Free The Christmas Baby by Eve Gaddy

cars.”
    “Ava said thirty or more, including all the kids. They’ve invited some other people besides family, but I’m not sure who.”
    If someone had told him even six months ago that he’d be spending Thanksgiving with all these people in a scene of unparalleled domesticity, he’d have run screaming in the opposite direction. Come to think of it, he still might.
    Certain no one would hear a doorbell, he opened the door and they stepped into the madhouse. People were everywhere, children were running around screaming and laughing, and one of the dogs came running up to him and planted its paws on his chest. Princess was Ava’s overexuberant Lab mix. He petted her, discouraged her from licking Will in the face and made his way into the living room with Faith and Lily by his side.
    His mother and her husband, Walt, were the first to greet them. Brian and Walt shook hands and then his mother enveloped him in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you, Brian. And my latest grandchild.”
    She held out her arms and Brian put Will into them. “Will, meet your grammy.”
    Walt and his mother had been out of the country for several months and had only recently returned to the States. While Brian had told Lillian about his sudden fatherhood, she’d yet to meet her grandson.
    “He’s adorable, Brian. He looks just like you did at that age.” She beamed at him fondly before turning to Faith. “And you must be Faith. What a beautiful baby. And her name is Lily? I’m Brian’s mother, as I’m sure you’ve guessed. Lillian Monroe.”
    “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Faith seemed a little overwhelmed, looking around at all the people and activity. His mother must have noticed, too. “Would you like to bring Lily into the playroom? Roxy and Mel are in charge of that.” She looked at Brian. “Is it all right if I take Will in there?”
    “Sure. Have you seen Cullen yet?” he asked, knowing she’d been out of town since before Mark’s youngest was born, as well.
    “Not only seen him but changed him. I’m telling you, it’s a grandmother’s dream here today.”
    And what he once would have termed a single man’s nightmare. Somehow it didn’t seem so bad now. As Faith went off with his mother and the kids, he went to find Ava.
    He found her in the kitchen with a number of people, including Mark’s wife Cat, who was stirring something on the stove. Since Cat was a gourmet cook, she was always in charge of that aspect of the get-togethers. Brian shook hands with her brother, Gabe Randolph, and his wife, Lana, and greeted Cole, Ava’s stepson, who was headed outside with a football.
    “Hey, Brian, do you want to play? We’re getting a game up.”
    “I’ll check in later. Thanks.”
    “It will be a while before dinner’s ready,” Ava said. “Get yourself something to drink,” she told Brian, “and come talk to me. Where is that precious baby of yours?”
    “Mom’s got him. She said something about Roxy and Mel setting up a playroom.”
    “Bless them,” Cat said as Brian pulled a beer from the refrigerator. “Roxy’s having the time of her life with all the babies. And there are soon to be more, isn’t that right, Gabe?”
    Gabe put his arm around his wife and hugged her. “Absolutely. In about six months.”
    “That’s wonderful. Congratulations,” Ava said, and hugged Lana and Gabe.
    “Ava, can you keep an eye on this?” Cat asked, motioning to the stove. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    “They should call it Baby City, not Aransas City,” Brian said to Ava when the Randolphs had left the room and they were sitting at the kitchen table. “I’ve never seen so many babies in my life.”
    “That’s not saying much, since before Will, you ran from every child under the age of ten.”
    “True.” He grinned and took a sip of his beer. “That sure changes when you become a parent.”
    “Jack and I are hoping we’ll find out what that’s like for ourselves soon.”
    He stared at his