First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

And then they were alone. Just the three of them. Leah continued to marvel. Cade apparently was not going to stop smiling. She did not remember ever being happier.

“So, do you have any names picked out?” Cade asked as he pulled the chair up as close to the bed as possible.

Leah shrugged.

“Do you?”

This time it was Cade who shrugged.

“Speaking of names though . . .” Leah broached the subject carefully. “I have a question. Something Nicole said.”

“Okay . . .” Cade’s whole demeanor changed. He seemed guarded.

“Did you name Liam yourself?”

Cade looked down at the baby, not meeting her eyes. Leah thought he looked guilty. She waited patiently. Finally he spoke.

“Yeah, I picked out his name. It just seemed right,” he looked up at her then. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. Naming Liam after you, as close as I could, was a way to always have a piece of you with me.” He shrugged and his hard jaw jetted out, “I’m not sorry.”

“I’m not sorry either. I am honored. And I love Liam’s name,” she squeezed his hand and hoped he could see how much it meant to her.

Cade touched her face and she leaned into his palm.

After a few moments she asked, “Got any other great name ideas?”

“I was thinking about your grandma or my grandpa,” he confessed.

“Me too,” she laughed lightly. They looked at each other then down at their baby. “What if . . .” Leah thought for a second before saying more.

She quickly explained her idea. Cade just as quickly agreed. And just like that, their child had a name. Leah decided this was now her new happiest moment.

There was a soft knock on the door. Lily entered and peeked around the privacy curtain. “They’re here,” she said excitedly. “Last chance to tell me first!” she teased.

Without waiting for an answer, Lily pushed back the curtain and arranged the extra chair with a pillow for a baby holding station. Leah watched her sister keep herself busy. Last, she came over to the bed and made sure Leah was covered and decent.

When the kids entered, Leah had never heard them be so quiet. She listened while the water ran as everyone washed their hands. She heard splashes and hushed whispers.

Leah held her baby and waited. Sky came forward first and Cade wrapped her in a hug. They had a quiet exchange before Sky approached and peeked at the baby.

The look of awe on Sky’s face was priceless. Leah could tell the teen was smitten. She’d seen that same look when Sky smiled at Liam. Maybe this was her newest happiest moment. She was quickly getting overwhelmed by the emotion of it all.

Liam popped up next to the bed. His little eyes were round with wonder. He stretched, trying to get a better view. Leah laughed and Cade picked him up.

“Whoa,” Liam said.

Cade chuckled at his son’s reaction and set him back down.

Allison and Emmie were next. Robert and Lily offered to lift the girls up, but both just stood and stared.

“Cool,” Allison declared.

“Very cool,” Robert agreed. He gave Cade a hardy handshake then moved in to give Leah a careful hug, “Congratulations, Mom.”

Leah beamed. Her smile slipped slightly when she caught an odd expression on Cade’s face. It was gone so quickly, she thought she imagined it.

Robert moved back and put his arms around Lily. They stood together smiling happily. Everyone was smiling. The joy in the room was palpable.

Finally Emmie moved in. She climbed up on the bed before anyone could stop her. The adults, Sky included, took a step forward. Leah shook her head and they all relaxed.

“Hi baby. Hi sweetie. I’m your cousin,” Emmie touched the baby ever so gently. She grinned. “Oh, Aunt Leah, she’s beautiful!” Her words came out as a breathless whisper but everyone seemed to have heard.

“So it’s a girl?” Lily asked.

Leah and Cade exchanged glances. They wondered how Emmie knew. But there was so much about their experiences that had no explanation, they just accepted Emmie’s knowing.

Lily’s patience ran out. “Oh, just tell us already!” she demanded.

Realizing she had spoiled the surprise, Emmie’s little face fell. Leah handed Cade the baby and wrapped Emmie in her arms. She had to shift to do it and it hurt. A lot. But Emmie was crying and she had to comfort her niece.

“It’s okay, princess,” Cade also tried to reassure her. Leah shushed and soothed and Emmie slowly recovered. Finally, Leah looked up at Cade and gave a nod.

“I guess it’s time for an introduction!” His voice was rich and warm and very proud.

Lily would have been bouncing if Robert hadn’t been holding her tightly. Allison and Liam were. Even Sky could not stand completely still.

“Dad, you’re killing us! Come on already,” Sky pleaded.

Lily stomped her foot.

Cade laughed. He took a deep breath and began, “Leah suggested we name our child after my Grandpa Henry, because she knows just how special he was to me.” His voice cracked with emotion and she reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it and continued, “So we’d like you all to meet Hen—”

“I have a brother?!” Liam whooped, fist in the air.

Everyone laughed.

Except Emmie.

“But . . . but . . .” Emmie’s face was scrunched up in confusion.

Leah could not help but smile. She touched her niece on the nose and told her to listen. Cade tried again.

“We’d like you to meet Henley Grace Emerson!”

“I have a sister!” Sky put out her arms and Cade let his daughters officially meet. “I’ve never had a sister,” she mused, eyes glued on the bundle in her arms. “She looks a lot like Liam, except her face is rounder. Like Leah’s.”

Leah turned her attention to the rest of the room. Everyone was reacting well to the news. Liam did not seem upset to not have a brother. Her nieces looked happy too. Lily was beside herself with joy.

“Grace! After Gigi! Leah, it’s perfect!”

“Thanks, Aunt Lily.”

Lily beamed at her sister. She came over