Page 60 of Peach Cobbler Confessions

I turn to find Everett and Noah helping Lainey this way, and by their side are my mother and Meg.

“Lottie!” Mom calls to me, frantic. “I can’t get ahold of Forest. Oh, Lottie, Lainey is having contractions, and they’re very close. She’s having the baby! It’s finally time!”

It all happens so fast.

Lainey is whisked upstairs, and my mother and sister and I are right there by her side. Forest arrives, skidding into the labor and delivery room in a panic, and several hours later, Lainey and Forest are holding a tiny pink bundle in their arms. It’s happy tears all around as we take turns holding my shiny new niece.

She’s light as a feather, as pink as a rose, and I’m mesmerized by her beauty.

Everett and Noah come in, looking a bit bedraggled from sleeping out in the waiting area, and admire the sweet little angel themselves. Carlotta is here as well. She said Evie gagged at the thought of seeing all the blood and gore but promised to come by tomorrow.

Mom takes the tiny babe from me and she can’t take her eyes off of her tiny little granddaughter.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, Lainey,” Mom all but whispers. “What are the two of you going to name her?”

Meg sniffs back tears. “Spill it, Forest. I know you two have been keeping it a secret for weeks now.”

Lainey looks up at Forest and nods.

“We’ve decided to name her after both of our fathers. We figured those names would work well for either gender.”

Mom gags. “So Joseph Oliver Donovan?”

Carlotta straightens. “Okay then. Hello, little Joseph.” She makes a face. “Well, what are you waiting for?” she chides the rest of us. “Go on. Try it on for size.”

A collective, albeit out of rhythm,hello, little Josephcircles the room, and to be honest, it’s not sitting well with any of us.

Lainey and Forest burst out in laughter as Lainey wipes the tears from her eyes.

“All right, so we’re going to jazz it up a bit.” Lainey wiggles her fingers and my mother lands the baby in my sister’s arms. “Her name is Josephina Olivia Donovan.” She offers a sly smile our way. “And we’re going to call her Josie.”

A cheer breaks out as we all give little sweet Josie a proper welcome.

We stay a little while longer until Lainey begins to yawn right along with her adorable angel, and we leave the new little family of three to bond.

Meg, Carlotta, my mother, Noah, Everett, and I head down the hall to sneak a quick peek at Keelie’s new angel.

We find Keelie and Bear sitting up in bed while Keelie holds the tiny bundle in her arms. Her mother, Becca, is there and her father, Sheriff Jack Turner, is there as well, both with tears in their eyes while Naomi, Keelie’s brunette twin sister, coos over at the newborn with his light peppering of gold spun hair.

“Congratulations, Keelie and Bear,” Carlotta says it first, and we all repeat the sentiment.

Bear points over at Noah. “I owe you, man. You saved the day. You saved Keelie and my boy.” He sniffs hard. “Thank you, man.”

Keelie nods. “Thank you, Noah.” She offers a quivering smile at the entire lot of us. “Everyone, I’d like for you to meet Otis Noah Fisher.” She shrugs up at Noah. “It’s the least we could do.”

The room breaks out into a collective cheer as we welcome the baby by name.

Keelie holds up a finger and garners our attention once again.

“But we’re going to call him Bear.”

“Aww,” I coo. “Welcome to the world, little Bear.”

Carlotta sucks in a quick breath. “You know what I just thought of? These two little rugrats both entered the world on Foxy’s birthday.” She slaps Noah over the shoulder and a light laugh circles the room.

I bite my lip as I look up at him. “It looks as if you’ll be sharing your birthday with two very special people from here on out.”

He lifts his hand as if he were about to swear under oath.