After traveling around the world for two years on and off—Cooper still working for Watchful Wanderers and Nora still baking—they finally decided to settle down and get married. They didn’t want anything big, just a small wedding at the house that Palmer and Beau have been renovating over the last year. Something about the ancient tile not being up to code for their baby, who’s supposed to be born any day now.
“May I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Chance,” Dad says.
They raise their hands, and we offer them one more cheer before they head down the aisle.
I take Larkin’s hand in mine and hold our sleeping baby close to my chest as we make our way down the aisle, right behind an extremely pregnant Palmer, who’s been dealing with her extremely overprotective doctor husband. Ever hear of a helicopter mom? Well, Palmer has a helicopter husband. I think she’ll be grateful when the baby is finally out, so she won’t have to deal with Beau checking her vitals and watching over her every second of every day.
Dad and Mom follow close behind us, slower than normal, but Dad is still thriving at the fitness center. He’s made great progress in staying strong and taking care of his diagnosis. The high-rise they’re living in is only a few blocks from Cooper and Nora, and they’ve become the official grandparents of the building. Not only do they have Nora and Cooper checking in on them, but they have the entire floor helping them out as well. And because their building is amazing, the management planted a garden on the roof just for Mom. They’ve been thriving, and whenever they’re tired of the city, they take the ferry to Marina Island and stay with Palmer and Beau for a few days.
As for Larkin and me, well, we have a baby boy, and we’re currently in the process of receiving our foster parent certification. We want a big family and are hoping to move to Seattle in the coming months to be closer to the family. We’re actually moving the entire headquarters to Seattle, which has been a task on its own, but well worth it, since our branding seems to match better with the area. Branding that Cooper has been smashing with his team. With the new stores and our new “experience” with the live snakes, and more hands-on classes, we’ve really taken the market by storm, and let’s just say . . . we’re all sitting pretty right now.
“Beautiful job, Dad,” I say as we make it to the tent.
“Thank you. Took quite an effort to not cry. Marrying all three of my kids has been the honor of a lifetime.”
“Something we’ll never forget,” I say, bringing Larkin’s knuckles to my lips.
“How’s our baby boy?” Mom says, cooing at Jacob.
“He’s good. Passed out after a long battle before the ceremony.”
“We couldn’t have timed that better,” Larkin adds.
“Beau, I love you so much, but I swear to Christ, if you touch me one more time, I’m going to punch you in your baby maker,” Palmer says, waddling up to us, hand on her enormous belly.
“Listen to her.” Larkin points at her brother. “I know how she feels.”
Beau holds up his hands. “I’m just trying to be helpful.”
I grip Beau by the shoulder. “You may be a doctor, but nothing is helpful at this stage. They’d prefer if you don’t even breathe near them.”
“Breathing,” Palmer says, exasperated, holding on to her back. “I swear to God I can hear everyone’s breath at decibels no one should ever hear.”
“Isn’t she so pleasant?” Mom says, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Palmer’s belly. “You’ve created such a great home that your baby girl doesn’t want to come out.”
“Well, guess what, the eviction notice has been submitted—I’m pushing tonight.”
Dad looks Beau in the eyes. “I fear for you, son.”
Beau winces. “I fear for myself.”
“Palmer complaining about being pregnant again?” Cooper says, coming up to the family circle.
“Wow, you sure know how to make a pregnant lady sprout devil horns,” Nora says, looking so damn pretty in her flowy lace wedding dress and flower crown. “I suggest when we have babies, you don’t say the same things.”
“So, there are babies in your future?” Dad asks, looking all too excited.
“Adopted babies,” Nora says. “Sorry, ladies, but I don’t have it in me to push anything out of my vagina.”
Dad snorts.
Mom claps her hands.
And Palmer and Larkin both nod, understanding her completely.
The photographer rounds us up for pictures, and I can’t help but savor how our family has grown so much in the past few years. We went from barely talking to each other to moving close so we can raise our families together and continue to build on the foundation Mom and Dad have laid out for us.
Together we’re stronger, and we’re only building in numbers now.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
When I was in fourth grade, I had a best friend I would spend every waking hour with. We were either at my house or her house. In my young eyes, she had this perfect family. Her mom would have fresh, homemade cookies for whenever we got home from school. Her parents never swore, they didn’t have TV because they would always spend their time playing games with each other, and they constantly preached to me about what’s right and wrong. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I remember being embarrassed by my family at times. We burped, my parents swore, we would watch TV while eating dinner sometimes; we did all these things that my friend’s family looked down upon. There were times when I was nervous to ask my friend to come over because I knew my family was so much different.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that every family is different. That just because one family might seem perfect doesn’t mean that my family is any less. I learned it’s okay to fight. It’s okay to have miscommunications. It’s okay to have falling-outs, because personalities will change, they will morph, they will grow. And as long as you’re adjusting, accepting, and always there for each other, it doesn’t matter if you have disagreements, because there will always be love.
My friend’s parents . . . they divorced when we were in high school. Her mom was cheating on her dad with his best friend. I can’t make that up. Just goes to show that sometimes what you think might be “perfect” is not perfect at all.
The Chance family is very much a depiction of not just my family but also my extended family. The ups and downs of aging parents, the siblings who are able to assist, the siblings who are trying to make something of themselves, and the siblings who very well might have been holding guilt for many years. What I wanted to show is that no matter what might happen to a relationship in your life, when family’s involved, it’s never too late to fix things if you have it in your heart to offer acceptance.
So this book is dedicated to my not-so-perfect family. To my dad’s not-so-perfect siblings. To my mom’s not-so-perfect brother and sister. To my two older brothers, who push me to try harder, to work smarter. To my parents, for keeping me honest, for showing me what true love really is. We might not have had a perfect childhood by any means, but one thing I know for sure is that it was full of love.
Aimee Ashcraft, my agent, thank you for testing my creative process, pushing me to dive deeper into each character arc, and for always believing in my ability to get the job done.