Robert and I returned to New Tazewell for the birth of Shelby and Isaac’s baby. They’d decided to get married after the baby arrived, since Shelby didn’t want to “look like a damn water buffalo” in her wedding pictures.

Henry Jesse Cavanaugh was a big baby, just over nine pounds. He had an unfortunate head of hair, clumps of dark brown over one ear and near the front on the opposite side.

He favored the Cavanaugh side, but Ben and Abby agreed that he had an appetite and aversion to sleep just like a newborn Shelby did.

Robert and I hadn’t been trying for a baby, but we hadn’t exactly been carefully avoiding pregnancy, either.

About a month after Shelby and Isaac’s little one was born, I was on a music video set in Las Vegas when I had to run for the bathroom. I thought maybe the omelet I’d had for breakfast was bad, but when I threw up a second time, and I realized that I’d missed my period while we were home, I put two and two together.

Once the shoot was finished, I got hold of a pregnancy test, and the plus sign appeared so quickly that it must be a world record.

“Have you ever heard of a nephew being older than his aunt or uncle?” I asked Robert that day when I met him at the airport. He’d stayed over in New Tazewell, to help with his grandson.

“I don’t know, maybe, why do you ask?”

“Because Henry Jesse is going to have a new aunt or uncle, but he’s going to be older…” I couldn’t contain my grin any longer.

Robert’s jaw dropped.

“Are you kidding me?”

I shook my head from side to side, smiling so hard it hurt my jaw.

“Well, hot damn!” Robert laughed and grabbed me, squeezing me so hard I could barely breathe. “Let’s go get married, girl!”

It was my turn to be surprised.

“What? Now? Here?”

“We’re in Las Vegas, aren’t we? Let’s do it. We’ve waited too long anyway. I’ve wanted to marry you since Brazil!”

A Las Vegas wedding wasn’t what I’d ever hoped for, but in my unconventional life, it seemed to fit perfectly.

Elvis married us that very day, right in the shadow of Mandalay Bay. I was given away by Ian Ion, in town for a DJ gig. (Hector the pig did not attend.)

We made love in the penthouse suite at Wynn Las Vegas, sweet, passionate love that seemed to last all night. We melted together so that I had no idea where he ended and I began, and I didn’t want to.

The next morning, I tried to eat every pancake, waffle, and piece of French toast in the hotel. My stomach was as full as my womb, my heart, and my soul. I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful life.

Nine months later, two weeks early, Kirsten Shirleen Cavanaugh was born. Seven pounds and two ounces of beautiful, blonde-haired, green-eyed baby girl.

My father and my husband may not have had the anticipated fistfight when my Dad found out his best friend and hi daughter were in love, but I thought they might in that delivery room when it came time to hold little Kirsten Shirleen. Once my Daddy got his hands on that baby, he didn’t ever want to let go.

Going back to “work” wasn’t easy, but the public’s thirst for pop culture is unquenchable. I refused offers for a reality show and focused on finishing my third album and getting back into shape for the tour.

I always hoped my dad would find somebody, but he’s married to his job and he’ll forever pour his energy into that and his heart into his granddaughter.

Whether you know me as Lia Morris, Lia Melody, or Liane Cavanaugh, just know that I’ve received an abundance of blessings beyond my wildest dreams.

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