“You got me an Easy-Bake Oven? You do remember that I have two ovens at home, right?”
“Think of this as a bit of a riddle.” Bella laughed. “Open up the oven.”
She opened up the oven and looked inside, pulling her eyebrows together. Everyone stood very still, watching and waiting for her to reveal what was inside. Slowly, she pulled out a large cinnamon bun and stared over at Bella, shaking her head.
“A cinnamon bun? Why would you give me a bun in an oven?”
Immediately, she froze, and her head shot up to Bella, a look of pure shock crossing her face. She set the bun down on the box and covered her mouth. Bella laughed loudly and walked toward her.
“What is it, Mom?”
“It’s a bun in an oven,” she shouted with a smile on her face. “Are you pregnant?”
“Yes,” she said, smiling and shaking her head.
Everyone cheered and clapped as Bella and her mother embraced, tears in all of the women’s eyes. It was an amazing moment for everyone, and I looked across the yard at Alissa and winked, causing her to smile and blush. She looked up and winked back at me, laughing to herself as everyone else was glued to the story unfolding in front of them with Bella and her new baby.
I stood back and gazed out at the yard, feeling more than blessed for everyone and everything that I had. A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that I would end up with a gorgeous woman, a loving family, a happy daughter, and an inner spirit that just filled me up every single day. The truth was, I couldn’t think of a time that I had been more content with my life than right there in that moment. I was completely and unreservedly ecstatic, and I was pretty sure I had never been that way before. Life was good, and I wasn’t going to let anything ruin that.
Chapter Thirty
Alissa
The party had gone off without a hitch, and at least three of the six kids were passed out in their parents’ arms by the time the party was over. I had an amazing time, being with my family, being part of Ryan’s family, and showing Kayla a day where she could just be that 8-year-old little girl and not have to stress or worry over anything else. She deserved every moment of that party plus more, and I was really banking on the idea that I would be around long enough to give her those things. She and Ryan were quickly becoming my life.
I threw the last of the paper plates in the trash and wrapped up the leftover food, waiting for it to get dark enough to watch the fireworks. My mom and stepdad, Bella, and all the other people had already taken off to do their own thing for the Fourth. It was just me, Kayla, and Ryan left, and I could tell Kayla was fighting sleep hardcore so that she didn’t miss the fireworks. Fireworks used to be my favorite thing about the Fourth of July, but after the amazing time I had during the cookout, I had to say that I was starting to think that Ryan and Kayla were becoming my favorite part of every day. Just knowing I was going to get to sit on a blanket and watch the fireworks with people I loved so very much, Kayla already calling dibs on my lap, made me more than happy. It was really turning out to be one of the best days yet.
“It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?” Ryan walked up behind me and put his arms around my waist.
“What is? My list is growing bigger and bigger by the minute.” I leaned back and kissed his lips.
“The fact that we live right next door to the community park where they shoot off the city’s firework display,” he said. “We literally are going to be able to lay down on blankets with no crowds, no traffic, and no crazy drunk people, and watch the fireworks from the sanctuary of our backyard.”
“You mean your backyard.” I giggled.
“Right,” he said. “You can claim it as yours if you want. It isn’t much of a home without you these days. You bring the light into our lives.”
“Aww,” I cooed, turning and kissing him gently. “You guys do the same for me.”
We picked up the empty chip bowls and walked inside, shutting the bugs out of the house for a little bit and taking advantage of the nice, cold air conditioner. The sun was just starting to go down, and it wasn’t quite time for the show. We would make sure that as soon as it got dark and the crickets started chirping, that we laid down together on the blanket and enjoyed every second of the sparkling light show. Until then, I would make sure the dishwasher got filled and turned on and then sit down and drink a beer, the first one I was able to get to all day. I smiled over at Kayla, who was laying in the living room where she spent most of her time these days. She played with her baseball doll. She really was impressed with the thing, and I was really glad that I got her something that she would actually be able to play with and use to make herself feel better.
I walked over and kissed Ryan on the cheek, smiling at him as he turned toward me. Before he could lean in again, the sound of a loud knock came from the front door. We both looked over at the front door and sighed.
“I’ll get it,” I said, laughing. “It’s probably my sister. She left her plate of leftovers here, and the poor thing doesn’t have her husband there to cook for her. The girl could burn water if you gave her the chance.”
“We can cut her some slack since she’s pregnant,” he said, laughing and calling after me as I approached the door.
I reached for the handle and flung it open, not even thinking that I would ever be faced with the person I was standing in front of. At first, I couldn’t see her, as she was holding a giant present in her arms, blocking half of her body. I had only met Christina once, but I remembered her vividly from all of the pictures I’d ended up taking down of her. She looked around the bear, and her smile faded as she stared up at me, holding a towel in my hands and wiping the remnants of birthday cake from my clothes. I froze for a moment, not knowing what to do. I glanced over at Kayla, who was getting off the couch and walking toward us. Ryan came around the corner and stopped in his tracks as well, his face slowly moving into an angry expression. We really thought that Christina was going to bail, but there she stood, in all her glory.
I stepped to the side, and Christina walked straight in, smiling big as Kayla stopped in her tracks, squealed at the top of her lungs, and went running straight toward her mother. I felt an unfamiliar twinge of jealousy as Christina enjoyed the luxury of her daughter’s love that she did not deserve at all. I looked over at Ryan, who still looked shocked as hell, and was slowly walking toward Christina as if he wasn’t sure what to do with her. I watched as Christina handed Kayla a gigantic teddy bear, which was even bigger than she was. Kayla hugged the bear and then turned to her mother, hugging her tightly around the neck.
“You came,” she said excitedly.
“Of course, baby girl,” Christina said. “I couldn’t miss your big 8! How was your party?”
“It was so amazing,” she said, smiling. “You missed Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Bella, who is pregnant, and Mr. Juan and Miss Maria. They were all here to celebrate with me and my friends.”
“That’s so great,” she said, glancing up at Ryan as he stood there trying to control his facial expressions.