“It’s not me,” Nola chimes in.
“Nor me,” Peyton says. “You would already know if I was that’s for sure.”
Josie stands, as does Jenna. “Okay, you need to . . .” Josie’s words are cut off when Katelyn comes into view with the car carrier. “I know I haven’t seen you in a couple of months, but surely you would’ve told me if you were pregnant.”
Jenna’s mouth opens as if she’s going to say something and then closes it again. I look at Liam, who appears thoroughly confused, his brows knitted together. It’s JD who walks in behind Katelyn, none the wiser that the Jameses are trying to make a grand entrance. “Whoa, who’s bub is this?”
“He’s ours,” Katelyn says.
“What?” Liam, Josie, Jenna, and JD say in unison.
“Everyone, I’d like for you to meet Oliver James. Well, he will be a James after we can file for adoption.”
Katelyn takes our son from his carrier and shows him to his family. There are many oohs and aahs and still some confused looks, mostly from JD and Liam. I go to them and say, “I’ll tell you guys later over a game of pool or something.”
“Are you happy?” Liam asks.
I think about his question for a minute and try not to focus on Katelyn and the excitement she’s showing. The smile forms before I start to nod. “I am,” I tell my friends and son, who has joined us. “Once you hold him, you’ll see why.”
“It’s like magic,” Quinn adds. “He’s a Christmas miracle.”
12
Jenna
Poor little Oliver is passed from person to person, with each of us making the most ridiculous faces at him. He’s a trooper though, and barely fusses. It’s like we’re in an assembly line, each waiting a turn to hold him. When he finally gets to me—which seems like ages from when Katelyn walked in with him—my heart simultaneously beats with happiness for my friend and breaks for myself. For years, Jimmy and I tried to have another child, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us. We went to doctors, specialists and they all said the same thing: there isn’t anything wrong, keep trying. We thought about IVF, but I pushed it aside, thinking that when my body was ready for another child, it would happen. Now, I fear it’s too late but seeing Katelyn come in with this bundle of joy gives me hope. Maybe Jimmy and I can explore adoption as he suggested in the past. However, I’m not sure how Eden would feel. I’d love to think her reaction would be the same as Elle, Peyton, and Quinn’s was, but being an only child is different.
I’m not sure how long I get to hold Oliver, but grabby hands, also known as my husband, takes him from me and starts speaking cockney to him. I roll my eyes, and I think a few others do as well, except for the guys. Liam and Harrison are going gaga over the baby, right along with Jimmy.
Katelyn comes back into the room and takes the empty spot next to me on the sofa. She hands me a glass of wine and sets another one down for Josie, who comes back into the living room with a bowl of chips and salsa. Jimmy, Eden, and I were the first to arrive and had the house to ourselves for the first day. Well, I should say, I had the house to myself because Eden and Jimmy hit the slopes first thing when we arrived and again this morning. It seems snowboarding is natural for Eden, and she can’t get enough of some pipe or something. The lingo is confusing, but I try to keep up with what she’s telling me.
Josie sits with a sigh and rests her head on the back of the couch. “This house—”
“It’s amazing,” I tell her. “The pool, or rather the oasis, is beyond words. As soon as Jimmy and Eden left this morning, I floated around that thing for over an hour. I think the best part is the glass ceiling. Watching the snowfall is magical.”
“How did you find this place?” Katelyn asks.
“Internet,” Josie says. “I just started searching for houses to fit our family size. I found a bunch, and then I narrowed it down to where I thought we’d like to visit. Vermont seemed like a fun wintery getaway. Plus, the questionable cell service is nice. I want everyone to unplug and relax while we’re here.”
“I, for one, am happy Eden put her phone away. I think this is good for her and Jimmy. It’s something different. She focuses so much on surfing, which I know it's too late to do anything about it. I read this article the other day about kids who specialize in one sport, which got me thinking. She never really tried anything other than surfing.”
“No thanks to Quinn,” Katelyn says with a laugh. “Does she still have a crush on him?”
I nod. “I think she was rather put off that Nola came. I think Eden looked forward to monopolizing his time.”
“Quinn will still spend time with her. Nola is not a fan of the snow or the wintry weather. She’ll likely stay inside with us,” Katelyn tells us. “In fact, I think this might be the first time she’s spent any considerable amount of time in it.”
“And me,” Peyton says as she comes into the room. Elle and Nola follow her. The three of them are carrying a glass of wine.
“Who stocked the liquor?” Elle asks.
“I did,” Josie says. “Is there enough? Do I need to order more?”
Elle shakes her head and holds up her glass. “I’m curious about this wine. It’s delicious.”
There’s a look of relief on Josie’s face. “Oh, thank god. For a minute, I thought you were going to tell me it sucked or something.”
“Not at all,” Elle replies. “I’d like to visit the winery before we leave. Do you think they’re open?”