saw it. Liv had done an amazing job. The entire room was pink and cream, with lots of flowery fabric, lace, and forgiving edges. The bed was a masterpiece of girlie-ness, and Liv and Paige had added tiny lights to the fabric that draped over the top of the bed. At night, their soft glow fascinated Lucy. The whole room did, and every time she disappeared during the first week, we knew where to find her.
“I bet they would love that,” I assured her. “Grammy will make sure to save them a piece if you ask her.”
Lucy smiled wide, then her eyes grew round. “Oh! There’s PopPop!” She pushed on my chest, hurrying toward Dad, who bent low, opening his arms. He doted on her, and aside from me and Ronan, he was her favorite Callaghan man.
I banded my arm around Paige again. “What about you, Momma? You want to eat a lot of cake tonight?”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. It’s cake. Beth made it, so of course I’m going to eat it.”
I pulled her close as we headed toward the group of people waiting for us. “Then let’s get at it.”
An hour later, my shoulder ached from all the slaps, and I had been hugged more times than I could count. Neither Paige nor I could take more than a couple of steps without being stopped, congratulated, and handed a fresh drink, some food, or, at the very least, advice. Some of it, from my idiot brothers, I planned to ignore, but everyone was well-meaning and happy for us. There had been no discord over the fact that we had eloped. As long as my family got to celebrate in some sort of fashion, they were good with it.
Ronan had printed some of the pictures he had snapped with his phone and had given us copies of them all. One, in particular, was my favorite, and my mom had blown it up for tonight. Paige was tucked into my side, beautiful and smiling, Lucy in my other arm, her little face beaming, and I looked as if I had just won the lottery. Which I had—I got the two of them. That picture was framed on the table stacked with gifts for us to open. We had requested no presents, but I was pleased to notice many of them were addressed to Lucy and Paige. The packages were to welcome them to the family. It warmed my heart how they had been accepted.
My parents had already given us a gift. They were sending us on a Disney cruise and a three-day stay at the park. I’d thought Lucy was going to fall off my knee in excitement when she realized what the gift was. The best part was when Mom informed us she and my dad were coming along.
“We’re sharing a room with Lucy. You and Paige have your own suite,” she said quietly. “Ronan and Beth are coming as well. They have their own suite with Evan. Family during the day. Your honeymoon at night.” She smiled. “We couldn’t exclude Evan.”
I had to admit, my first thought had been how much Evan would love to go. My parents’ thoughtful gesture touched both Paige and me. We shared a glance, knowing how much this would mean to him.
Dad leaned close. “I’ve arranged for a scooter for Evan at the park. He can get around easier and do more. I talked to him, and he agreed it was fine. It’s all taken care of.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Paige hugged him and Mom, wiping the tears off her face at their generosity.
Dad grinned. “Lucy, Evan, and I are gonna have a blast! We’ll sit down and map it all out.”
Her squeal said it all.
Paige was overwhelmed. “I’ve never been outside Canada,” she confessed.
I kissed her. “The first of many trips, I promise.”
Paige turned away to talk to Nan, and I headed to the bar to get a fresh drink. No matter how many I had been handed, I kept losing them when someone would swoop in for a hug. I was parched from all the talking. I poured a splash of vodka into the glass and topped it with tonic and lots of ice. I turned and surveyed the place, unable to stop my smile. The elders of BAM gathered together as they usually did. Bentley, Dad, and Maddox were always easy to spot in this group. Richard and Katy had flown in, and he stood beside Maddox, laughing at something Dad had just said. Nan and Pops sat together on the sofa, smiling and visiting. They were both a bit frailer now, but still going strong. They ceded to sitting more and allowed us to “run and fetch” when they wanted something, but otherwise, they acted younger than their years. I spotted Van close to my dad, talking to Hal and Reid, the three of them in an intense conversation. Groupings of siblings and cousins were everywhere. Jaxson already had Gracie dancing, his arms holding her close. Brayden and Addi were headed to the center of the room to join them. I caught my mom’s eye and smiled. She was with Emmy, Dee, Liv, Fiona, Becca, and Katy. Lucy was on her knee, entertaining them. The cluster of women—the real strength behind the family—and the very nucleus of all the men I admired. They made this place a home, these gatherings a joy, and I was grateful for each one of them.