I rolled his luggage bag into our spare bedroom and grabbed the baby book we planned to share with our family. We couldn’t wait any longer to tell everyone. I stood next to Ryder in our living room as he called for everyone to come in and join us.
“Adi and I can’t thank you enough for joining us today...each of you here are special to us, and we’re blessed to share this news with you.” His hands rested on my belly as he stood behind me and looked down at the book I was holding.
I held the book up. “‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go,’ by Dr. Seuss. This book is one that is very special to me because my mother would read it to me almost every night as a child. She gave me a copy the day I graduated from college. The book itself meant so much to me already, but what was inside, written on each page is what truly inspired me. I found that there was a note from everyone who ever believed in me, from my family, friends, teachers and so on. I was so blessed to have the chance to read everyone’s kindness and encouraging words they had for me at each stage of my life. Ryder and I have decided that we want each of you here today to write something inside for our baby so your words can one day inspire them too.” I cleared my throat and began to read.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go... Dr. Suess... Oh, the places you’ll go... and we love you so... we can’t wait to meet you, Olivia Leann Bennett.” Mariella was the first to catch on to her name. She ran over and hugged me tight.
“Adi, your mother would be so happy for you, and she’s with you in this baby girl and this book.” She pushed the hair behind my ears. “Ryder, your sister is a shining star in this baby girl, and she will move mountains just like Oliva did.” She hugged Ryder tight as he wiped his eyes.
Mariella’s words were perfect, and she truly loved Ryder like a brother.
“Welcome to the overprotective club, my friend.” Chase teased Ryder about having a girl and shook his hand.
Delilah promised me all their hand me downs from Madi and Ally. My dad wiped his eyes with his handkerchief as he stood behind everyone. I walked over to him and held him close.
“You’ll be an amazing mother, Adi, just like your mother was. She would be so proud of you... our baby girl.” He held me tight to his chest for a moment.
Everyone was in awe for us, and we were truly blessed to have these people in our life. As my eyes scanned the room, I saw pure joy on the faces of our family and friends.
Happiness overwhelmed me and tears fell to my cheeks. Everything was bliss, even though it may not have been perfect the way we got to this point in our lives, it was my love story.
“I’m so excited to have another beautiful girl in my life,” Ryder whispered in my ear.
“I will cherish this moment forever and never forget the two women who brought us together, Oliva Leann.” I kissed Ryder as I rubbed my belly.
Thank you!
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In loving memory of my mom—L. I’ll forever treasure the stories you left behind but never had the chance to share with the world. I fell in love with your characters Blake and Mandy so much that they were the inspiration for my own, Ryder and Adilyn. Though your life was tragically cut short, your stories will live on in my heart and soul. I’m so thankful that I had the twenty-two years that I did with you. I will cherish them forever. My hope is to be the best mother to my children as you were to me.
To my husband, who is my biggest supporter and takes me for the good, the bad, and the ugly at times and who has battled my worst of times and has shared the best of times with me. I love you too much, all the time, forever and ever...always.
ABOUT M.J. BERTERMAN
M.J. Berterman has enjoyed being a fan and reader of hundreds of romance novels over the years. Her passion for reading began when she was a teenager. She found herself staying awake for hours past her bedtime locked into the words of a great author and imagining her own stories printed on paper one day. Growing up with a mother who shared that interest, they spent many weekends in the library together finding the next best story. As the saying goes, like mother like daughter. M.J. looked forward to hearing the stories her mother created of her own characters through the years on paper with pen. Through those journals and stories her mother shared with her, M.J. found the inspiration in creating the characters of her own love stories. For a period of time, M.J. lost her creative way after the sudden loss of her mother but soon found the passion again and decided to take a chance on the love of writing that she shared with her mother as a way to keep her those stories alive inside her.
She now lives her own love story with her husband of eight years and two children. She holds strong to cherish family and that time spent is the most valuable in life. You can find her sipping coffee, typing away on the lap top and spending as much time as possible with her family.
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