Then he looked back up at his family, his face about to crack under his enormous smile.
“We’re not just having one baby. Last week we learned that we’re having…twins.”
A series of gasps, exclamations, and sounds of complete surprise echoed across the room. Excited babble. Joy and enthusiasm danced tangibly in the air.
Marlene could no longer contain herself. She converged on Rachel, her hand waving excitedly in the air as squeals of excitement burst from her lips.
“Oh baby,” Marlene exclaimed as she pulled Rachel into her arms. “What wonderful, wonderful news. I’m so happy for you and Ethan.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said, returning her fierce hug.
“How frightened you must have been through all of this,” Marlene said, sympathy shining in her warm, brown eyes.
Frank pushed his way in and gathered Rachel into a huge hug, but he was extremely gentle, careful not to crush her. He kissed her cheek, and when he spoke, his voice was clogged with emotion.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” Frank said. “What a blessing two more grandchildren will be. You take good care of yourself, young lady. I’ll be watching.”
Rachel grinned. Oh but she was about to burst from the joy of it all. “I know you will.”
“This calls for a toast,” Sam called out, holding his glass high.
The room went silent again as the oldest Kelly son smiled in Rachel and Ethan’s direction.
“You’ve long been special to us all, Rachel,” he said.
Everyone was quick to agree, their smiles as bright as the sun. She basked in those smiles. At the love and acceptance that shined as brilliantly as a million stars.
“You’re also one hell of a kickass woman. I don’t know of many other people as resilient as you. And even after all you’ve endured, you’ve still remained the sweet and loving Rachel that we all fell in love with all those years ago.”
Tears burned her eyelids until she gave up trying to hold them at bay. Sam was so serious, giving her no doubt he meant every single word.
Donovan broke in, looking directly at Ethan.
“If your children—Rachel’s children—inherit even one half of their mother’s spirit and determination, then you’ll have yourself two children who’ll never be beaten down in life.”
“Hell, they’ll rule the damn world,” Garrett muttered.
Laughter swept through the room, relieving some of the solemnness.
“Thank you,” Rachel said, her voice as watery as her eyes were. “I’m so grateful for you all, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She looked directly at Marlene and Frank, her love for the older couple so powerful that it was hard to even put into words all she felt and all she hoped for.
“My hope for my children is that I can be the kind of parent that you are to your children and to the people you offer that unconditional love and support to.”
“I’ll second that,” Ethan said, wrapping his arm around Rachel.
Rachel looked around the room, at every single face. “My babies will be the luckiest children who ever lived to have such a wonderful family. I’ll never forget how much you’ve helped me overcome in the past few years.”
Sean cleared his throat. “Rachel, honey, just do me a favor, please? Given all that you and I have gone through together, when you go into labor, make sure I’m nowhere in the vicinity.”
The room burst into laughter, and Rachel laughed along with them. She closed her eyes, simply absorbing the vibration of so much joy.
She was no longer a victim of the past, held prisoner by the demons who haunted her mind. She was moving beyond that, into a future filled with the promise of brighter days and happier times.
She was a Kelly. And she was loved.