“Have you guys talked about it? What would you do?”
“Katie?” Bridget asked as she chuckled. “Would you like me to answer?”
“Of course! You can’t say something like that and just leave it.”
“I’m totally serious and yes Billy would sell the diner. The only reason he kept it as long as he did was because of us.
“You know how he is. He hates having you so far away.” She gave Katie a sheepish grin, knowing full well Katie was aware it wasn’t just Billy. “As much as I love it, I love my memories of it more. It’s not the same with you gone, and now that I’m writing full-time, I’m rarely there.
“We’ve talked about selling, but nothing has been decided. He hired a manager so he can spend less time there. We’ll see how that goes. He just hates being away from Will and me, and we’re still planning on having another baby. Plus, with my book deal, I make enough to support us.
“Nothing has been decided, but…” She looked into Erica’s angelic face and smiled. “I’m extremely motivated now.”
Katie was trying to process what her mother said. On one hand, she would love to have her mother and Billy closer, especially since her brother and her daughter were so close in age. But on the other hand, she had so many wonderful memories of being raised in the diner; she couldn’t imagine them not owning it.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Jenny and Tracy walked in. “Can we join this mother-daughter party?”
Bridget waved them in and smiled. “I suppose it’s time I share my girls,” she said with a wink.
As Katie did with everyone who wanted to hold Erica, she demanded they wash their hands first. Neither said a word but smiled as they did what they were told.
Jenny walked over and gave Katie and Bridget a hug and managed to get her hands on Erica before Tracy, who pretended to pout. “Oh Katie, she’s lovely. How did everything go? Did Phillip drive you crazy? I warned him not to, but he’s an anxious grandpa.”
“Everything went fine, but I’m not so sure I’ll want to do that again.” A round of laughter started with her mother then moved around the room.
“I bet twenty bucks every single one of us has said the same thing and look…we all did it again,” Tracy said with a laugh.
“Dad did okay. Since mom needed someone to pick her up from the airport, Tyler gave him the job. I think he was relieved to have something to do other than listening to me scream.”
Jenny closed her eyes and shook her head as she chuckled. “I love that man. When it comes to lawyering, he’s amazing, professional, and he has it all together. But put him in a room with a laboring woman and he’s a sweaty wreck.” The room went silent as Jenny’s mouth dropped, and she looked over at Bridget. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” Bridget’s body stiffened slightly as they looked to her for her reaction. Phillip hadn’t been at Katie’s birth. It wasn’t until recently that he told her he went to the hospital to see them but chickened out when he got to her hospital room.
“Jenny, you have nothing to be sorry for. Phillip has already apologized. It’s water under the bridge.”
Tracy broke the awkward silence by asking for her turn to hold Erica. It wasn’t her first time holding her, but there was something in her face Katie recognized. She saw Eric in her. Tracy looked at Katie with tears spilling down her cheeks. “I wish he was here to meet her.”
When she walked over to Katie and sat on the edge of the bed, they reached for each other. Soon Bridget and Jenny had their arms around both of them. “Oh, Tracy,” Jenny whispered. “His memory will be alive in Erica. She’s a beautiful reminder of him.”
Katie’s heart was breaking all over again. She wished he could be here to see what he helped create. All her doubts and worries didn’t matter. It didn’t matter whether or not they would have been able to work things out. The only thing that mattered was Erica, and he would have loved her. That she knew.
Tyler poked his head in and looked at her then at the door as he ran his hand down his face. With his brows pulled in, he said, “I’m sorry, but there are some people here to see you. And they already washed their hands,” he said before she could ask.
He mouthed, “I’m sorry” then moved out of the way as his sisters and mom walked in. “We couldn’t wait. Sorry.” Joyce sing-songed.
Tracy proudly showed off Erica so everyone could gush over her. Each of them gave Katie a hug and a kiss and filled the room with happy chatter, flowers, and balloons.
Surrounded by all these amazing woman and mothers, she felt all the love and support she would need to get through this. When her eyes met Tyler’s, he still looked worried, but she gave him a big smile. “Thank you.”
She watched as he let out a deep breath and returned her smile before leaving.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
May 2016
Tyler
“Tyler,” Tracy called out from behind him as he walked towards Katie’s hospital room carrying two chocolate shakes. One for her mother and one for Katie. He turned around and smiled at the glowing grandmother. She had been on her phone all afternoon, posting photos of her new grandbaby on all her social media sights and texting her friends and family sharing the good news.
He turned and waited for her to catch up. “Do you have a minute to talk?” His stomach dropped, knowing he would finally have to speak to her about what she witnessed in the delivery room and tell her about him and Katie.
“Sure. Let me drop these off with Bridget and Katie and I’ll meet you in the waiting room.”
“See you in a few.” He took in a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Now or never.
Several minutes later, he glanced around the waiting room. Phillip and Jeff sat next to each other, both asleep in their chairs. Tyler wished he could join them. The adrenaline had worn off hours ago, and now he was exhausted…but happy.
His smile fell away when he noticed Tracy watching him. Before he could take a seat next to her, she stood and hooked her arm with his. “Let us go for a walk.” His stomach dropped. He tried to read her expression, but she gave no sign whether she was upset about him kissing Katie.
As they took the elevator to the lobby, she talked about the baby and all the messages from friends and family she received today. He barely heard her over the pounding of his heart. When they stepped outside and walked around the hospital to a private spot with a small garden and benches, she took a seat and pulled him down next to her.
Before she could say anything, he finally spoke. “I know why you want to talk, and I want to apologize for not telling you or Jeff. I—”
“Stop. Please. I think I need to go first.” She took his hand in hers and gave him a sad smile. “I want to thank you for being a good man and for being my son’s best friend. He was very lucky to have you.” She wiped at a tear with her free hand. “There is nothing in this world that would make Jeff and me happier than for you and Katie to be together.”
She let go of him and sighed as she leaned back on the bench and lifted her face to the sky. “Eric was in love with Katie. He woke us up the night they met and told us he was going to marry her, and I knew he was serious. He would never joke about something like that.
“She was different from the girls he’d dated and the way they seemed to connect from the very beginning felt like destiny. Maybe it was. Maybe God knew his life would be short and made sure he experienced true love before he passed away.” She shrugged. “There were times I worried about their relationship, with him being gone so often. I thought for sure an eighteen-year-old girl wouldn’t be able to handle their long distance relationship, particularly after Alexis mentioned how often guys hit on Katie. But she stayed faithful. Her love for him never wavered, even when it was hard. So when he said he wanted to ask her to marry him, we were thrilled. He even talked about being a dad one day when they were settled so when he died…”
She turned her head to look at him. “I saw the way you look at her.”
�
��Tracy…”
“Hear me out. I admit when Jeff and I initially started seeing the way you were around her, I felt a sting of anger and betrayal for Eric. It was like not only had death taken away his dream, but you were too. I know it sounds ridiculous. I didn’t say it was rational, but it was how I felt. I was even upset with Katie when I noticed her look at you differently. But then one day, as I was talking to Jeff about it, he said something that struck me. He said, ‘Katie’s heart has never flittered from one person to the next. If she’s falling in love with Tyler, it’s for a good reason. She loves deeply, and her heart is loyal. We shouldn’t begrudge her happiness because we want to hold on to an impossible dream.’ He was right. After that conversation, I was able to see things from a different perspective. I watched as you cared for Katie and, in turn, our granddaughter—Eric’s daughter. Then today—the way you lovingly held Erica in your arms—I felt a sense of relief that you were the one to love her and Katie. I also have a feeling that if Eric had to choose, you would have been the first person he picked to care for his girls.”
Tyler choked up at her words and hoped more than anything Eric wouldn’t hate him for falling in love with Katie, not that Tyler’s heart had a choice in it.
“We love you, Tyler. Take good care of them.”
“I will. I promise.”
“I know.”
She stood and pulled him into a hug. “I’m going to head back inside and see if Bridget is ready to share her daughter and grandbaby.”
“Don’t count on it. Bridget doesn’t like sharing. Good luck.”
“You coming?”
“I think I’m going to stay out here a little longer and enjoy the quiet.”
“Okay, sweetie.” She patted him on the arm and walked towards the entrance of the hospital.
He sat and breathed in the fresh air and felt the tightening in his chest loosen as he let go of the worry he had been carrying around for months.
There was no longer anything keeping him and Katie apart. As much as he wanted to shout to the world he was in love with her, he also needed to take things slow.
As he stood, he heard familiar voices calling out his name. He looked up and found his mother and four sisters walking towards him carrying flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals. He was going to have to warn Katie she was about to be invaded.
His mother reached him first and kissed him on the cheek followed by his sisters, ending with the youngest Naomi. “Mom was outvoted. She wanted to wait until Katie and Erica were released. We can’t wait to see the newest addition to our family,” Naomi said with a wink.
“Erica broke the boys only party going on with the grandkids,” Leah added.
“Please, for the love of all that’s holy, do not say things like that to Katie especially in front of her family.”
“So they don’t know about you two?” Rebecca asked.
“How’d you guys know?”
He had five sets of eyes dead stare him until his mother patted him on his arm and smiled. “It’s cute you think you can get anything past five women?” she said as a chorus of laughter spilled from his sister’s lips.
“Come on. It’s time to finally meet our niece,” Esther said, jerking on his shirt with a mischievous smile.
He huffed. “What did I just say? You’re going to scare Katie off when nothing more than admitting our feelings has happened between us. Just…be normal for once.” He watched as his sisters looked at one another and gave him matching smiles. “Ugh. I hate you all.” He stomped away, but his mother and sisters soon caught up to him and quietly followed him up to the maternity ward.
He wanted to give Katie more warning, but he wasn’t sure there was enough warning to prepare anyone for the women in his family.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
May 2016
Katie
Katie followed her mother into the airport, carrying Erica in an infant carrier. Erica’s warm breath on her neck and the feel of her chest rise and fall with every sleepy inhale and exhale was a balm to her anxiety.
Once again, Katie had to say goodbye to her mother in an airport. The first time they did this was nearly two years ago when Katie left for college. It wasn’t any easier today than it was back then.
More than anything, Katie wanted to be selfish and ask her mother to stay a little longer, but she couldn’t do that, especially after overhearing her talk to Billy the night before. The ache in her mother’s voice when she told Billy she missed him and loved him hit Katie squarely in the chest. She could only imagine how hard it must be for her to be away from Will since Bridget could barely handle being away from Erica for half an hour.
Katie stood shoulder to shoulder in line with her mother at the check in counter, both in quiet contemplation. Katie wasn’t sure if there was anything left to say. The past few weeks, they spent almost every minute together as her mother taught her how to care for a newborn. They had so many deep meaningful discussions about life, motherhood, and men that their already close relationship deepened.
Once her bags were checked and she had her boarding pass in hand, Bridget looped her arm with Katie’s and walked arm in arm toward security where they had to say goodbye. Their pace slowed the closer they got, both reluctant to say another goodbye.
Katie felt a rush of tears as she hugged her mother goodbye. They laughed at the small little human between them, making snorting noises. “I’m going to miss my little girl…and my other little girl,” Bridget said as she kissed Erica on the top of her head. She looked lovingly into Katie’s eyes. “Everything is going to be okay. I know you worry, but you’re a natural. Remember, Billy and I are only a plane ride away, and your dad and Jenny would be here in a heartbeat.” The fact her mother included Phillip said a lot about how much things had changed the past few weeks.
Phillip visited Katie and Erica every day, and since her mother was with her, they were forced to spend time with one another. What started out as civil friendliness changed one afternoon. He invited Bridget to lunch, just the two of them. When they returned, Katie sensed a change in them. From that day on, they spoke to each other as friends, and when Jenny came over with the kids for dinner, they stayed up late, talking and laughing like close friends. Her mother said they had a really good talk but didn’t share details. As curious as Katie was, she didn’t ask. All that mattered to Katie was that they got along.
Katie choked back a cry as she pulled her mother into another hug. “Thank you, Mom. Give Billy and Will a hug and kiss for me.”
“I will. Goodbye, baby girl.” Her mother gave Katie a wet kiss on the cheek and sniffed as she pulled away. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she waved goodbye.
On her way back to the parking structure, Katie’s anxiety rose. Jeff and Tracy had left the night before for a month-long European tour. They were reluctant to go, but she reassured them she would be all right.
Unfortunately, she didn’t feel as confident now that her mother wasn’t here. She was still unsure of her mothering abilities, and even though it was tough to have so many mother hens around, it was also comforting to know she could turn to them if she had any questions.
Her only comfort was Tyler, who would be spending the month with her. A smile broke through her sadness and little butterflies took off in her belly when she thought about him. She was finally going to be alone with him…well alone as they could be with a newborn.
Since she had Erica, Katie and Tyler hadn’t had a moment alone, and she wasn’t sure what happened now. Since she and Erica got home from the hospital, they hadn’t kissed except for a few pecks on the cheek. Would he kiss her when he saw her? Like really kiss her? Did he want to? Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he loved her, but realized they would be too much work.
She had to stop over thinking before she became an emotional wreck. For the first time since Katie told Tyler she loved him, she doubted his feelings. Between being depressed about her post-pregnancy body, her lack of sleep, and her hormones taking her on a
roller coast ride, she was a mess. She wouldn’t blame him if he changed his mind.
On the ride home, she managed to talk herself off the ledge. “Whatever happens will happen. If he no longer wants to be with me, I’ll be okay,” she said to herself, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. She was in love with Tyler and wanted nothing more than to be loved by him.
When she pulled into the driveway next to his car, her heart rate jumped, and her palms grew sweaty. “This is it.”
Chapter Thirty
May 2016
Tyler
Tyler let himself into the McHenrys’ house and dropped his bags off in the guest bedroom. He figured Katie wouldn’t be back from taking her Mom to the airport for another half hour, giving him enough time to jump in the shower and change clothes.
Bubba happily followed him into the house and ran upstairs towards the girls’ bedrooms only to return a minute later slightly put out. He wanted to be with the girls as much as Tyler did.
Just over an hour ago, Tyler clocked out of work and started his month-long vacation. He was happily spending it here with Katie and Erica while Jeff and Tracy were on a European tour celebrating thirty years together.
Even though they had planned and paid for this trip over a year ago, they still debated on whether or not to go. Tracy didn’t want to leave Katie alone ‘just in case’, but Tyler reassured them he would stay with the girls while they were away.
Tracy called him the night before to tell him, once again, that he had their blessing and there wasn’t anything they would love more than for him and Katie to be together. Even when her voice broke as she cried over the phone, he knew she was sincere in her hope that things worked out for them.
After feeling guilty for so long about being in love with his best friend’s girl, it was a relief to finally let it go and be happy. He was in love with the most amazing woman he’d ever met and wanted to make her his girl.
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