One month later

Keir

The door to Grace’s loft opens, but it’s not Grace standing before me. “Hello, you must be Keir.”

“And you must be Mrs. Faulkner.”

“Yes,” she says, pulling me into a hug. I talked to her on the phone when Grace and I worked things out, but this is the first time I’m meeting her in person.

“Are you Grace’s mommy?” Connor asks, stepping around me.

“I am,” she tells him, leaning down with her hand out.

He ignores her hand, and launches himself into her arms. “Will you be my other Grammy now?”

I swallow hard, and nod when she looks to me. Jacky’s parents never once approved of me, and didn’t even come to the hospital when either of the boys were born. They’ve only known my parents, and Grace raves about how great hers are, so yeah, I want them in our life.

“I would love that, Connor.”

“Mine too?” Trev asks.

“Of course,” she responds, pulling him into her arms as well.

“Got room for another Pop?” Grace’s dad asks, coming to stand with us, and shaking my hand.

“Pop?” Trev asks.

“They call my dad ‘Gramps’, not ‘Pop’” I explain.

“You can be our only Pop!” Connor is jumping up and down as I shake my head.

“Nothing would make me happier.”

Grace comes downstairs, rubbing her eyes. Alex went into labor last night, and she stayed up, texting with me sister, until the baby was born. Today, we’re going to see her, but Grace doesn’t know where. It should be an interesting visit to say the least.

“I see you’ve all met,” she says, kissing the boys on the cheeks, before giving me a soft kiss on my lips.

“They’re our Grammy and Pop now, too,” Connor tells her, motioning to her parents.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you know how lovable these sweet boys are,” her mother says.

“Yes, I do.”

“Thank you so much for offering to watch the boys this morning,” I tell the Faulkners.

“We’re going to have a great time,” Mr. Faulkner tells me.

“My keys are on the counter, and Connor’s car seat is already in the car. Don’t spoil them too much.”

“Says the woman who flew them to Disneyland last weekend, ‘just because’.”

“You didn’t have fun?”

“Just making a point,” I tell her, putting my hands up in surrender.

“Let’s go,” she tells me, pulling on my arm as she grabs her purse.

The boys and parents get a last round of hugs and kisses, and then we’re on our way. Grace looks at me like I’m nuts when I drive into the C&C parking lot. It’s mostly empty, because it’s the weekend, but there are still a few cars here.

“Why are we here?”

“Trust me?”

“Always.”

I take her hand, and lead us to the elevator Ainsley has waiting. As we descend, I meet her quizzical look with a smile. I’m just the delivery person—and not the messenger—today. When the doors open, I motion her forward.

“Hi,” Reina says, hugging Grace.

“Where are we?”

“Our medical ward.”

“I didn’t know this was here.”

“You weren’t supposed to, until now.”

“Now?”

“Let’s go and see Alex, so she can explain.”

We follow her down the hall, and into a hospital room that’s the size of at least five public hospital rooms. The Society women are all in the room, waiting for us. Grace looks around, and I can tell she’s trying to figure out what’s going on. Her gaze finally settles on Alex, who motions to a chair next to her bed.

“Hi, Grace.”

“Hi.”

“You’re a little confused right now, and I understand. This floor is only part of what I’m about to tell you. Every woman in here was allowed to tell one family member, but since mine all know, I haven’t told anyone yet. You’ve become like family to me, and unless Keir screws up again, you’ll be around us a lot, so I want you to know.”

“Know what?”

“What we really do here.”

Alex tells her everything about the Society, and how it came to be. Grace asks questions, and Reina provides some of the answers, when Alex isn’t sure what to say. Once they’re done, Grace has a smile on her face.

“This is so cool. I can’t believe it all happens here, without any of us knowing.”

“Now you know,” Alex tells her.

“Thank you for giving me this honor. I’ll protect your secret.”

“I know. Now, do you want to meet my girl?”

“Yes, please.”

Miles steps forward, and hands the baby girl to Grace, before kissing her on the cheek. She cradles her close, cooing and kissing her. In this moment, I realize I’m ready to have another baby—Grace’s baby. I’m not going to mention it right now, but it’s definitely a talk we need to have. God knows, the boys will be excited about it. My little family is just about as perfect as it can get, but a baby will make it even better. A wedding might come first, but that piece of paper isn’t as important as the love behind it, and right now, I’m full of love.