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“Sorry to barge in on you,” Annie says as she hands Emerly into Bridget’s waiting arms.
“Family is always welcome,” Bridget says. “Grab some plates and have a seat.”
While Jake and Annie are getting situated, Calum drags two highchairs to the table, one placed beside Bridget and one by him.
Despite the big table, when everyone’s here, folks have to squeeze in around the extra chairs and highchairs. It’s getting more and more challenging as the family grows. Just wait until they find out we’re going to need yet another highchair before long.
I’m wondering how much longer it’ll be before the rest of the family arrives. And sure enough, ten minutes later, the front door opens.
Luke comes running into the dining room. “Mimi!” he cries as he launches himself at Bridget.
Bridget hugs Luke and kisses the top of his spiky white-blond hair. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Calum stands again. “I’ll get the toddler chair,” he says as he drags it to the table.
“We hope you don’t mind a few more,” Shane says as he and his wife, who’s holding their daughter, Ava, walk into the kitchen.
They’re not alone, though. Sophie and Dominic walk in right after them. Dominic is carrying Mia in a baby sling strapped to his broad chest.
“Hi, Mom,” Sophie says as she bends down to kiss her mother’s cheek. “I hope you don’t mind if we join you. We saw Jamie and Molly’s car out front.”
“The more, the merrier,” Bridget says. “Grab some plates.”
And this is why, when Bridget McIntyre cooks, she makes alotof food. Because it’s inevitable—when one McIntyre shows up, the rest of them have a tendency to materialize.
As an only child, I sometimes find the McIntyre clan to be a bit overwhelming. They’re a lot to take all at once—so many people talking, so much laughter, so much kidding around. Right now, two excited little boys are trying to be heard over the adults, and with four babies in the room, one of them is bound to be crying at any given moment.
But there’s also so much unconditional love here, too. It’s palpable.
The meal progresses amidst all the chatter and the clinking of silverware. When it’s over, everyone helps clear the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher. And then everyone gathers in the spacious family room to visit.
Jamie and I end up seated together on one end of a sofa. He lays his hand on my leg and gives it a squeeze. “Do you want to tell them?” he asks, his voice low.
Bridget brings up the fact that I have an appointment this week to try on my wedding dress, to make sure all the alterations are correct.
“I’ll come with you, if you like,” Sophie says as she juggles a squirming Mia on her lap.
Dominic reaches for the baby. “Here, let me take her.” The baby looks so small propped against her daddy’s broad chest.
“I’ll come, too,” Beth says.
While everyone’s speculating on my wedding dress fitting, I lean close to Jamie. “Why don’t you tell them?” I suggest. I know he’s dying to.
Jamie tries to suppress a grin, but I can tell how excited he is. I nudge him with my shoulder. “Go ahead.”
Jamie clears his throat. “Hey, guys. Molly and I have an announcement to make.”
His deep voice cuts through the chatter, and suddenly the room goes quiet.
“You mean besides the fact you two are getting hitched soon?” Lia asks. Her comment is accompanied by quiet laughter.
“Yes,” Jamie says with a grin. “Besides that.” He squeezes my leg. “I don’t think it’s a surprise to any of you that Molly and I would like to start a family.”
Suddenly, the room grows eerily silent. They’re probably expecting us to announce that I’m pregnant.
“The truth is, we’ve been trying, for a while now,” he says quietly. “Neither one of us is getting any younger.”
More soft laughter.
