by Lori Ryan
She almost laughed out loud when she saw him actually blush. “Do you want to say hi, Grant?”
He leaned into the microphone. “Hi, Grant.”
The audience laughed and cheered at his corny joke, repeating their own words of welcome.
“You really couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Sophie said. She was shaking her head, but there was nothing but love in her eyes and her voice.
“Nope” he said, the same love mirrored in his eyes. “Can’t stay away from my wife.”
Another collective “Ahhh,” echoed through the venue.
“So, anyway,” Sophie continued, “we have some other special guests here tonight.” She turned and waved to the other side of the stage where another runway ran out into the audience.
Grant’s family—his mother, brothers and their significant others, along with their kids—walked out onto the stage, waving. Sophie’s parents, along with Jackie, and her wife Bethany, also joined the group, holding their new daughter.
“Hi guys!” Sophie waved to their families. “Say hello to New York City.”
Both their families waved and cheered. The crowd matched their own excitement, returning their well wishes.
Sophie laughed, looking at Jackie’s daughter, Elena, and Max’s twin daughters, Ava and Addison, all wearing tiny headsets to protect their delicate eardrums. God, she loved her nieces.
“Grant and my families have grown a lot this past year. As you can see, my sister Jackie married her long-time girlfriend, Bethany, and they adopted a beautiful baby girl, Elena.”
Sophie smiled up at her beautiful niece who looked so much like her birth mother, January Walden.
After meeting Jackie and Bethany and discovering they wanted children, January had made the brave and selfless decision to give her baby away. She said she knew Jackie and Bethany would always take care of her child and love her unconditionally. That’s all she’d ever wanted for her baby.
Being witness to the exchange when Elena had been born had changed Sophie forever. She understood unconditional love, she understood what real sacrifice was, and she admired January more than the young woman would ever know.
Jackie and Bethany had offered January an open adoption if she wanted one, but for now, January said she didn’t think she could handle that emotionally. Shortly after Elena’s birth, January finished high school early and had moved to London for a summer internship before her semester at Oxford started later that fall.
Sophie was grateful that Jackie and Bethany had left an option in the adoption paperwork that if January ever changed her mind they would always let her see Elena. For now, the terms worked, everyone was happy, and Sophie was the most doting aunt on earth.
“I still can’t believe my brothers are dads,” Grant whispered in her ear.
Sophie’s gaze traveled to Max and Devlin who were each holding one of their twin girls. They were dressed in frilly outfits, adorned with hot pink earmuffs for hearing protection from the thunderous crowd. The muffs had been selected by Becca, so Max hadn’t made too much of a fuss, until she adorned them with Beauty and the Beast stickers. Becca received a large donation to her swear jar that day.
“Grant and I invited our families here tonight for a very special reason. Not only is this the final concert of my tour, it’s the beginning of a brand-new chapter in our lives.” She turned and held out her arm.
Grant took her hand in his and squeezed it tight, bringing it up to his lips for a gentle kiss.
“Tell us Aunt Sophie,” she heard Becca, yell. The girl had a voice that could cut through glass.
Sophie turned and laughed as she sighted Becca, who was bouncing on her toes.
“Okay, okay. Settle down.”
The crowd burst into laughter as Max covered Becca’s mouth with his huge hand and motioned for Sophie to continue.
“Thanks, Max.”
He nodded and smiled.
Sophie dropped Grant’s hand and turned back to the crowd, slipping off the leather jacket she’d been wearing. Grant quickly took it from her grasp and draped it over his arm, his grin growing.
She couldn’t suppress her own smile, staring into the eyes of the man she loved more than life itself.
He nodded once and she understood the silent encouragement.
“Does everyone have their camera ready?” She searched the crowd and laughed as everyone held their cell phones up high. “You guys are the first to hear this news so get ready. And feel free to post on social media. We have a special hashtag though.”
She turned to their family. “You guys ready?” Not even their families knew Sophie and Grant’s big secret.
Everyone nodded and shouted their approval.
Sophie stared over at Grant. He was beaming now.
She turned so her family could see her side profile, along with the cameras pointed at them. Slowly she slid her hands down the flowy silk blouse she was wearing, exposing her expanding belly.
“Hashtag, baby Sumner,” she said.
There was a split second of silence while everyone figured out what was going on, then the arena erupted in applause and shouts as flashes blinded her.
Grant sank to his knees in front of her, wrapping his hands around her hips and kissing her belly.
“She’s pregnant?” she heard her mother ask. “Is she pregnant? I can’t see.”
“Yes, she’s pregnant,” her father said.
Sophie glanced over at her father and spoke into the microphone. “Yes, Mom. I’m pregnant.”
The crowds around them roared again, the sound almost deafening.
“In case you haven’t figured it out everyone, Grant and I are pregnant,” she said.
Grant stood and wrapped his arm around her expanding waist and waved at the crowd triumphantly.
Their family rushed to the middle of the stage and she and Grant were enveloped in their warm embrace.
Her mother gripped her arms, kissing both her cheeks, as tears fell down her own. “You’re all right? The baby is all right?”
Sophie nodded. “Yeah, Mom, we’re both really good.”
“How far along?” Valerie asked.
Finally everyone stepped back and she turned, noting the worry in her mother-in-law’s voice. Grant had shared with his mother the number of miscarriages Sophie had already had. She saw the motherly concern in Valerie’s eyes. “We’re four months. The doctor said it was safe to announce it now.”
Valerie grabbed her and hugged her tight. “I’m so happy for you, Sophie. You deserve this, you and Grant.” She finally pulled back and Sophie saw tears streaming down her face.
“There’s more,” she said.
Valerie’s eyes narrowed.
“Okay,” Sophie spoke into the microphone, waving her hand to quiet the crowd, and her family. “I have something else to tell you guys.” Not even Grant knew this bit of information. Only her father. She glanced over at her dad and he winked, giving her a slow nod.
She turned and faced the audience. “There have been many additions to our family over the past year, but there has also been one significant loss.” The crowd quieted instantly. “Last year my father-in-law, John Sumner, passed away very suddenly. It was a shock to everyone, especially to my mother-in-law. And to Grant and his brothers.”
She glanced behind her and noted that Grant and his brothers held their mother close, tears welling in all their eyes. Sophie prayed she could continue without breaking down herself.
“John was a larger than life kind of man, leaving a legacy of wonderful men,” she waved behind her at Grant and his brothers. “And now a new generation has emerged.” She smiled and touched Becca and the twins. “I’m just sad that John wasn’t here to meet his grandchildren.” She turned and stared at Grant and Valerie. “But I’m hoping his legacy will live on.” She wrapped her hand over her belly. “With his grandson.”
Grant’s eyes went wide.
Valerie’s mouth fell open.
“Wh-what?” Grant st
umbled toward her.
The crowd went crazy with shouts and cheers.
Sophie pointed to the screens surrounding them that flashed the words she’d been holding back for weeks now. It’s a boy!
“It’s a boy?” Grant asked, gripping his head with both hands.
She nodded. “Yep, it’s a boy.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Uncle Grant,” Becca shouted.
Sophie laughed and nodded as she stared into her husband’s eyes. “It’s a boy, Daddy.”
Grant swallowed hard, tears pooling in his eyes.
“There’s more,” Sophie said into the microphone. “I would like to name our son after our fathers. Jonathon David Sumner.”
Grant bit his lips and tears spilled over his lids as he grasped her in a tight embrace. Her own eyes overflowed with tears, only this time she knew it wasn’t from her hormones.
Slowly her family enveloped them again and she enjoyed their warm grip.
“Thank you,” Valerie said as everyone pulled away.
“Thank you,” she said, kissing her mother-in-law’s cheek. “You raised a great son. Six great sons actually.”
Valerie nodded.
Sophie stepped around from her family, the spotlight following her. “One of my father-in-law’s favorite songs was Can’t Help Falling in Love. It was recorded by many artists over the years, but John said he loved Elvis Presley’s version the most. He said it always reminded him of how he felt about his wife.” She glanced over her shoulder.
Valerie nodded.
“My dad actually loves the song too,” she said, staring over at her father, “but he likes the version by UB40.”
“They stink!” her father shouted.
Sophie laughed. UB40 was a British reggae pop band who’d “butchered” the song in the 1990s, or so her father said. “Just kidding, Dad. I know you love Elvis too.”
The crowd laughed, some shouting their agreements with her father.
“I thought this was a fitting song to close out my last tour for a while.” She held out her hand for Grant and he walked up beside her, intertwining their fingers. “When I met Grant and married him so quickly, many said I was a fool.”
“You were,” she heard Max yell behind them.
“Maxwell James,” Valerie scolded him.
Everyone chuckled.
“Anyway,” Sophie shook her head and looked at Grant. “I probably was. But it’s like the song says, I couldn’t help it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
She stared into Grant’s gorgeous hazel eyes, eyes she hoped their own children would have one day.
“I’m not sure how this crazy life of ours will work out,” she said, holding his gaze, “but I want you to know something.” She reached out and cupped his face. “Some things are meant to be. Falling in love with you was one of them.”
Grant leaned in and cupped the back of her head, kissing her gently. “I love you,” he whispered.
The audience gave a collective aww.
She smiled when he released her. “I hope so, because you kind of knocked me up here.”
Laughter erupted around them.
Grant reached out and wiped at the tears spilling over her lids.
“Tonight, I’m going to sing this song as a celebration of the love on this stage.” She waved behind her at all her family, those who had found true love, in one another and their children. “And a celebration of life, a full life lived by John Sumner. He had a hand in creating so much in his lifetime. But I will be most thankful for the family he built and the strong men he made, one of whom I’m lucky enough to call my husband.”
Sophie motioned to the video screens surrounding the arena. “These pictures don’t do him justice, but I hope the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live on will become the legacy he always wanted.”
She stepped away from Grant and walked onto the edge of the stage as the lights dimmed. A bright photo of her father-in-law holding his baby sister, Sally, and brother, Mark, burned bright on the screen. Slowly she began to sing the song a cappella as the montage of videos and photographs of John’s life flashed before them, a tribute she and her crew had painstakingly put together.
She smiled as she sang, watching the pictures and videos of not only John’s life but that of his friends and family, photos and videos of Grant and his brothers, as young boys, awkward teens and as grown men.
Thankfully she made it through the entire song without breaking down.
“I can’t help,” she dragged out the last note, reaching out for Grant as the last picture faded on the screen, a video of John and Valerie, their hands interlocked as their six sons skipped alongside of them. John’s face was turned back toward the camera, a smile larger than life spread across his face. A smile she saw in Grant’s face anytime he was genuinely happy.
Grant grasped her hand and she nestled into him.
“Falling in love,” she sang into the microphone.
“With you,” he said, kissing her head as his free hand went to her belly. “And you too, John David.”
* * *
Fall in love with all the Sumner brothers in each of their stand alone novels, available now.
His Frenemy (Ben and Maggie)
His Regret (Aaron and Kayleigh)
His Fling (Max and Devlin)
His Best Friend (Aaron and Kayleigh)
His Strategy (Jake and Lina)
Their Forever (Wedding Novella)
His Second Chance (Grant and Sophie)
About the Authors
Hi! It's Lori here. We could do the boring old bio stuff here—and we will—but, first, I want to tell you about the two of us.
Me and Kay, Kay and me, we're besties and buddies and soulmates and the mostest of everything. We occasionally have to do some serious marriage-counseling-type negotiations when we get into creative differences, but most of the time, writing with Kay is a BLAST! I love, love, love what we create when we get together. When we first started talking about writing books together, I didn't imagine it would be this great.
I'm so dang proud of the books and series we've put together. The heroes are steamy and sexy, the heroines strong and powerful...and, maybe, a little goofy, like me and Kay. We hope you love the people of Canyon Creek as much as we do. We hope you love coming back to the town and visiting again and again. We hope you want to stay there forever. We do.
Now, here's the regular bio stuff I promised, along with links to each of our websites where you can find the stuff we write separately, in case you can't get enough of us!
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, three wonderful children, and two mostly-behaved dogs in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
Lori published her first romance novel in April of 2013 and has loved every bit of the crazy adventure this career has taken her on since then. She is a hybrid author, publishing both independently and through SilverHart Publishing.
To see what Lori writes on her own, visit her website at www.loriryanromance.com.
In addition to being an author, Kay Manis is also a wife and mom. She lives with her husband and daughter in the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas. In January of 2012, after listening to Kay blather on and on about the millions of book ideas floating around in her head, her daughter finally reached her limit and said, “Just write it Mom!” They were the four most important words to Kay's new career and a catalyst for everything she's done since. In other words, she owes it all to her daughter! If you ask Kay, she'll tell you she can’t thank her daughter enough for her motivating words and belief that Kay could do more with her talents.
To see what Kay writes on her own, visit her website at www.kaymanis.com.
