“Before we pop this sucker and find out whether it’s a boy or a girl,” Zeke said, “I just want to thank all our family and friends who came out tonight to say goodbye to Claire. Sweetheart,” he said, lifting his glass of champagne high in the air, “you’ll always be our first baby. We love you and we couldn’t be more proud of all you’ve accomplished.” Then he turned to Cameron. “And to our son, who makes us proud every day with his kindness and his quiet wit. We know you’re going to be a great help to your mom and me, as well as a terrific older brother.”
Everyone murmured their agreement as they raised their glasses.
Then Zeke cleared his throat. “And last but certainly not least, to my beautiful wife, Mimi. I still can’t believe you married me, baby. Eighteen years ago, you took a chance on me, even though the odds were stacked against us. You’ve taught me what it is to be a friend, a husband, a father, but most of all, what it means to be a man. You’re the everything behind this family. I’m humbled that you chose me to be the father of your children. I love you more every day and I can’t thank you enough for this new baby we’re about to have.”
Mimi’s blue eyes were wet with tears. “How am I supposed to top that? I love you, too, you big lug!”
Everyone laughed and took a sip of their champagne, and then someone yelled, “Pop the balloon!”
Allie handed a big black balloon to Zeke and gave Mimi a pin. “Okay, camera’s ready?”
Everyone began clapping and chanting “Pop it! Pop it!”
Mimi smiled and posed for the cameras, like the big ham she was, then dug the pin into the balloon, popping it, instantly releasing scads of blue confetti…followed by an equal number of pink confetti.
The chanting in the room died out.
Mimi turned to Zeke. “Wasn’t someone supposed to put the correct color in the balloon?”
Allie frowned. “I have the envelope that the ultrasound tech gave to Heidi over at the bakery. Let me go open it.” She scurried over to her purse and took out the envelope, read it, started laughing, then handed it to her brother.
Zeke read the paper and Luke wasn’t sure, but he thought his brother-in-law’s face went a little pale. “Um, sweetheart?” he said to Mimi. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”
“What are you talking about, Zeke Grant?” Mimi grabbed the paper from her husband. “Here let me see. We’re having a…twins?”
The room exploded with laughter and shouting and everyone began hugging Mimi and Zeke. His parents looked shocked but happy. They hadn’t expected two new grandbabies, but Luke was certain they were up to the task. Mimi and Zeke just kept looking at each other with awe and happiness.
“Looks like you’re going to be double big brother,” Luke said to Cameron.
His nephew grinned. “Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing, but it’s pretty cool, too.”
Luke nodded. He was happy for his sister and Zeke. If anyone could make twins work at this point in their lives, it was them. Luke and his brother-in-law hadn’t gotten off to a great start all those years ago when Luke had punched Zeke in the nose after discovering he’d gotten Mimi pregnant. But Zeke had manned up and done the right thing. He’d gone from a high school dropout to working his way straight to the top of the Whispering Bay police force, becoming the youngest chief in the city’s one-hundred-plus-year history.
His brother-in-law was a good guy. A great husband and a great father.
As for Mimi? His baby sister hadn’t gone to Duke or earned a master’s degree or opened her own business, but in all the ways that counted, she was far more successful than Luke. She had a solid marriage and had created a strong family.
She had everything.
And Luke had nothing.
Nothing that mattered anyway. Not if Sarah wasn’t here to share it with him. He realized that now.
“I’m in love with Sarah,” he blurted.
For the second time tonight, the room went quiet.
“What did you say?” Mimi asked.
“I said, I’m in love with Sarah.”
His mother smiled. “I could have told you that five minutes ago. If we hadn’t been interrupted in the garage,” she said, looking meaningfully at Zeke.
“I could have told you that three weeks ago,” Mimi said. “It was so obvious the night of the silent auction. I mean, you couldn’t take your eyes off her the whole night.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Zeke demanded.
“Yeah,” Mimi said. “What are you going to do about it?”