Thanksgiving had always been Naomi’s favorite holiday. Don’t get her wrong; Christmas was great, too, but the gifts that came with Thanksgiving had more to do with family, friends, and love than with beautifully wrapped packages.
She bustled around the kitchen of the Hidden Gem Inn, stirring the cranberry sauce on the stove and checking the temperature of the turkey Lucas had brined and put in the oven even before she and Gracie had awakened. Tomorrow they would welcome their very first guests to the inn, but first, they were christening it with a large Thanksgiving dinner in their expansive dining room.
Everyone would be there—Lance and Jessa, Luis and Evie, Levi, Darla and Cassidy, Colton and his long-distance boyfriend, Owen. Even Mark and his family had agreed to come and spend the day with them. He’d been up to visit every other week since the summer, and last month he’d brought his wife and their son to meet Gracie.
Of course it looked nothing like the family Naomi had once imagined for her and her daughter, but she was grateful all the same. Logistics didn’t matter so much when people loved each other well.
Once again, she made her way through the dining room, admiring the beautiful fall decorations Jessa had helped her place—ornate foliage with colorful leaves and miniature pumpkins. A wicker cornucopia overflowing with real fruit sat in the center of the table set elaborately for fifteen. And there was still room to spare. She checked the place settings again, smiling to herself for strategically placing Cassidy next to Levi. The woman claimed to harbor a serious irritation for him, but Naomi had also noticed that her cheeks seemed to get a little pinker whenever he was around.
“This place looks incredible.” Lucas came up behind her, kissing her neck. “And you smell incredible.”
She leaned against his chest. “I think it’s your turkey that smells incredible.” She smiled up at him, still amazed he was here. That they were here together. In their bed and breakfast. They’d moved in at the beginning of October and it had felt like home right away.
“Where’s Gracie?” she asked. Earlier, while she’d kept an eye on their dinner, Lucas and Gracie had gone out to deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need through the local food bank.
“She’s outside playing with Bogy,” he said, giving her shoulders a good massage. He was always doing that, doting on her.
“You might want to call her in here.” Naomi turned to him. “Because we have something to discuss.”
“Yeah?” He drew out the word into a hopeful question.
“Yeah,” she confirmed, not offering him anything else.
He bounded out of the room with a grin and came back with Gracie slung over his shoulder like a giggling sack of potatoes. She squealed as he hauled her up higher in the air, then set her feet on the floor.
“That was fun!” Her cheeks were pink from the cold and the laughter, and her red hair was happily disheveled.
“Your mom has something to discuss with us.” Lucas glared at Naomi as though he didn’t want to wait one more second.
Neither did she. “You know how we’d talked about making the third bedroom an office?” she asked, unable to hold back a happy smile.
“Uh-huh…” His eyes got as wide as hers.
“And I said we had to save it for a brother or sister instead,” Gracie reminded them.
“Well, Gracie girl…you were right. We’re having a baby.” She brushed a kiss first across Lucas’s lips and then one on the top of her daughter’s head. “A beautiful little baby.”
“I knew it!” Gracie hopped up and down, clapping her hands and squealing. “We’re having a baby! We’re having a baby!”
“You’re sure?” Lucas looked down at her, completely focused and intent, completely hers.
“I’m sure,” she confirmed. “I took the test while you were gone.” She’d been feeling off for weeks, so she’d bought a pregnancy test, figuring the odds were rather high given the fact that they’d been diligently making up for lost time. In case he needed proof, she held up the plastic stick and showed him the two lines.
Laughing, he threw his arms around her, kissing her forehead, her nose, her lips. As Gracie hopped by, he snagged her arm and pulled her into the hug with them, joining in her song. “We’re having a baby! We’re having a baby!”
The front door crashed open, bringing in a jovial flood of voices and chatter. Their family poured into the room, carting along their savory and sweet-smelling dishes.
Gracie’s voice rose above them all. “We’re having a baby!” she announced, breaking free to skip around the room and give everyone hugs. “We’re having a baby!”
“A baby?” Jessa looked at Naomi as though wanting confirmation.
Naomi deferred to Lucas with a smile.
“That’s right.” He picked Gracie up into those strong arms of his. “Gracie’s gonna be a big sister.”
Gracie squealed again, hugging Lucas tight. “I’ve always wanted a baby! That’s what I asked for in my letter to Santa and he’s giving it to me early!”
A hearty round of congratulations broke out. Luis butted his way through everyone until he could hug Naomi. Then he took Gracie out of his son’s arms. “I get to be a papa again.”
“Let’s break out the bubbly,” Levi added, disappearing in search of glasses.
“You two sure don’t waste time,” Darla said with a smile.
Cassidy was running around hugging everyone. When she got to Levi, she froze. But he wouldn’t let her off the hook.
“Come here,” he said, casting her that charming grin that seemed to work on all the ladies.
Cassidy raised an eyebrow at him as he leaned in for a hug. Naomi had never seen the woman stand so stiff and straight.
“Congratulations, Naomi.” At some point, Mark and his family had walked into the commotion.
“Thank you.” She gave him a hug. After the incident on the trail, she’d given up on resenting him. Life was too short, and Gracie needed as many people as possible to love her. “I’m so glad you could be here,” she said to Mark’s wife Beth.
The woman leaned in to give her a hug. “The invitation means so much to us.”
“Hey, do you want to see my room?” Gracie asked Ben, her half-brother.
“Sure.” He looked up at her with all of the admiration of a little brother and she took his hand, leading him away.
Mark got busy introducing his wife to everyone else.
“When are you due?” Jessa asked, catching Naomi by the arm. “How far along are you? Are you feeling good?”
Naomi laughed. “I feel great. And I know nothing, yet. I just took the test this morning.”
“You’ll have to get in to see the doctor as soon as possible,” her friend instructed. “I know the best OB—”
“Let’s move this party to the dining room,” Lucas called. “Don’t want the turkey to get cold.”
Everyone scattered, chatting and congratulating while they carted the many amazing dishes from the kitchen out to the table. After everyone had found their seats, Lucas clinked his glass. “I’d like to make a toast.”
Amazingly, the room quieted.
“To the blessings of family and second chances,” he said, raising his glass.
Everyone echoed the sentiment.
“And to a new baby,” Jessa added.
Another round of cheers went around the table.
“A baby!” Gracie echoed, leading Ben to his seat next to hers. “I hope it’s a boy. No, wait. I hope it’s a girl.” Her eyes grew big. “No! I hope it’s twins! Then we can have one of each!”
“Whatever this baby is, we’ll be grateful.” Naomi rested a hand on the small swell of her belly. This little baby was the resurrection of dreams she thought had died a long time ago. And after losing them once, she understood how priceless they were. Having them back—having Lucas back—was a gift she would never take for granted.