Holly led her husbands over to where Chloe and Ari were chatting. Jenny grinned when the three women enjoyed a group hug.
Jenny turned her attention back to newly arrived guests. She, Parker, and Dale greeted the next guests warmly. She was pleased to see that April Bixby had accepted her invitation. The fact she’d arrived with Marcus Jessop and Jeremy Bishop was just a bonus.
“Since we’re all new—sort of—we thought we’d come together.” April gave Jenny a hug then hugged Parker and Dale.
Her men greeted Marcus and Jeremy like very good friends. She knew they were both grateful for Marcus’s fast action a few weeks back.
“My folks were telling us about this newly formed tradition,” Marcus said. Then he smiled. “Back in the day, we had the odd party at the Community Center or sometimes at the Big House or the New House.” He looked around the restaurant and at the bookstore that was attached, accessed through the arch at the very back of the restaurant. “This feels good.” Then he met Jenny’s gaze. “Welcome to the family.” He shot a glance at the guys. “And, hey, you guys too, because you had the good sense to relocate from up north.”
Jeremy chuckled. “Be nice, Marc.”
“That is me being nice. I really am welcoming them.”
“I can’t welcome you to the family,” Jeremy said, “but I can say congratulations. I wish you only the best.”
“Thanks, Jeremy. If you can, go see your sister for a moment.”
If he thought the request strange, he didn’t mention it. He just nodded and turned his attention to Ari.
April shook her head at Marcus and smiled at Jeremy. Then she turned her attention to the three of them. “Congratulations to you all. I heard that you’re going to turn Mrs. Featherstone’s mansion into a museum. That’s a great idea.”
“We’re calling it the Ambrose-Featherstone Mansion,” Jenny said. “Mrs. Novak will be the manager, and my dad’s heading up the restoration-slash-remodel project.”
“Mrs. Featherstone treated her staff like family. I know she’d be pleased.”
“Thank you.”
Those three moved off, and Jenny definitely got a vibe that they were more than just nodding acquaintances. Maybe I have a talent for spotting people who belong together. Of course, only time would tell if those three were going to become an item, or not.
The next guests to arrive wouldn’t be announcing an impending birth because they’d just experienced one.
Jenny didn’t stand on ceremony. She walked right over to the new mother. “Maggie! Thank you for coming.” She gave the woman a hug then turned to look inside the carrier Maggie’s husband Rick wore. At just a few weeks old, Katherine Abigail was the sweetest, prettiest little baby Jenny had ever seen. Her fingers itched to hold the little girl.
“You’re welcome. This is Katie’s first major event.” Maggie grinned. “If this goes well, we may make an outing a regular occurrence.”
Before Jenny could comment on that, Maggie’s husband Kevin chuckled. “Baby, we promised we’d behave and let people see her.”
“You need to have more faith, love.” Rick’s expression, as he looked at his wife, was pure love.
“I trust you all completely—and I know you absolutely.” Maggie grinned. Then she looked at Jenny. “Katie’s daddies are very protective of her. And very involved in every aspect of her care.”
“We are that,” Trevor said. “But we’re not going to be unreasonable. After all, we’ve agreed she doesn’t have to wait until she’s thirty to date. She can begin when she’s twenty-five.”
Despite those words, and amid the chuckles of everyone who’d heard Trey’s assertion, Rick removed the baby from the carrier as if it was something he’d been doing all his life. Then he handed his infant daughter to Jenny.
She’d never held such a tiny baby. Jenny carefully enfolded the newborn in her arms, snuggling her close. Someday. She looked up and met the sweet gazes of her fiancés and knew they were thinking that same word. Someday, they’d have children together. Everything inside her softened, and she knew that was a thought her body agreed with.
“She’s beautiful. You must all be so happy.”
“Over the moon,” Rick said. “I never knew…” The man blushed. “I just never knew that I could love like this.”
Parker and Dale looked over her shoulder at the newest member of the Benedict family. Then they stepped back, clearly in deference to the new fathers. Jenny carefully handed the sweet bundle…well, she was going to hand Katie back to Rick, but Kevin swooped in and took her.
Maggie shook her head, but she was smiling. The five of them moved off, heading toward Maggie’s mother-in-law, Abigail, and Abigail’s sister-in-law, Bernice.
Parker ran his hand down her back. When she turned, she saw her parents coming into the restaurant.
Camille and Jason hugged her and her men. Since the first time her mom and dad had met Parker and Dale, they’d shown only love and acceptance. Her folks had stood behind her on every major decision she’d ever made. Even when she left that high-powered job in Houston, trading in her business power suit for a waitress’s apron, they’d been nothing but supportive.
“You look so happy,” Camille said. “All three of you. We were shamelessly watching you with Maggie and her husbands and their new baby. The look on all your faces…I guess we don’t have to drop hints about grandbabies.”
Parker laughed. “No, ma’am. We plan on having children, when the time’s right for us.”
“We’d also like to adopt a child,” Dale said.
Jenny nodded. “I was so blessed that you chose me. The chance you gave me was a miracle—one we’d all like to pay forward.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” a new voice said. “And such a tribute to your parents.”
Jenny grinned. She hadn’t seen Grandma Kate come in, but there she stood, just behind her folks.
Since her parents greeted the nonagenarian, she guessed they’d already met. That fact
