Ellise came in, carrying her wedding train over her arm so it didn’t brush the floor. Her and Carter’s credentials allowed them back where the rest of us couldn’t go. “They’re doing great. Everyone is healthy and feeling amazing. The nurses are prepping them to join us, and they should be down shortly.”
We trooped to the chapel. Carter and Ellise took their places up front with the pastor. They spoke quietly to each other over their clasped hands.
“How you feeling?” Joseph asked low.
“Overjoyed.” I grinned back at him.
The back doors opened and Lottie was pushed through in a wheelchair, holding a blue-swaddled bundle in her arms. I couldn’t contain myself, and I rushed to her. “Baby girl.” I hugged her, the baby between us. I moved back so I could see the baby. “Goodness, he looks just like a McKnight.”
Jaxson, standing behind her, was affronted. “I beg to differ. He has the Jaggars’ strong jaw.”
Lottie reached up and ran her hand over that very jaw.
I wasn’t going to argue with the new father, but this babe was the spitting image of my sons when they’d been born.
“Beep. Beep.” Liam motioned for Jaxson and Lottie to move aside. “Favorite grandchild coming through.” He winked at his sister as he parked Heather next to her.
I moved to greet my grandchild and was met with an almost identical-looking baby. “Well, the proof is in the pudding. These babies are practically twins.”
“Heaven help their schoolteachers,” Joseph joked as he gently placed his hand over Lottie’s baby’s head.
“You finally got to say something,” I joked.
He straightened and looked around. “Excuse me, everyone? I was going to save this for the toast tonight, but …” He looked at me, and the emotion in his eyes took my breath away.
He cleared his throat. “Since I don’t know what’s going to happen next with this group, I’m going to take this moment to …” He cleared his throat again. “When we were first starting out …” He put his arm around me and drew me to his side. I placed a hand on his chest and nodded for him to continue. “All we had was a couple machines and a dream. I thought we’d build a company and along the way have a couple of kids.” He swiped at his eyes. “But your mom, she had another plan. She wanted to build a family and have a company along the way.”
Everyone chuckled.
“I’m not one for long speeches, but what you all need to remember is that football and medicine and military and movies don’t amount to anything if you don’t have a family. You put your wife first, and everything else will fall into place. That’s it.”
I reached up and turned his face so he was looking at me. Then I stretched up on my toes and kissed him. Which, when I thought about it, was how this had all begun.
Joseph was right, though: family was everything. Though we’d seen hard times, we were in a season of blessings and peace. I’d take it. For as long as the good Lord allowed us to hold each other close.
Because this was heaven.
We hope you enjoyed the McKnight Family Romance Series.
Family is important to us and no family is perfect. But, when you have a family, like the McKnights, behind you, anything—even finding true love—is possible.
Don’t worry, we have more fabulous ideas in the works.
In the meantime, you can check out our sweet romance lines by clicking below.
Anne-Marie Meyer
Lucy McConnell
About the Author
Anne-Marie Meyer
Anne-Marie Meyer lives south of the Twin Cities in MN. She spends her days with her knight in shining armor, four princes, and a baby princess.
When she's not running after her kids, she's dreaming up romantic stories. She loves to take her favorite moments in the books and movies she loves and tries to figure out a way to make them new and fresh.
Join her newsletter at anne-mariemeyer.com
About the Author
Lucy McConnell
Lucy McConnell loves romance. She is the author of the Billionaire Marriage Broker Anthology and contributes to the Snow Valley Anthology and the Echo Ridge Anthology.
Her short fiction has been published in Women’s World Magazine, and she has written for Parents’ Magazine and The Deseret News.
Besides fiction, Lucy also writes cookbooks. You can find her award-winning recipes under Christina Dymock.
When she’s not writing, you can find Lucy volunteering at the elementary school or church, shuttling kids to basketball or rodeos, skiing with her family or curled up with a good book.
You can sign up for her newsletter—and get a free book—by going to https://mybookcave.com/d/290d4f96/
You can find more of her romances by clicking here.
authorlucymcconnell.wordpress.com
His Romance Coach (A McKnight Family Romance Book 5) Page 17
