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Weston lifts one of the babies like he’s holding Simba. “I’ve claimed this one,” he announces. “We’ve already bonded. He blinked twice at me, which is obviously the Calloway family sign formentor me.”
“Put him back before Easton tackles you,” Billie says, but her voice is warm beneath the sarcasm.
Carlee is already snapping photos, misty-eyed and beaming. “You should frame this,” she tells Lexi. “It’s your beginning.”
I glance at Harper again. She’s still staring at the babies like she’s mesmerized.
“Do you want to hold one?” I ask, nudging her.
Her eyes flick to mine. “Can I?”
Lexi nods without hesitation. “Please. There are plenty of them to go around.”
Harper reaches down and carefully lifts the baby girl, cradling her like she’s held a hundred newborns before this. She rocks side to side instinctively; the baby snuggles into her like she knows she’s safe.
I didn’t think witnessing this would hit my emotions so hard. Watching Harper with that little purple-swathed bundle in her arms—her expression soft, her body quiet, her eyes shining—it punches something deep in my chest.
She catches me staring and raises a brow. “See something interesting?”
“This suits you,” I whisper into her ear.
A smile tugs at her mouth. “Dangerous thing to say to a woman holding a baby.”
We’re not supposed to be in here this long, but no one’s telling us to leave.
Lexi’s eyes are heavy, but she keeps smiling every time someone leans in to grab her hand or whisper congratulations. Easton hasn’t stopped watching her, as if he blinks too long, she’ll vanish. One hand still grips the back of her shoulder, like he’s afraid the moment might float away without him. A nurse peeks in to check vitals, sees us all still gathered, and just shakes her head fondly before ducking out. A minute later, she returns with a Polaroid camera.
“Want a group photo?” she asks.
It’s chaos after that.
Weston tries to fix his collar in the reflection of the monitor. Billie is directing lighting from the edge of the bassinet like she’s styling a campaign shoot. Harper brushes down Carlee’s hair while simultaneously handing her a fresh lipstick. Asher’s already planted himself behind Billie with one hand on her hip, waiting like this is just another boardroom headshot.
Lexi hands the baby girl off to Harper again. “She likes you,” she whispers. “She stopped squirming when you held her.”
Harper grins as the baby nestles under her chin, a breath escaping her tiny lips.
And me—I’ve got one of the boys now, swaddled in a powder-blue blanket, tucked carefully in the crook of my arm. He’s impossibly small. My free hand slides instinctively to Harper’s back, steadying her without even thinking.
The nurse positions us quickly, smiling like she knows she’s watching a whole ecosystem of history form in front of her.
“Okay, big smiles,” she says. “On three. One, two?—”
The shutter clicks.
In that single frozen moment, I feel it all. Lexi and Easton, exhausted but radiant. Billie and Asher, smirking but unshakably solid. Weston pretends not to tear up as he holds his nephew tight. He’s a big softy though. Carlee laughs while being supportive. Harper beside me, holding the future like it already belongs to her. And me—watching the people I love become something lasting, a legacy.
Lexi and Carlee hug each other for a long time, and Carlee whispers something into her ear.
“No way,” Lexi says, holding her hands, and tears stream down her cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Easton asks as he starts to freak out. “Someone get the nurse. Lexi?”
“No, I’m fine,” she says, grabbing Easton’s hand. “It’s the perfect time to tell them,” Lexi encourages Carlee.
“I’m pregnant,” Carlee announces.
The room bursts into excitement, and this is round three or four.