his comfort zone, but he wanted Emma to be happy, so he did the same. When the kiss ended, he groaned. “I didn’t even have a ring.”
“We can remedy that later,” Emma said. “Today has been everything I ever wanted.”
Rebel was the first one to reach them. She hugged first Sophie and Teddy, then Emma and Josh. “This is a dream come true for me. I’m so glad you made this a double wedding.”
“Me too,” Josh said. “I’m not sure I could have endured the stress poor old Teddy was under this morning.”
Filly wiped tears from her eyes and then handed a hankie to Emma. “We’ll keep this for the day your daughter gets married. Our tears are blended on it. It will bring her good luck. Let’s cut the cake and have a party.”
Josh slipped an arm around Emma. “They can have the cake. I have you.”
“Oh, no,” Sophie declared. “We’ll cut one side. Y’all can do the other one.”
“But there’s only two champagne glasses,” Emma whispered.
“I always liked beer out of a red plastic cup better anyway,” Josh said. “Let’s do this our way.”
“Forever and always, let’s do everything our way.” Emma smiled up at him.
Epilogue
Five years later
Emma awoke that Thanksgiving morning to bright sunlight pouring into the bedroom, the aroma of bacon and coffee floating through the small trailer, and the sound of children giggling. Josh was such a good father, and despite her upbringing, Emma wasn’t doing too bad at being a mother. Josh often accused her of being worse than a mother bear with the kids, but she couldn’t help being a little overprotective.
“Good mornin’, darlin’.” Josh peeked into the room with Lia on his hip and Gracie hanging on to his leg. Four-year-old Jody made a flying leap right onto the bed with her. She hugged him tightly and then reached out her arms for the baby. Josh handed the blonde-haired little girl to her, and then helped three-year-old Gracie up on the bed. By the time he joined the family, there wasn’t enough room to wiggle.
“I love mornings like this.” He leaned across Lia and kissed Emma.
“Yuck,” Jody said.
“You just keep thinking that until you’re about thirty.” Josh grinned.
“Or forty,” Emma said and then pulled Josh over to her for another kiss. “I give thanks every day for what we have.”
“One more kid and we’re going to have to build another room onto the place,” Josh whispered.
“Well, then, darlin’, we’d better start building, because I took a test last night and number four is on the way,” Emma told him.
“I’m the luckiest man in the world. Can I be the one to tell your father?” Josh shoved the kids to the foot of the bed and gathered Emma into his arms for a steamy kiss.
“Of course, but not until Sophie gets here. I want her to be the second to know,” Emma answered. “If we can throw this passel of young foxes off our bed, I’d like to follow my nose to the kitchen.”
“Bacon and pancakes are on the stove. I’ve already fed all the kids, even Lia.” Josh kissed her one more time. “I love you, Mrs. Corlen.”
“I love you, Josh.” She caught the right moment and wiggled her way out of the maze of kids to the edge of the bed. “Let’s just hope I’m not as sick with this one as I was with Lia.”
“This is a boy,” Josh said, “to even things out. Remember, you weren’t sick a single day with Jody.”
Emma crossed her fingers and held them up for him to see. “We can always hope.”
Sophie was more excited about going home for Thanksgiving than the two kids in the back seat of the SUV. Two-year-old Anna Rebel didn’t understand as much about the trip as four-year-old Johnny did, but she picked up on his excitement. When they turned off the road onto Hummingbird Lane, Johnny said, “Are we almost to the hum bird place? Is Jody still there?”
“Of course he is, and your auntie Em says he’s waiting on the porch for you. He’s got a brand-new puppy that he wants you to see,” Sophie answered.
“Hurry, Daddy,” Johnny said. “Go faster.”
“Puppy. Go fast,” Anna Rebel squealed.
“I can’t wait to see Em. Seems like forever, and yet it’s only been a month,” Sophie said. “And your dad and my mama are already here. It’s going to be a wonderful holiday. I’m so glad the sun is shining so the kids can play outside.”