Just a little snapshot of a holiday this family has enjoyed together many times over the 'years' we've been following them. Thanks for all the love you're giving these little futuretakes. Don't forget to go check out the next little piece of the puzzle in my reader group ;)

Waves of Hope

Fourth of July

Bella ~ July 4th 2024

"Have you got the tutu?"

"Shit, no." Sliding the back door closed, Edward shoots me a rueful grin and jogs around the hood. "I'll be back in a second!"

I laugh as he heads up the path and takes the porch steps in one big stride. Thankfully, we both know exactly where Rylee's tutu is. Arlo thought it would be hilarious to put it on Max, and in the last-minute rush of changing diapers and putting the babies in their dance clothes, I guess we both forgot to undress Max.

It only takes a minute or two before Edward's jogging back outside and climbing into Big Blue. Handing the tutu over to me to stuff into the giant bag of paraphernalia we always have to take when we bring the sixers anywhere, he starts up the engine so we can head out. With the windows down and the babies chatting away to each other behind us, I can't help but smile. It's gloriously sunny, my family is happy and healthy, and today, the babies are going to experience their first Fourth of July parade.

It's going to be chaotic and we might not make it to the fireworks, but after the craziness of six one-year-olds made us miss it last year, I'm determined to see my now-two-year-olds at the parade in a few hours.

"I don't know if I'm excited or terrified," Edward admits as we pull into the staff parking lot at In The Bay.

"What are you scared about?" I snort, tucking my cell into my purse and draping it over my shoulder. Yanking the visor down, I quickly check that I haven't got spit-up on my shirt or baby oatmeal in my hair. I'm dressed for the holidays in a flowy red skirt and a stretchy white tank with a fitted blue one underneath, little bows clipped to the plait wrapped around my crown with stairs and stripes on them.

"They've never done a show with an audience," Edward reminds me as we climb out to tag-team the sixers. "I have no idea how they're going to react."

Laughing, I stop him before he can open the van door, stretching up to pop a kiss on his rueful smile. "They're two years old. Nobody is going to care if they follow the whole dance or they just sit there on the stage picking their noses."

Edward snorts when I admit that Everly did exactly that at her first recital when she was three.

"Whatever happens, they'll have fun. They love Miss Olivia, and they love goofing around. They'll be fine."

I mentally amend my statement when he passes me Caben, who is wearing his daddy's smile right now but might not be when he gets on stage and realizes there are a couple hundred people staring at him.

"Are you excited, baby?" I ask, kissing his cheek before setting him down and reminding him to keep his back against Big Blue.

"Yeah, Momma," he breathes, all silvery gray eyes and adorable blond curls. "I'm gonna dance!"

"You are, bud," Edward laughs, handing me Mackenzie and Asher before diving in to get River, Oakley, and Rylee.

"Remember, there might be lots of people there watching, but you don't have to be nervous, okay?"

He nods seriously, but he's distracted before I can reassure him more by the beaming smiles heading toward us. "Pops! Nana!"

"We thought you might want a hand," Carlisle says, scooping Caben and Mackenzie up while Mom grabs Asher and smothers his face in kisses.

"Thanks," I sigh with a smile, just barely remembering to grab the bag of stuff from the front seat once all the babies are unloaded and in somebody's arms. As we all head inside, I jiggle Oakley on my hip and laugh at his belly chuckles. He's still the biggest—still our chunky monkey—and he has the funniest laugh.

The big boys make earning his loud giggles a sport.

"Are you excited, kiddo?"

"Yeah." He nods like a little bobblehead. "Gonna dance and sing."

Oh, Lord.

~ oOo ~

By the time we sit down, the babies handed off to their dance teacher and her assistant backstage, I'm a nervous mess. Edward takes my hand between both of his, pulling it into his lap with a reassuring smile.

"They'll be fine, short stuff."

They'll be fine.

I was fine until one of the older boys peeked between the curtains and Caben got a glimpse of the crowd on the other side.

"Benny looked so nervous," I whisper as the lights dim.

"He's got the others to watch out for him," Edward reminds me. "You know Rylee will be right there next to him. If he doesn't want to dance, she'll more than make up for it."

I snort, nerves slamming into my chest all over again when Miss Olivia walks out onto the stage with her usual grace.

"Welcome to our annual Fourth of July dance recital!" We all clap and I wonder if every parent here is as abruptly nervous as I am. "We have our tinies up first, dancing to Way Up In The Sky." She grins, adding, "I'm sure you're all familiar with the tune by now."

There's a collective groan-hum of agreement throughout the audience, and Miss Olivia laughs as she reminds us to refrain from using cameras until she gives the okay, then...it's time.

My heartbeat pounds between my ears when the curtain lifts, twenty little faces staring out at a sea of people. The sixers are clumped together off to one side, one of Caben's hands wrapped in Rylee's, the other clutching a miniature red, white, and blue flag. I squeeze the shit out of Edward's hand when the first notes of the music fill the room and Miss Olivia takes her spot front and center to guide them through the song.

"Wave, wave, wave the flag

Hold it very high."

A big breath rushes from my lungs when all the kids copy her, waving their little flags and copying the dance moves to the best of their ability. I smile when one little girl abandons her flag and another picks it up to dance around the stage with two, and palm my red cheeks as I laugh until I'm breathless when Rylee gives up on following Miss Olivia altogether to stick her tutu-clad butt in the air.

"I told you we shouldn't let Everly help her with dance practice," Edward whispers, breath warm against my ear, humor evident even as he shakes his head at our twerking girl.

Thankfully, Caben is distracted enough by Rylee's antics to forget all about the crowd. He giggles and palms his rosy cheek with his free hand, almost bumping into Mackenzie in front of him because he's watching his sister and not where he's going.

When the song finishes and Miss Olivia laughingly leads them in a bow, telling Rylee she's doing it right but she needs to turn around, I'm buoyed by the rush of noise as our children's fan base lifts to their feet to applaud them. Looking around, I'm swamped by a flood of emotion, surrounded by a sea of much-loved faces.

Carlisle, Mom, and Dad, who brought our big boys with them. I blow Finley a kiss when he catches my eye as he and his brothers clap for their baby siblings.

Jasper, Alice, Matty, and Marcus.

Benjamin, Angela, and Danny—Freya is backstage waiting to go on with her class, the next age group up from the sixers.

Rosalie and Violet, who'll be joining the sixers early next year when she's eighteen months old.

Little Grandma and Grandpa Freddie with Dale and Jude.

Sullivan and Everly wearing their 'I Heart The Jackson Bay Sixers' tees.

Our friends have come out in force, too.

Garrett and Tanya are here with their girls. Robin is up on the stage with the sixers, and Ivy is dancing in the same group as Freya. Jane and CJ are here with Lakely and Austin.

As I turn to wave at Carlie and Bailee, I suck in a gasp and smile so wide my cheeks hurt.

Dr. Biers—Grandpa Biers flashes me a grin and stops clapping for a second to wave, and a good Fourth of July becomes a great one. All my favorite people are here.

~ oOo ~

By some miracle—and with the help of a lot of sugar I'm sure we'll regret when we have six cranky babies tomorrow—we do make it to the fireworks.

When the first splashes of color explode in the black sky, it's not them I'm looking at.

Snuggling River against my chest, I stroke his hair and gaze around at our family, at the people who always show up for us, no matter what. The babies are scattered among friends and relatives, all rapidly fading after a busy day but enamored by the show above.

Oakley is bouncing in my dad's arms, Mackenzie and Asher monopolizing Sullivan's lap and pointing to every new firework as it appears.

It's Edward my eyes are drawn to.

He's leaning back on one arm, the other wrapped securely around Rylee as she leans into his chest and stares up at the sky in wonder. The explosions of color illuminate her eyes; they're blue, then red, then gold. A rush of nostalgia floods my body as I think back to my first Fourth here with the boys. I watched Edward then, too, only his face was clouded with grief.

Now it's relaxed, light, happy.

The summer I left for England, a carefree eighteen-year-old, was the last summer I spent with Willow. I remember sitting on a blanket just like this one with a lot of the same people around me, only the awestruck toddler on Edward's lap wasn't our daughter, it was his.

This day six years ago, I was almost too scared to reach over and hold his hand just so he'd know he had someone on his team. Someone who saw him and the loss he was still drowning in.

Six years ago, I had no idea that the rest of my life was about to begin.

Edward's eyes shift to my face when I reach over to rest my hand on top of his. My favorite of his smiles blankets his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes and making them shine. He's not wearing that grief anymore, not in the same way, and as Rylee breathes "whoa" after every, single, firework, tears fill my eyes.

Rylee doesn't replace Willow, and we'll never let memories of his adorable little girl fade from our memories or our childrens', but as I watch Rylee heal Edward's heart, I know...

We've come full circle.