Maddie, Melody, and Hendrix were asleep.

After pressing a good-bye kiss to each of their heads, I stepped out of the hospital room and headed for the waiting room. It had been almost eight hours since our arrival so I didn’t expect anyone, other than Keith and Grandmama, to still be there.

I should’ve known better.

“Shelby!” Hope squealed, jumping out of her chair. Everyone else including Keith, Grandmama, Evan, Carissa, Heidi, Pop, and Kyle all followed suit and stood. I’d known Anthony and Lucca weren’t there, but it still made my heart hurt not to see their smiling faces.

I miss my boys so dang much.

“Are they doing okay?” Hope continued, shifting her weight between her feet.

I quickly nodded. “Yeah. Did the nurse talk to y’all? Hendrix told her—”

“Yeah, but she didn’t tell us anything,” Grandmama hissed with a scowl etched across her face. “Just said Maddie and the baby were fine but wouldn’t even tell us if it was a boy or girl.” Madder than a hornet in a Coke can, Grandmama slammed her purse down on a blue chair. She looked like she was a heartbeat away from throwing a full-fledged hissy fit. “So spill the beans, blondie. Or did that behemoth swear you to secrecy? Because if he did, I swear on the good Lord’s name I’m gonna march my rear end in there and—”

“Calm down, old biddy,” I replied, stopping her rant in its tracks. “No need to get yourself all worked up.” Everyone waited for me to continue. “Maddie and the baby are fine. Everyone—including Hendrix—is asleep so you may have to wait another hour or so before you get in there to see them.”

“And,” Keith said, motioning with his hand for me to hurry the hell up. “Is it a boy or girl?”

I looked from him to Pop, and from Pop back to Grandmama. “Congratulations, y’all”—I paused, drawing out their torture—“it’s a girl!”

Grandmama grinned so wide I was sure her face would split in half. “Well, I’ll be,” she cried, covering her mouth with a hand. “Another little Maddie.”

“I’m not so sure. I know it’s early, but she’s got a head full of inky, black hair, and I’ve got a feeling she’s going to be her daddy’s mini-me.”

Pop’s smile was so bright, it was nearly blinding. “I’ll be damned. Another girl?” Despite the issues that still lingered between us, the pride etched all over his face made my heart warm. “Now I’ve got two.”

His words repeated on a loop in my head.

Now I’ve got two. Now I’ve got two. Now I’ve got two.

Another broken piece snapped into place. “Yeah,” I replied, once again on the verge of crying. “Now you’ve got two, Pop. Me and the baby.”

Fisting his hands at his sides, he looked like he was trying to restrain from grabbing me and pulling me into him. I wouldn’t have fought him if he’d tried.

Keith who hadn’t said anything up until that point cleared his throat. Hands shoved in his pockets, he looked as stoic as I’d ever seen. “What’s her name?”

I swallowed, knowing that my answer would rock him to his core. I’d never seen Keith cry, but I had a feeling I was about to. “Her name is Melody.” Another pause. “Melody Ray Cole. She weighs seven pounds, three ounces, and is twenty inches long.”

Hope dropped to the chair behind her and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook with the force of her sobs. Sitting down beside her, Evan draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side.

Dropping his head forward, Keith interlaced his fingers behind his head. “She named her after her mother.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. “She named her after my Melody.” Keith turned around and walked to the corner. I didn’t have to see his tears to know he was crying.

Grandmama’s eyes found mine. Still smiling, she said, “Yeah, and she named her after Shelby too.”

Emotion once again threatened to swamp me.

Feeling lightheaded, I took a step back. “Y’all, I hate to cut this short, but I need to go.” Grandmama’s smile grew. “I want to see…” My voice trailed off, and I took a breath. “I need to see my boys.”

Pop stepped forward and nodded at the elevator. “Come on, Bee. I’ll take you home.”

Nodding, I blew everyone a kiss. “Love, y’all. I’ll probably see each of you sometime tomorrow.” My eyes found Hope’s. “Can you call Clara for me?”

“Yeah,” she replied, still crying. “Consider it done.”

With a final wave, I headed for the elevator. “Come on, old man,” I said to Pop. “I’ve got to get home. Lord only knows what Anthony and Lucca are up to. With my luck, they’ve probably built a Lego fort the size of Mt. Everest in the living room.”

Chuckling, Pop fell into step beside me.

When we climbed onto the elevator, he leaned over and whispered, “I didn’t get the chance to tell you this, but you look beautiful today, Bee.” I smiled. “Still can’t believe you’re mine.”

I looked Pop over from head to toe. “You look mighty spiffy yourself. You clean up good.”

He snorted before tugging at the button up shirt he wore. “Yeah but this damn monkey suit is driving me crazy. Long as I live, I hope I don’t have to wear another one.”

I turned to face him head-on. Placing my hands on my hips, I cocked my hips to the side and raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

“What?” Pop looked confused. “What did I say?”

“I’ll have you know that you’re wearing a suit to my wedding too.” Pop’s eyes widened. “I won’t have you walk me down the aisle wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.” Rolling my eyes, I continued. “I may be as country as a turnip green, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like dressing up and getting fancy every once in a while.”

“Shelby,” Pop said, his voice pained, “you want me to walk you down the aisle when you get married?”

I blinked. “You’re my daddy, aren’t you?” Pop nodded slowly. “Then you’re walking me down the aisle.” I turned back to face the door of the elevator. “Unless you don’t want to. Then I’ll just—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” he snapped, interrupting me. “I’m walking you down the aisle, and that’s final.”

Well alrighty then.

“Good.” I nodded, patting him on the shoulder. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

Silence ensued as the illuminated numbers above the door counted down.

“You planning on marrying, Moretti?” Pop asked, crossing his brawny arms over his chest. “I mean, is what you two have the real deal?”

Exhaling, I steeled my spine. “I love him, and he loves me back.”

Pop tensed beside me. “Yeah? Just how much do you love him?”

Butterflies took flight in my belly when I thought about how much I loved Anthony. “More than all the gold in the world.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “He’s my glue, Pop.”

“Your glue?”

“Yeah, he’s like my own personal brand of Gorilla Glue.” I giggled to myself. “He’s helped heal me; helped fix everything that was broken.” I bit my lower lip and mulled over my words carefully. “I’m not whole yet, but I’m getting there. Bit by bit, the pieces are starting to snap into place.”

Pop sucked in a breath, but he didn’t say anything else.

The elevator stopped on the ground floor. When the doors opened, I stepped through them and headed for the parking garage. My heels clicked double time as I hoofed it across the asphalt lot, in a hurry to get home.

I miss my boys. Without them, I feel empty. Lost.

I needed my glue, needed my anchor, needed my saving grace.

Jumping into the truck with Pop, I looked over at him and said, “Step on it, Old Man. I’ve got a boyfriend to kiss and a son to hold.”

Chuckling to himself, he shoved the key into the ignition. “Whatever you say, Bee.” He pointed at the door. “Put on your seat belt and hold on tight.”

With a chuckle and a roll of my eyes, I did exactly as he said.

It’s time to go home…