watery.
“We have a name,” Tyler said.
“Spill it!” Edith said.
“It’s Thomas,” Thomas said. “A strong name.”
“No,” Tyler said. “Of course, Mila had to take the good name.”
“Hey, Tyler,” Mila said. She scratched her cheek with her middle finger.
“We decided on Ben,” Tyler said. “After my great-great-grandfather.”
“I love it,” Anna said. “Baby Ben and baby Hank!”
Everyone cheered again and began to talk.
I hung back and watched Mila get right into the mix of it all.
Talking, laughing, crying.
“Ben and Hank,” I whispered to myself.
Those were some strong names. Maybe even stubborn names too.
Not that I would expect anything else.
Mila looked back at me and smiled. She waved for me to come closer.
Then Zeke turned.
He gave a classic Justa grin and a nod.
I stepped forward and he put a strong hand to my back.
“You’re part of the family now, Silas,” Zeke said. “Don’t ever forget that.”
I put my arm around Mila and pulled her close.
Baby Hank cried.
Mila smiled at me.
“Hey, since we’re celebrating,” Edith said. “I decided on my next adventure.”
“You’re going to have a baby too?” Crosby asked.
“Crosby, my factory has been boarded up for years.”
“Babies don’t come from factories!” Lucy said. “They are made when a mom and dad get into bed and-”
“Lucy,” Tyler said.
“My next adventure is skydiving,” Edith said.
“Are you out of your mind?” Thomas roared. “You’re not jumping out of a plane.”
Edith pointed at Thomas. “One more word and I’ll push you out of a plane. Got it?”
Thomas froze and blushed.
I started to laugh.
I couldn’t help it.
This group was nothing but a bunch of crazy people.
And they were my family.
And I was their family.
We were… just a big, crazy family.
Epilogue
MILA
Ma got her wish.
The first family dinner after both babies were born, Ma sat at the head of the table with her two new grandsons. One in each arm. A smile on her face I hadn’t seen since Dad was still alive. She loved her grandsons.
And she loved her granddaughter.
It was funny to watch because Lucy acted so grown up. Such a good big sister. Always checking on baby Ben. And then checking on baby Hank. She helped feed the babies. She didn’t want to touch dirty diapers, but she stood there with a diaper and baby powder ready to go.
The moment she showed an ounce of jealousy, Ma jumped into action.
Because Lucy was the oldest now, she had a special job.
Ma had Lucy help cook dinner.
I didn’t realize it but Ma kept the same step stool I used to use when I was Lucy’s age. I loved being in the kitchen with Ma. While my cooking skills were not good at all, I had the memories of some great conversations.
Thomas and Edith had a not so silent conversation about skydiving.
Silas and Crosby talked about the most random things.
And now that Olivia had the baby, she was right back to wedding planning. She and Ma joked, wondering if there would be a double wedding.
Two babies, two weddings?
I just laughed it off… even though I had already secretly thought about it myself.
Life was good.
“Ready for the show?”
I turned my head and saw Buddy with a guitar.
“Are you kidding me?” I asked.
“Silas is going to give me a lesson,” he said.
“Right now, Buddy?” Silas asked.
“No time better than right now,” Buddy said.
Silas sighed and nodded. “Let me grab my guitar.”
Dot was able to meet the two babies before passing away.
She went peacefully, in her sleep, holding Buddy’s hand.
It broke my heart to think about Buddy losing the woman he loved. But Buddy… the man had an outlook like I never saw before. He didn’t look at the time he lost with Dot or the fact that she was gone for good. He simply cherished the time he had with her.
Silas and Buddy went into the living room together, each with a guitar.
Tyler walked out of the kitchen with a plate of pepperoni, cheese, and crackers.
“You’re bringing that here, right?” I asked.
“Of course I am,” he said. “Ma has Olivia and Lucy working hard in there.”
“Better them than me,” I said.
“We all know you can’t cook.”
“Thanks.”
Tyler smiled. “It all worked out, huh?”
“It did. I can’t believe it, Tyler. It’s all fucking working out.”
“Aunt Mila!”
I turned my head and Lucy stood behind me.
“You little sneak,” I said. “What’s the F bomb going for these days?”
“Easily five bucks,” Lucy said.
I sighed and reached into my pocket.
I paid up for my sin and Lucy hurried off, happy.
“Thought you said she was in the kitchen?” I asked Tyler.
“I thought she was,” Tyler said. “You better watch your