Page 84 of Manny Included

Bay beamed at him and gave him another kiss, then Eric and Merida were there, wanting hugs and kisses.Bay rescued Belle, taking Flynn so she could come over to him and get her hugs too.

“I’m so glad, Petey,” she said as she hugged him tight.“I’m so glad you’ll be ours, like for real.”

“Oh honey, me too.”He’d always felt like a part of this family, but now?Now it was real.

Bay had Flynn and Merida in his arms, watching him with this happy—like deep down happy—smile.

“This means you’ll be our Uncle Pete forever.Forever.”

“That’s right.Forever.Even when we’re all old and cranky and crinkly,” Bay told him, laughing.

“Then you’ll be grampas!”Eric cheered.

Oh lord.“Grampas?”

Bay shook his head.“Nope.Not happening.You’re going to be kidlets forever.”

“Forever?”Belle shook her head.“Nope.I’m having babies.”

Bay looked at him, wide-eyed, mouth open but nothing coming out.

“Not for another twenty years, okay?”He winked at her.“So that you’re ready.”

“Okay, Uncle Petey.”

Bay finally took a breath.“I think I still won’t be ready to be a grandpa at that point.Maybe forty years.”

“Then I’ll be a granny!”Her eyes were huge.

Bay burst out laughing.“That’s a long, long way in the future, honey.”

“I like a future.I want to be someone my momma and daddy would like, someoneyoulike.”

Pete smiled, hugged her.“Oh, honey.I do like you, very much.”

“Me too.”Bay kissed her forehead.

The doorbell rang.

“That’s our supper.”Bay put Merida and Flynn down and headed for the front door.

He couldn’t stop staring at his finger, at the ring.

Belle gave him another hug.“Uncle Bay did good, didn’t he?”

“He did amazing.A-Maze-Ing.”He had been surprised and pleased.

She leaned her head against his shoulder.“We have a good family, don’t we?”

“We do.We have a great family, because we love each other so much.”

“Okay.”

“Who wants to help me open up our food?”Bay asked from the doorway.

“Me!Me!”Merry waved, always eager for Bay’s attention.

“Well come on.We have a feast to make for our fiancé.”Bay grinned at him, all smiles.