Andrew’s mom finally clapped her hands. She had a smile plastered on her face. It was probably the happiest she’d looked in a long time. “All right, it’s time for gifts. I want everyone to take their beverage of choice and find a place to sit around the tree. We can have dessert afterward.”
“Okay, but I want to pass out my gifts first,” Andrew said, raising his glass to salute the rest of the table.
His mom shrugged. “Fine with me. I’m just happy we’re all together.”
Andrew walked over to the large sacks and pulled out a present for each person in the room. He hoped they wouldn’t rate him on the gift inside by his wrapping job. He had to admit that he had scrambled earlier in the day to find wrapping paper, and the only ones left at the local store were the rolls no one else wanted. Each of his gifts was the same size.
“Okay. The rule is, you all have to unwrap them at the same time.”
“Go!” Miles shouted as he tore into the gift.
Everyone else followed suit as they roared with laughter, but it quickly died down as they saw what Andrew had done.
For each, he’d sketched something personal. For his mom, he’d done a drawing of their old home. For Isabelle, a picture of Jessica, with Isabelle and Pete in the background. And for Anne, her new home, with a silhouette of her and Miles walking in the background, holding hands. Each sketch was on beautiful cream paper and framed.
“Oh my goodness. These are amazing, Andrew.” His mom gasped as she stared at the sketch in front of her. Her bottom lip began to quiver. “I can’t believe you had time to do individual sketches for each of us. They’re beautiful.”
Andrew looked over at his dad. His was one of Andrew, Miles, and Lucy. He watched as a single tear fell from his father’s eye.
“Thank you, son.”
Miles’s gift was of him and Anne. It had been from a picture Andrew had taken at their wedding of their first dance. Miles held Anne close as they turned on the dance floor. Both had broad smiles on their faces.
For Marlin, he had finally convinced his dad to show him a picture of Lucy’s mom. He had sketched her and Lucy together.
“I’m not sure what to say. This is beautiful. Thank you.” Marlin’s entire body shook. “You’re a good boy, Andrew Montgomery. I’ve never really apologized for attacking Isabelle. Please know that I’m very sorry.”
Andrew’s eyes stopped at Lucy. She was still staring at her sketch. Hers was an eagle, with the various faces of her family sketched into the wings. Andrew cleared his throat. “In a storm, the eagle always soars. You have soared over the past few years, since the accident, and I just thought this was appropriate for you.”
“How did you know?” she asked him, eyes wide.
“Know what?”
“That I love eagles. I have a large poster in my room.”
Andrew swallowed. “I didn’t know. I guess it’s just sibling intuition.”
She smiled, and then walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, brother.”
His mother went next with the gift giving. She had gotten them all beautiful sweaters. His father followed, and handed everyone an envelope.
Miles laughed. “Seriously, Dad, don’t tell me you just decided to give us all money.”
His father’s eyes grew wide, and they all roared with laughter.
“Works for me.” Anne smiled as she fanned herself with the envelope. “Thank you, Mr. Montgomery. I’ve been eyeing up a new bag at a little boutique in town.”
They continued to move around the room, opening various gifts. It finally came to Isabelle. She leaped off her seat. “Okay. There’s been some pretty big gifts given tonight. I’m not sure I can compete, but I hope you all like them.” She handed out the boxes. They were all the size of a t-shirt box, and wrapped in delicate paper with large gold bows.
“I’m afraid to open it,” Anne said, holding up her box. “The wrapping is so pretty.”
“Thank you.” Isabelle winked at Anne, and then turned to Andrew. “Go ahead. Open your gift.”
He pulled back the paper and opened the box. His eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what he was looking at. Slowly, he heard soft gasps around the room. He looked questioningly over at Isabelle, trying to figure out what she meant with this gift. She had a large smile on her face.
“I found out a few weeks ago, but I didn’t know how to tell you I’m sorry I waited so long, but I’m a little more than four months pregnant.”
Andrew shook his head. His heart was pounding. She hadn’t given him any sort of clue, and she definitely didn’t look pregnant. Was it possible? She was wearing a big sweater, just like the other women in the room. He looked back down at the gift. It was a baby outfit with the words “I love my daddy” on the front.
“I know,” she said, as if she reading his thoughts. “I don’t look pregnant. I didn’t have a clue until one night when I realized that I was constantly more exhausted than normal. I had my nurse take some blood, and then confirmed it with my OB-GYN. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before now. Andrew, we’re having a girl.”
Everyone got up from their seats and hugged them, but Andrew didn’t really understand all of the emotions he was feelings right now. It felt like everything was happening in slow motion. One big blur. He was going to be a dad. Isabelle had just told him so, but was he ready? Could he really be a good father to any child right now?
“I’m so happy for the two, I mean, three of you,” his mom said. “Andrew, you will make an excellent dad. You’ve always been the type who loves unconditionally and will do anything to protect his family.”
“Thank you,” Andrew responded numbly as he tried to comprehend how much his life had changed over the past few months. He suddenly felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. This was the life he’d always imagined and his mother’s words had given him the strength he needed to move forward.
Isabelle looked into his eyes. He felt his entire body melt. She was so beautiful, and now she would be the mother of his child—a little girl. “So, we only have five months to get everything ready, huh?”
“Yeah.” She bit down on her lower lip. “Are you mad? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I really wanted to surprise you.”
Andrew shook his head. “No. I hadn’t expected this, but I’m definitely not upset. Thank you for coming into my life and making it so much more than I could ever have dreamed.”
She nuzzled into his shoulder. “I love you, Andrew Montgomery, more than you will ever know, and I think we both know the perfect name for our daughter.”
He smiled as he thought back to his senior year in high school, when he had run into Jessica at the party. “Yes. I agree. It’s the perfect name.”
Isabelle lightly kissed his cheek. “I’m glad you decided to Stay…Forever.”
About the Author
Darcy Schroeder is a former news reporter turned public affairs professional. She is based in Texas where she resides with her three children, two dogs and husband. Stay…Forever is her first published novel.
Website:
www.darcyschroeder.com
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/darcyschroeder22
Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/Dasch409
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