The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

Hunter kissed Rose on the cheek and then quickly rushed out past everyone.

When it was only me, Rose, and Carl in the room, I turned and looked at them. I wasn’t sure why I said it, but I just blurted out. “Aiden and I are getting married on New Year’s Eve.”

Rose beamed with happiness as Carl stood and made his way over to me. “It’s about damn time that boy gets the family he deserves. It’s a crazy one, but a good one.”

I laughed and wiped a tear from my cheek. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”

“Too soon?” Rose repeated. “Willamina, you are the love of my son’s life. Aiden told us what you did for him. The tough love, the therapist, all of it. No, sweetheart, I don’t think it’s too soon. Not at all.”

When I turned to Carl, he wrapped me up in his arms. “Aiden needs a strong woman like you by his side, Willamina. He seems to be doing good, but there are going to be rough days.”

I nodded. “I know. I won’t let him face them alone, and I know he’ll be there for me as well.”

Rose sniffled—and Aiden cleared his throat. We all turned to see him standing in the doorway. “Everything okay?” he asked.

“Everything is perfect. It’s Christmas day, my sister is going to have a baby, and we’re engaged!”

Lilly walked up and pulled on my shirt. “Is my baby bwother coming?”

I knelt down and smiled at my beautiful niece. She was the spitting image of my sister. “Yes! Do you think he’ll be born on Christmas and share a birthday with Jesus?”

She looked up in thought and then grinned. “I hope so!”

“Me too!” I said as I pulled her in for a hug and then scooped her up into my arms. Rose was now holding Ben while he ate pieces of a blueberry muffin.

“Do you two want to go to the hospital?” Rose asked. “I can watch the kids and Jack.”

As soon as she said his name, Jack jumped at the back door.

“I’ll let him in,” Aiden said.

With a shake of my head, I glanced around the kitchen. “Should we cook all the food? I don’t know how long everyone will be at the hospital, but I bet they’ll want to eat.”

Rose looked in the refrigerator to assess. “I say we three girls make a morning of it and cook Christmas dinner. That way, when Jack, Mary, and Hunter come back, they’ll have something ready, and you and Aiden can take some to Lacy and Connor when you go up to visit.”

“That’s a great idea,” I said. “Lilly, do you want to help us cook Christmas dinner to take up to Mommy and Daddy?”

“And baby bwother?” she asked.

I laughed. “He won’t be able to eat it yet, but I bet Mommy would love some pumpkin pie. Want to help me make it?”

“It’s already made,” Rose said as she pulled out a pumpkin, an apple, and a cherry pie.

“Leave it to Mom to have the pies done.”

Rose and I quickly set about starting to cook, while Carl made himself comfortable in the living room with the pre-football game shows. Aiden kept Ben occupied and put him down for his nap before helping us in the kitchen. When Lilly passed out on the bench in the kitchen with flour all over her and a wooden spoon still clutched in her hand, we all voted to just let her nap there, since she seemed to be content.

Before I knew it, an entire feast was made and my phone was ringing.

“It’s my mom!” I said as I rushed over to where Lilly was sitting on the floor, playing with stuffed animals with Ben. “It’s Grammy!”

When I answered, I put the phone on speaker.

“Hey, Mom! I’ve got you on speaker. How’s Lacy?”

“Lacy is doing wonderfully, and she had the baby about ten minutes ago!”

Aiden picked up Lilly and tossed her in the air. “You’re a big sister!”

Lilly giggled, and I couldn’t help but laugh when Ben stood and held up his arms for Aiden to do the same to him.

“Have they decided what to name him yet?”

“Yes. Jacob Wilson Evans.”

“Aw, after Connor’s dad and grandpa!” I said.

“He’s beautiful. Lacy is exhausted but was wondering if you might be able to bring Lilly up to the hospital. She’d like for her to meet Jacob.”

Lilly jumped for joy when Aiden put her down and then tossed Ben up into the air too.

“Of course. Rose and I cooked all the food, so it’s waiting for you guys for when you get home. We have some packed up to bring to Connor and Lacy as well. Should I bring it now, or do you want to bring it later tonight or in the morning?”

“They’re letting her and the baby go home in the morning, as long as there are no issues through the night, so I say let’s bring it over to their house tomorrow. It will be nice for them to have the food there.”