“Well, folks,” Parker said with a great deal of humor in his delivery, “I think that’s it. Christmas Eve has come and gone and still no baby.”

He looked around at those who were still hanging out after a spectacular feast his amazing and very pregnant wife had put on.

“One more song,” Angie begged. “Please! I love Christmas carols.”

Smiling at her childish enthusiasm, he acted put out by the request. Alex joined in and complained that he was going to throw a fit if they sang “Jingle Bells” one more time.

Indulging the love of his life was Parker’s pleasure. She was on a high despite the delay in their baby’s birth. Their doctor wasn’t concerned but did say that after the holiday, they’d have a serious talk about inducing labor.

He kissed his angel’s sweet lips and rubbed their baby bump. “I have just the song,” he told her. Grabbing his guitar, he strapped it on and stood. His parents and Angie’s were smiling from across the room. Alex and Meghan were each holding a twin while Sophia, Jace, and Teo sat together on the floor.

His fingers danced on the guitar strings as he started playing “Let It Be Christmas.” He loved the heartfelt lyrics of the Alan Jackson song. The words fit the mood, and by the end of the song, all the adults were wiping away tears.

Angie was bushed, but she held it together and played smiling hostess until the last of their guests had been hugged, kissed, and sent on their way with containers of leftovers.

“I can’t believe I’m still standing,” she told him later when they were getting ready for bed. “I had an energy spike, that’s for damn sure.”

“Want me to rub your back?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she quipped before carefully stretching out on her side.

He gently kneaded her lower back until she groaned.

Rubbing her hands all over her belly, Angie looked at him. “She’s quiet tonight.”

“It’s gotta be pretty crowded in there. Probably not a lot of room for activities.”

She snickered at his joke and directed his hands lower. Before long, a soft snore told him his beautiful wife had fallen asleep. He drew the covers over her and turned out the lights. As he climbed into bed beside her, Parker glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight, and that meant he had to get some shut-eye if he expected Santa to drop by.

Softly kissing his sleeping angel, he lay next to her with his head on the pillow and quietly recited “The Night Before Christmas.”

His eyes closed and sleep took him.

“Aw, crap,” Angie muttered. She struggled to sit up and push the hair off her face. Squinting at the clock, she frowned at the time. It was one thirty, and that meant it was Christmas Day.

Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, she carefully slid to her feet and steadied herself. She had to pee, and the bathroom seemed really far away.

Sighing from exhaustion and effort, she put a hand on her back at her waist and shuffled forward. She’d taken five or six steps when a dull throb made her gasp. She stopped to catch her breath, and then something happened that frightened her half to death. Without warning, a gush of fluid soaked her underwear and spread down her legs.

“Oh my god, oh my god,” she squawked. Panic rushed into her system. This was it.

“Parker.” She gasped as the situation became clear. “Parker! Wake up.”

He shot upright in bed and wiped the sleep from his eyes. “I’m awake.”

“The baby’s coming, and I think my water broke.”

Her husband shot out of the bed so fast she was afraid he’d plow into her as he came to her side.

“Holy crap,” he murmured when he found her standing on a wet spot. “What do we do?” he asked.

“I think this is where we go to the hospital.”

“Oh, right. Okay,” he mumbled. “The hospital.”

She looked at him and almost laughed. He looked completely flustered and uncertain. Mr. Big Bad, I’m in Control Lawyer Man was having a moment, and if she read his signals correctly, she was going to have to tell him what to do.

“Help me get changed. I need fresh clothes.”

He blinked and looked around. “What does that mean exactly?”

“Honey,” she gently teased. “I need you to focus. We have to go to the hospital, but first, I’m standing here in a wet nightgown. Get me some panties—you know which drawer—and meet me in the bathroom.”

“Panties,” he mumbled as he dashed to her underwear drawer. “What color?”

This time, she did laugh. “Pink, of course.”

He came at her with four pairs of pink panties. “I didn’t know which ones fit.”

While giving step-by-step directions, she changed into dry clothes and quickly washed up with Parker’s help. The dull throb in her back was now a full-on ache, and she didn’t know if that meant they should hurry or not. She wasn’t having contractions—that she knew of—but the doctor specifically told them that if her water broke, she was to immediately go to the hospital whether she was in active labor or not.

“Can you drive?” she asked her befuddled mate.

He thought about it for a few seconds, said, “Nope,” and called for an Uber. Showing her his phone, he told her, “This says Janet will be here in five minutes. I requested a big car so you are comfortable.”

“Oh, wait. My bag. I need it.”

“What bag?”

She giggled at his cluelessness. “The hospital bag, remember? We packed it together.”

“Oh, fuck. Right. I forgot.” He dashed off but then stopped and turned around. “Where is it?”

“It’s in the laundry room on the counter. Where you left it.”

He didn’t get that she was teasing him and ran to the laundry room. “Got it,” he announced.

Snooki trotted to them and sat at Angie’s feet. She yawned and looked at them. Unable to bend over, Angie had to talk above her pup’s head.

“Time for the baby to come. We have to go to the hospital now, but like I told you, Sophie or Jace will come by to take you for a walk and make sure you eat.”

Parker halfway chuckled. “Thank god for doggie doors.”

She agreed and made a snarky comment about the thousands of dollars it cost to install the custom access door for her precious Snooki that worked automatically with a chip in her collar. Now that the dog was a superstar, Parker was more than willing to spend whatever it took for her and the dog to be happy.

“Here comes our ride,” he murmured. Carefully leading her from the house, she took single, halting steps on the way to the sedan at the curb.

“So I guess you’re having a Christmas baby,” their driver Janet quipped as she pulled away from the house.

“Looks that way,” Angie responded. “My water already broke so the quicker, the better.”

“Gotcha,” Janet replied. “It’s late, and with Santa prowling about waiting for everyone to fall asleep, there isn’t much traffic, so we’ll make good time.”

The dull throb that became an ache turned into an honest to god contraction. She winced and clutched Parker’s hand. When the pain subsided, she offered her panic-stricken husband a smile. “Looks like we’ll get some use out of all that baby’s first Christmas stuff after all.”

“How long has it been?”

Meghan bit her lip and frowned. Alex’s question was rhetorical. He knew exactly how long they’d all been sitting in the waiting room. Probably down to the actual second. Asking about the length of time masked his anxiety. She reached for his hand and gave it a little squeeze.

“These things take time.” The empty platitude tasted sour in her mouth. After everything Angie had been through, it was natural that they’d all be on edge. Alex needed her assurance that everything was going to be all right.

“Do you think Parker is okay?” Alex’s quiet question was chock-full of concern.

“Parker will be fine once he holds that baby. You know, for those two, it’s all about the bigger picture. For their whole lives, Parker and Angelina have been pilgrims on an emotional Camino—walking the path over and over until finally, the fates gave them one last shot. It took them a lifetime to get here. The depth of his love for her should not be underestimated. Nor should your sister’s fierce, fierce desire to make all their dreams come true. That baby represents healing. God wants them to be happy, Alex. Our part in their saga is to love them completely, support them wholly, and never, ever forget what it took for them to be together and have this chance to make a family.”

“My god, I love you so much. What the fuck did I ever do to deserve you?”

It was time to make a funny and lighten things up. Alex in a mood was never a good thing.

Offering a wicked smile full of sexy meaning, she softly kissed his lips and murmured, “You didn’t wax your chest. And you have really big feet.”

She relaxed when he chuckled. “Oh, right. I forgot. You’re just in it for the cock.”

“At least I’m honest,” she replied.

The expression on his face was nothing short of fascinating. Meghan tried to decipher the emotions flashing in his eyes, but luckily, he filled in the blanks, and in doing so, he made her blush beet red.

“Mrs. Marquez,” her sexy Beast drawled, “it’s all kinds of fucked up that five minutes ago, I was ready to start bawling like a toddler with worry for my sister, yet right this second, a hard-on is making a guest appearance.”

He leered at her. She grinned in response. “And not only that, I’m currently wondering where the nearest broom closet is so I can sneak you in, claim your panties, and fuck you senseless.”

“Jesus Christ, Alex,” Sophie sneered. “There is something so wrong with you.”

They both looked up at the same time. Wrapped up only in each other, they hadn’t noticed Sophie walking toward them. Alex, of course, had an immediate comeback.

“Yeah? Well, as the mother of a Marquez male, you’d better hope that shit doesn’t run in the family.”

“Which?” Sophie sniped. “Being fucked up or oversexed?”

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

Meghan watched this sibling interplay with an amused grin on her face. When Sophie colored and looked away, her brother moved in for the big brother takedown.

“Ooh, I see how it is! You and Delacroix doing the deed?”

“Fuck off, Alex. We’re engaged, so what we do or don’t do is none of your business.”

“And I’m married, you harpy, so my wife’s panties are likewise none of your business.”

Meghan snorted with laughter. Sophie glared at her—with love.

“Honestly, Red! How do you put up with his shit?”

“Well, as a matter of fact, I was just explaining that very thing to your numbskull brother. He doesn’t wax his chest and …”

“Meghan!”

Feigning shock that she was about to divulge an intimate joke, Meghan slapped her hand over her mouth and giggled. Sophie, for her part, shook her head and looked upon them as if they needed assistance to make it across the room.

Meanwhile … in the birthing suite …

“Aaaaarrgghh!”

The guttural grunt his wife let loose made the hair on Parker’s neck prickle. He was barely holding the contents of his stomach as his beloved strained, struggled, and cried while fighting to bring their baby into the world.

“I fucking hate you,” she bawled when the contraction loosened its fearsome grip on her body.

The doctor snickered and then quickly cleared her throat to mask her amusement. He bet she heard much worse.

Focusing on his part of the birthing process, he soothed Angie between contractions and did everything he could to be helpful.

Helpful? Ha! What utter crap. Whoever thinks the man has any part to play other than as a spectator is full of shit. Cups of ice, back massages, and encouraging words were all he had in his arsenal while the girl he loved more than life labored through bouts of agony. All for him.

“I know, baby girl,” he assured her while rubbing an ice chip on her lips. “I’m a dick.”

She started to cry. No, wait. She didn’t start. The crying was part of the ordeal, and it didn’t matter one little bit that every tear killed him.

“You’re not a dick. I’m just a baby,” she wailed.

Once again, the doctor’s amused expression revealed what she thought of their display.

“Oh god, Parker. I can’t do this.”

He looked at the doctor for help. She smiled and gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. At that moment, he didn’t know how Alex, Drae, or any man survived the birth of their kids.

Despite the deluxe accommodations, the bright lights and hospital atmosphere pissed him off. How the hell was she supposed to relax? And what the fucking fuck was with the stirrups and the half dozen people milling about in the room? It didn’t matter that the stirrups were Angie’s choice. It was uncomfortable as hell watching his beautiful love with her legs placed in the unfriendly looking apparatus, so Parker kept half an eye on the location of the trash can in case he puked. No way was he ever putting her through this ever again. It wasn’t fair.

“Honey, I’m right here.” He stroked her face lovingly. “You’re doing great. Relax between contractions. Save your strength.”

Another gesture of approval and encouragement from the doctor. He reviewed all the things he was supposed to say, and added, “She’s almost here.”

“Okay, Angie. Here we go again,” the doctor said. “Now’s the time to push.”

“Parker,” Angie wailed. “I can’t.”

The doctor nodded and made a motion. They had a series of pre-arranged cues to help him help Angie through the tough parts. He took a deep breath and slid his arm under her shoulders. Lifting her, he growled, “Yes, you can.”

Her hand flew out and grabbed the front of his shirt. Another guttural growl accompanied a ferocious contraction that lasted longer than the others had.

Oh, my god. This was really happening.

Angie’s face went from red to tinged with purple as she strained and pushed.

“Doing great, Angelina. Push, push, push.”

Sounds he was sure were from another dimension came out of his wife. The grip she had on his shirt, her red face, and the intensity of the doctor made every second surreal.

“Okay, relax.”

He heard the doctor’s words and eased Angie down. She was completely wiped out, and who the fuck could blame her? Her labor had started hours ago. It was after daybreak. The ordeal would break anyone.

“Are you okay, baby?” There was no way to disguise the anxiety in his tone, so he didn’t try.

“No,” she snarled. “I’m not okay.” That was when she got her second wind and smacked the holy fuck out of his arm. “I hope you’re happy!”

It was a funny thing to say, and in his defense, he was in a stressful situation, so his laughter was involuntary. She smacked him again.

“Don’t think I’m ever letting you touch me again after this!”

One of the medical staff spoke to get the doctor’s attention. He read juries, so the look of concern spreading from one person to the next was not lost on him. They kept looking at the monitors. He heard words about the baby’s heartbeat but couldn’t make any sense of it.

“Angie,” the doctor barked in a no-nonsense voice. “This is it. When this next contraction starts, I want you to count to ten and then push like crazy. Do not stop, understand?”

“Parker, oh my god.”

“I’m here, honey.”

“Here we go, folks. Next stop, a birthday for Baby Sullivan.”

He helped her into position and held his breath as the last contraction forced an agonizing scream from his wife followed by a long animal grunt.

“Push, Angie. Push,” the doctor chanted.

Sweat broke out on his brow. Fear and ecstasy squeezed his emotions. This was it.

The contraction went on and on. He was in awe of his wife’s balls as she harnessed the energy needed to push their son or daughter from her body.

Time ceased to matter, and everything happened in slow motion. Angie’s desperate grip moved off his shirt and landed on his neck. Parker was sure she drew blood when her frantic hand clawed at his skin. He shouted hoarse encouragement and commands. The doctor’s authoritative voice demanding Angie switch to overdrive and his wife’s determined wail sliced through his heart.

He was afraid for Angie. More than he’d ever been and that was saying a lot—considering. The monumental physical effort had to be taking a toll. Parker wasn’t sure she was breathing, and her whole body was rigid from the exertion.

And then, just when he was sure he couldn’t take another second of this, she slumped against his arm and sucked in oxygen.

“You are a boss!” the doctor exclaimed.

Next thing he knew, Angie’s entire body began to shake. Seconds later, a flurry of activity from the medical team drew his attention and then the moment came.

“Well, hello there,” the doctor murmured.

A small, delicate cry rang out.

“Congratulations, Mom and Dad. Say hello to your baby girl.”

He saw a bloody little mess, heard Angie’s gasp, and lost it. Just completely fucking lost it. Falling against his wife, he wept into her neck. Their extraordinary love had made a daughter. Parker couldn’t control the overwhelming tsunami of emotion.

“Aw, sweetie,” his wife murmured. “It’s okay. Kiss, kiss, Parker, and then go see to our little girl.”

He was awestruck. One minute, Angie Sullivan was in the physical battle of her life and ready to rip his nuts off, but now? Jesus. Where a few minutes ago, she was damning him to eternal hell for getting her pregnant, now that their baby was here, she was all sweetness and light. His angel.

Pulling himself together, he pressed a tear-soaked kiss on her beautiful lips. She smiled into his eyes as he pulled back.

“I love you,” he croaked.

She smirked her Princess Leia smile, and said, “I know.”

Behind him, a faint cry drew their attention. Angie pushed against him and giggled. “Quick, Daddy! Go to our baby.”

Parker stood and took a big, deep breath. He swiped at his eyes and sniffed. The doctor motioned him forward. In short order, she had him cut the umbilical cord, an experience he found deeply moving. They put identification bracelets on him, Angie, and the baby. Seeing his name next to the word father choked him up. At some point, one of the nurses took care of the claw marks on his neck. Then, they let him cradle his baby daughter for the first time. He lost it again.

Thankfully, the doctor was ready and gently guided him through the haze of tears to move next to Angie. Her smile was so big that not even happy tears could obscure it.

“Let me see, let me see,” she demanded.

The doctor helped him lay the baby on Angie’s chest. He sat on a stool and laid his head on her shoulder while he touched the baby’s back and stroked Angie’s hand. Their first skin-to-skin contact as a family.

There was no helping it. He sobbed. Angie cradled the baby against her chest with one hand, and despite the IV, she stroked his cheek with the back of her other hand.

“Daddy! Isn’t she beautiful? I think she looks like you.”

As he sat up, a box of tissues was magically thrust into his shaking hands. He mopped up his face, blew his nose, and kissed his amazing wife. Then he studied the tiny baby curled on her chest.

She was so tiny and pink. Her little feet fascinated him. So did her cute little lips. Happiness burst to life inside him when he saw that she had a light dusting of dark hair. It would not be a bad thing at all if their daughter was a beauty like her mama.

They had a few minutes alone to marvel, and then a nurse swept in to take the baby. “Sorry. It’s our turn,” she teased. “Time to get her all spiffed up! Don’t worry. She’s not going anywhere. We’ll be right over there.”

The doctor had been quietly and efficiently doing her post-birth routine on Angie. A small team of nursing staff helped transform the birthing table back into a comfortable bed. He was beyond relieved when she was lying comfortably. The doctor checked on the baby and came to speak to them.

“Seven pounds, two ounces. Everything else looks good.” She patted Angie’s leg. “Same for you, Mrs. Sullivan. Nice job.”

The two women fist-bumped. He blinked and asked what happened at the end. Had he really heard the nurse say something about the baby’s heartbeat? Angie gasped when he asked the question.

“Nothing unusual but yes, she showed signs of distress. A fetus experiences heartbeat acceleration and deceleration as a normal part of the birth. If the low heart rate lingers after a contraction, it’s an indication that the baby isn’t handling the labor well. In this instance, you were at the end of the process, and the baby was ready to crown, so no intervention was necessary. You did good, Angie. You too, Parker. I take it from your reaction that this is quite a moment for the both of you.”

“You have no idea,” he told her.

Angie beamed at him and told the doctor, “I’m the lucky one. He’s loved me since I was born! Who gets to say that?”

He explained to the confused physician. “Our families are closer than close. Her brother is my best friend. The first time I saw Angie was in a hospital room like this. My uncle snuck her brother and me in for a look at the new baby. I remember a tiny pink bundle and this beautiful little face beneath a soft halo of dark hair. When she opened her sapphire eyes and looked at me, I guess you could say our destiny was written at that moment.”

“Have you always been together?” the doctor asked.

He owned it. Totally. Stiffening, he held Angie’s hand against him and answered forthrightly. “No. I was a dick, and she left. Almost ten years on, she had the good sense to come back. And now we’re here, and that dark-haired beauty over there is the result of our true love. She’s our legacy.”

“The first of many,” Angie happily added.

Considering what she’d just been through, he wasn’t in any frame of mind to entertain doing it again.

“Well, my goodness,” their doctor exclaimed. “Thank you for sharing. That’s a lovely story.” She smiled at them. “There’s something else you can add to this legacy.”

He frowned and wondered what she meant.

“I don’t know what names you’ve been thinking about, but you may want to consider the day.”

“The day?” Angie asked.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan!”

Angie’s delighted squeal and his roaring laugh must have made them sound like loons, but so what?

“Parker!”

“What, baby girl?” he asked through his chuckles.

“Go tell everyone and then let’s pick a name!”

He took his beloved’s face in his hands and gazed into her sapphire eyes with all the love he had to give. Her answering gaze made him the happiest man on earth.

“I adore you, Angelina Nöelle Inés Valleja-Marquez Sullivan.”

Her mouth trembled beneath his kiss. Nothing more needed to be said.

Sophie paced back and forth in the waiting room. She knew her baby sister had the strength of a mule team, so she wasn’t all that worried about the birthing process.

“How are you holding up?”

Hearing her dad’s voice brought instant calm. He rubbed her back and waited for an answer.

“Oh, I’m fine, Dad. You know me.”

“Always worried about your sister.”

She shrugged. “It’s Angie. I’ve worried about that girl every day of her life.”

The love on her father’s face was clear. “You two are close. In parents' parlance, that’s what we call a very good thing.”

“Angie saved me in ways I can’t explain.”

He put an arm around her shoulders. “She believed in you, Sophia. When you were at your lowest of lows, she believed in you. Her love for you couldn’t be bothered with labels, words, or a diagnosis. It made a difference.”

Tears welled in her eyes as happiness filled her heart. “The little shit.” She giggled.

“Hey, come on.” Dad chuckled.

“No, Dad! Don’t you get it? She even blew Alexander and his twins out of the water!”

“How?”

“Hello,” she drawled. “Two goddamn weeks past her due date and what’s today?”

Her father blinked, frowned, and then the light bulb went off.

“Ohhh …”

A deep, booming voice bellowed, “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, folks! It’s a girl!”

All holy hell broke out as Parker stood in the doorway, his arms open wide as he ho, ho, ho’d through a shit-eating grin.

Oh, my god. A girl. Angie was right the whole time! Sophie clasped her hands near her heart and let the tears fall. Her happiness for Angie and Parker could not be contained.

The ecstatic waiting room scene was everything you’d expect. Those present were her parents, Aunt Wendy and Uncle Matt, Alex, Meghan, and Carmen. She wished Jace was with her, but he insisted on staying back with Teo. Uncle Calder was forced to sit out the actual birth because Stephanie was feeling under the weather.

“Hey, sis,” Parker drawled.

She threw herself into his arms and hugged him till he begged for relief.

“Congratulations, Parker! I’m so happy for you. Is Angie okay?”

“She was a goddess, Soph. A fierce, determined goddess. None of your brother’s macho warriors can hold a candle to her. Well, you know.” He snorted with laughter. “You’ve been there, done that. Mothers deserve a fucking medal.”

“Tell the little shit that she wins the grandstanding trophy with this Christmas Day stunt.”

“I know, right? Fuck Calder and his born in a manger shtick. My kid gets to claim December twenty-fifth!”

“Oh, and tell her I love her a million M & M’s. Or Skittles, if she’s still off chocolate.”

The rest of the family crowded around. Aunt Wendy appeared to be heading to meltdown zone while Carmen held Meghan’s hand. Her mom and dad were hugging. For them, it had been a boom year for their first run at grandkids. Four in all! Two boys and now two girls. The synchronicity touched Sophie’s heart. Teo, Aiden, Stevie, and now Angie and Parker’s little girl. The first wave of cousins. Fantastic!

“Listen, guys, we love all of you. Thanks for being here. I need to get back in there.”

“Hey,” her dad asked. “Do we have a name yet?”

Parker grinned. “Don’t worry. When we decide, you’ll be the first to hear it.”

“How do I look? Do I look okay? Hand me that mirror again, please.”

“You look amazing,” Parker assured her as he handed over the mirror for the third time.

“Yeah?” Angie peered at her reflection. She wasn’t so sure.

“What are you so nervous about? Do you imagine our folks are going to rebel against our name choice?”

She heard the astonishment in her husband’s voice. “It’s silly, I know, but something keeps tugging at my insides, and I can’t figure out what it is. I don’t know,” she muttered on a shrug. “Maybe it’s like Meghan says, and I’m just picking up something that’s in the air. Probably nothing to do with me or us.”

The baby squeaked, and they jumped at the same time.

“Bring her to me, please.”

It was so adorable how careful and gentle he was. When her husband held their tiny daughter in his big, capable hands, she felt as though her understanding of the world and her place in it shifted. She was a mother! And Parker was a father. Angie’s heart was near to bursting with happiness.

He laid the baby in her arms and quietly asked, “Does she have to keep the little cap on?”

“It can come off for show and tell, but it keeps her little head warm. Don’t worry! I have a whole basket of pretty little caps waiting at home. This little lady will be high stylin’!”

“My baby girls,” Parker murmured as he stood over them.

She looked up. He knew how significant the words were. The way he said it and the love in his voice when he included their daughter only made her love for him grow deeper.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He bent and kissed her. “Thank you.”

“Knock, knock,” her mother’s gentle voice called out. “Are you ready for visitors?”

“Mom,” she called out quietly. “Aunt Wendy! Oh, come look, you guys! She’s so beautiful.”

Her mother and Parker’s mom flew across the room and stood together, arm in arm as they each bent to kiss Angie and whisper words of love. After that, it was all Princess Sullivan.

Parker stood by beaming with pride as their parents went apeshit. Her dad held Angie’s hand while Uncle Matt struggled not to cry.

“She has dark hair!”

“Look at her tiny toes!”

“Do you see how long and graceful her fingers are?”

Angie’s heart was full to bursting as this ecstatic exultation went on and on. She started to cry happy tears and asked Parker with her eyes to take the baby and do the next part.

For all the days she had left on this earth, she would remember the way he looked, cradling their beloved baby girl in his arms as he prepared to announce her official debut.

“Mom, Dad. Uncle Cris and Aunt Ash, meet Alexa Nöelle Juliana Sullivan. Lexi honey, say hello to your grandparents.”

Expecting some sort of reaction from their parents, Angie was stunned when they froze, and the room went silent. She looked at Parker, but all he did was shrug.

And then Aunt Wendy cried, “Oh my god,” and fell sobbing into Uncle Matt’s arms. Angie watched her mom fall on top of the crying couple and try to calm whatever the hell was going on.

“Mom?” Parker cried in alarm.

He was still holding the baby, but he was shaking and had a stricken expression on his face. Her father quickly stepped up and took Lexi from Parker.

“Parker,” Angie cried. “Go to her. Go to your mom.” She didn’t understand what was happening. “Dad, what’s going on?”

Her father moved to her side and easily cradled her tiny newborn. He put a hand on Angie’s shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze.

“Honey? Look at me.”

She swung worried eyes to her father’s face as Aunt Wendy’s quiet sobs filled the air.

“Everything’s okay, Angie. Just trust me, all right? I know it doesn’t look that way right now, but you did good, honey. Real good.”

“But Aunt Wendy. And Mom. I don’t understand.”

“Angelina,” he drawled in his dad voice. “Trust me.”

“Mom, Dad? What the hell?”

Parker was sure he was in a bizarro-world as his parents went from ecstatic first-time grandparents to wailing and sobbing.

Aunt Ash straightened and wiped away her tears. “Parker, oh dear god. It’s okay. Don’t worry. It’s okay.”

“It doesn’t look okay,” he barked. “Dad, Mom, Jesus. Will one of you please tell me what’s wrong? You’re killing me.”

His dad recovered first and pulled a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his sports coat. He handed it to his mom and whispered something. She nodded her head and wiped her face with the handkerchief. Aunt Ash immediately set about repairing the damage her crying jag left.

Finally, the two women stood and faced him and his dad. His mom was clutching Aunt Ash’s arm. He’d always known the two were closer than sisters, but this—this went deeper.

“I-I can’t speak,” his mom mumbled. He went to her and wrapped her in his arms.

“I’ll do it,” Aunt Ash said. “It’s better coming from me.”

They gathered around Angie’s bed. He kept his mother close with an arm around her waist. Parker struggled to swallow when Uncle Cris handed Lexi to her other grandfather. His dad stared at the baby silently for a long time and then bent to kiss her forehead. He whispered something in her ear that would forever stay between them. With two fat tears rolling down his cheeks, he looked at his wife and smiled.

Aunt Ash took Angie’s hand and started to speak.

“A long time ago,” she stopped, smirked, looked directly at him, and added, “in this galaxy, there lived a happy Sedona family. Matt and Wendy Sullivan. They and their best friends, Cris and Ashleigh Marquez, were living life and making nests for the young ones they hoped would come. Along the way, the Sullivans were preparing to welcome a sibling for Parker when tragedy struck.”

“No, no!” Angie cried. “No, stop!”

“It’s okay, sweetie,” his mom assured her. “Let your mom finish.”

“There’s no need on this happy day to relive the painful details. Sometimes what is, simply is.” Aunt Ash had a way of making any sentiment noteworthy. “But there is one detail we shall speak of. The child they lost was a girl. Years later, Cris and I named one of our daughters after the sister Parker never got to meet.”

“Oh, god,” Parker muttered. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Aunt Ash solemnly stated. “It was you, honey,” she told Angie. “Nöelle is hardly a Spanish name, but it is the name of Wendy’s grandmother, and the name they’d chosen if the baby was a girl.”

A tremendous sob erupted from Parker’s chest when the reality hit him. Their daughter dug her heels in and waited until Christmas Day to be born. He and Angie never considered Nöelle as a name option, but after the doctor’s reminder of the significance of the day, it just made perfect sense to give Lexi her mother’s middle name along with another Marquez family name.

Without knowing why or what the significance would be, they named their daughter after his great-grandmother and the sister he lost. No wonder his parents freaked out. Because now that he knew, he was freaking out too.

Angie waved his dad closer, and said, “Do you mind?” He shook his head and handed the baby to her mommy.

Parker led his mother next to the bed. They’d already decided to call her Grammy. He understood what his wife was going to do and smiled encouragingly through his tears.

“Grammy Sullivan, meet Lexi Nöelle.”

His mother bent to take the small pink bundle. The look on her face could not be described. In many ways, it was a moment too personal, too intimate for anyone else to witness.

Parker reached for his wife’s hand and kissed it. She had tears streaming down her beautiful face, but this time, her tears didn’t cause him anguish. Her love was bigger than all of them, so it made sense that she caught what was in the air. In a manner of speaking, she’d carried his sister’s memory all these years, but now through their baby, he’d been given a chance to honor her memory too.

More than thirty years after a senseless loss, the arrival of Baby Sullivan had healed an open wound and brought joyful closure to the people he and his wife held most dear.

“Merry Christmas, sweet girl. Welcome to the family. We’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” His mother looked at them, and mouthed, “I love you both.”

His whole life made sense.

How close their families were made sense.

He and Angie made sense.

Of course, they were destined to marry and have a baby girl born on Christmas Day.

What was that saying? The circle rounded?

Yeah, that.