Page 134 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

“You’re …” His mouth fell open and he looked at all the faces of our family.

America gasped, holding her hand over her mouth.

Travis looked to me, tears in his eyes. “Pigeon …” he choked out. “I’m going to be a dad?”

Jim paused, the realization just hitting him, and then he began to wipe his eyes with his thumb and index finger. “I’m gonna have a grandbaby?”

Jack hugged him to his side. “Congratulations!”

I nodded again, feeling tears burn my eyes. “Two. Two grandbabies.”

Everyone looked at me with confusion.

“We’re …” I sighed, in disbelief myself. “We’re having twins.”

The family exploded into squeals, yelps, and applause. America screamed through her fingers.

Jim was laughing through his tears, elated.

“Two?” Travis asked, holding up his fingers. I nodded, and his bottom lip trembled. Then, he slowly lowered to his knees, hugging me at the waist.

I cradled Travis’s head until he leaned back and kissed my stomach.

“Hey, babies,” he said softly.

My lips pressed into a hard line and my face crumbled. I had seen Travis rage, fall in love, fear for our lives, worry, and I’d seen him at peace. Watching him as he realized he was going to be a father was absolutely my favorite.

He stood and cupped my jaw, kissing me over and over. I wiped the tears from his cheeks, and then he wiped mine before turning to his dad. “You’re going to be a grandpa!”

“Hell yes I am!” Jim exalted, hugging us both.

The family cheered again, then took turns congratulating us. We hugged, and hugged, and hugged some more.

My sisters were crying, and then my brothers began to shed happy tears, too.

That moment was what I’d dreamed of my entire childhood. The love I felt from everyone in that room was my highest hope, and because I fell in love with an unpredictable, hot-tempered, tattooed ladies’ man who no one could have imagined would’ve ever settled down, my life was more beautiful than even the most perfect wish I could’ve made.