Chapter 14. (Christmas Eve, one year later)
Callie cradled baby Jacob in her arms. The three-month-old gazed up at her through tired eyes. "My sweet little boy," she whispered. "You're so precious." Soon, the infant drifted off to sleep, his tiny chest rising and falling. Cuddling her son to her chest, Callie thought back the Christmas before, when she thought she'd never have another baby to love, and the wonder that followed.
Johannah held Lucy in her arms, tears running down her face. It was mid-February, and the baby was well enough to go home with her mother and step-father. Her surgery had gone well, and her body accepted her new heart. Her once-pale cheeks were now rosy, and she was no longer lethargic, kicking her legs playfully.
Johannah looked up at Stef, Lena, Callie, and Brandon. "Thank you. All of you. For taking care of my baby."
"It was our pleasure," said Lena.
Stef nodded in agreement. "It really was."
Johannah's new husband came through the front door, carrying a car seat. "Are you ready, honey?" he asked.
Nodding, Johannah smiled. "Just a sec." She brought Lucy to Callie and Brandon.
Callie leaned down and kissed the baby. "Good luck, sweetheart. You're gonna have a great life!" Lucy gripped her index finger, squeezing it tight. She looked up at the baby girl's mother. "Good luck to you, too."
"Same to you," Johannah nodded. "Thank you for being a friend to me, when I needed one. I hope we'll stay in touch."
"Oh, we will," Callie replied.
"Well, bye for now." Johannah turned to the door, waving.
After they were gone, tears filled Callie's eyes. "It's so hard to see Lucy go," she sniffled. "I'm really gonna miss having her around."
Brandon wrapped her in a hug. "I know. I will too." He sighed. "I know you wanted us to adopt Lucy, Cal. I'm sorry that I wasn't very supportive about it. I feel so bad."
"It's okay, honey," Callie replied. "Lucy deserves to be with her real family. Things turned out for the best."
"Well," he continued. "It's not too late. Maybe... you know, we could look into adoption, after all?"
Callie smiled to herself. "Thanks, but I don't know, sweetie... we're going to have our hands pretty full."
"What do you mean?" Brandon asked.
"I was waiting for the perfect time to tell you," Callie explained. "But I guess now is as good a time as any." She took her husband's hand in hers. "Brandon, honey... you're going to be a father again. I'm pregnant!"
Brandon shook his head with surprise. "Oh, Cal... when... how long?"
"Well," she replied. "Christmas Eve was what... about six weeks ago?"
Brandon burst into tears, taking Callie back into her arms. "This is wonderful, Callie. I'm just... speechless." He leaned in to kiss her, running his fingers through her hair. "I love you, and I'm so happy."
Callie brushed his tears from his cheeks. "I love you, too, Brandon." She laid her head against his chest. "Can you believe it? All of Rachel's Christmas wishes came true after all."
Coming back to the present, Callie turned to see Brandon walking down the stairs. She pressed her finger to her lips, then pointed to the sleeping child. "Shh."
Brandon nodded, and crossed the room to her, looking tired. "I thought they'd never go to sleep." He reached into his pocket and took out a small, red gift box, handing it to Callie. "I almost forgot. Go ahead and open it. I'll take the baby." When Callie handed the infant to him, he held him lovingly, proud of his new son, his heart overflowing. How did I get so lucky? he thought, glancing at his wife. Callie was his everything, and it still amazed him that they had brought three lives into the world together.
Lifting the lid off the gift box, Callie found a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament. It was a blue angel, like the one he'd given to her after Gabe was born. "Thank you, Brandon," she sighed. "I love it." She turned the ornament over in her hand. On the back, Brandon had carefully written the baby's name: Jacob Brandon Foster. His first name, Jacob, was for Callie. And his middle name, of course, was for Brandon. Admiring the gift, she hung it next to Rachel and Gabe's ornaments. "This is exactly what our tree was missing."
Jacob woke up suddenly, beginning to fuss. "You want to go back to your Mommy, don't you, big guy?" Brandon cooed. He handed the infant to his wife.
Once the baby was back in her arms, Callie kissed his smooth, bald head. "Don't cry, Lovey. It's okay," she soothed. She rocked him slowly, humming a soft tune. Mid-lullaby, she paused to yawn, feeling sleepy herself after a long day. Raising three children did keep Callie and Brandon's hands full, that much was true. But, Callie thought, they were full in the best way possible. They were full of love.
The End- Happy Holidays to you and yours!