Written in the sand paci.., p.18
Written in the Sand (Pacific Shores Book 4), page 18
“But…”
“Now, please.”
With a sigh, he slumped off to do her bidding.
Alyssa eased out a breath. Marie suppressed a grin and tossed Riley a wink, while Reece clung tightly to Davey’s hand. Marie had often described her son as a rocket in tennis shoes. The boy never stopped moving. Even now he was squirming and doing his best to escape his father’s firm grip.
Micah appeared at the bottom of the stairs and Riley saw a solution to Mr. Rocket’s dilemma, at least for the moment. “Micah, would you mind taking Davey out to the trampoline?”
Micah’s face lit up. If there was one thing that could make that boy come to life, it was the vibrancy of a child. Riley fully expected him to become a teacher after he graduated in a few years.
Taysia and Kylen arrived just then and Riley bent to smile at six-year-old Zoe. “Micah is just taking Davey out to the trampoline, would you like to go too?”
“Yes!” Zoe bounced up and down like a rubber ball and spun in a circle. “Can I, Dad?”
Kylen took one look at his very pregnant wife and nodded his agreement.
“I’ll go with them.” Alyssa looked hopefully at her mother.
Marie nodded. “That’s fine.”
Riley’s heart broke a little for poor Cole. He had such a crush on Alyssa, but she couldn’t see anyone but Micah when she was here, and Micah seemed oblivious to the whole situation.
Micah took both children by their hands and led them out to the back yard, Alyssa on his heels.
“Someone will bring the twins as soon as they get here?” Riley called to Micah, making her tone more of a question than a statement, and Micah gave her a smile and a thumbs-up.
Taysia handed Mom the pan of brownies she’d brought, and pressed one hand to her lower back. “I swear this baby gets heavier by the hour.”
Riley chuckled and tipped a nod toward the backyard. “I set up a reclining lounge chair just for you. As soon as Justus and Dakota and the boys get here, we can eat. Everything is just about ready. So please have a seat and just rest.”
“You put her into a recliner and we might never get her out of it,” Kylen teased his wife. She smacked him a good one and waddled her way across the living room toward the back yard.
As if on cue, the Teagues stepped into the entryway.
“Is this where the party’s at?” Justus asked, one eighteen-month-old twin on each arm.
“Oh my goodness they’re huge!” Riley tickled two little roly-poly bellies. “I haven’t seen them for two weeks and they’ve both grown an inch!”
“And added ten pounds,” Dakota said dryly. She was balancing a side dish in each hand, and had a blue diaper bag draped over one shoulder.
The twins, River and Brooks, were the spitting image of their father, right down to their striking blue eyes.
Riley motioned Justus toward the back yard. “Micah and Alyssa have all the kiddos corralled at the trampoline if you’d like to give the dynamic duo to them, as well.”
Mom had been busy transporting all the dishes each family brought to the buffet table outside, and now she took the two bowls from Dakota. Lucia bustled by, laden down with other salads she’d had prepared in the fridge. “Everything is ready, Miss Riley.”
Riley smiled. No matter how many times she’d tried to tell Lucia she could drop the Miss now, Lucia stubbornly insisted on sticking with the name she’d called her by since she was a newborn just home from the hospital.
Riley wondered how Jalen was doing at the grill. But just then Cole poked his head through the back slider. “Mommer! Pops says to tell you he’s ready whenever you are.”
“Thank you, Cole. Tell him we’re coming.” Riley motioned everyone out to the backyard. “I guess the food is on, y’all. Please just find any seat you want, and as soon as Jalen has prayed, it’s first-come-first-served at the buffet table.
Riley followed all the people she loved most in the world out to her backyard. They all gathered around, and Jalen stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned contentedly against his chest and nestled her head against his shoulder.
“Alright everyone. Let’s say a prayer,” Jalen called.
The stubble on Jalen’s jaw scuffed her cheek as he thanked the Lord for his abundant blessing in food and friends.
As soon as he’d said amen, there was a mad dash of children scrambling to be the first in line, and adults clambering to hold them back and trying to instill some manners.
Jalen started after Cole, who had finagled his way to the front of the line, but Riley saw their only moment of solitude for the rest of the evening slipping away, and grabbed his hand.
A furrow formed on his brow as he looked back at her, their hands stretched between them. “What?”
She tipped a nod toward the still open slider just next to them. She let all the love she was feeling for him in that moment be an invitation in her eyes. “I have to tell you something.”
The furrow in his brow deepened. “What did Cole do now?”
She only chuckled and led him into the living room. She stepped right in front of him until their toes were touching. Leisurely, she draped her arms around his neck, and then pressed their foreheads together.
He was looking at her like she might have fallen just a little off her rocker.
“Jalen Rivera, God just keeps showing me how good life can be when we simply step off of our sandy foundations onto the foundation of Him and live our lives for His glory.”
Jalen kissed her softly. “We serve an awesome God, Ri.” He said the words but she could still see a hint of curiosity on his face. He was wondering why she’d brought him inside to tell him that, just now.
“Yes. We do.” Her throat closed off and she didn’t know if she would be able to choke out the happy news.
He swayed with her gently. “As much as I’d rather stay here with you, I don’t think we should leave our guests on their own with Cole.” Humor glinted in his gaze.
Riley chuckled but held on tight when he started to head back outside.
He gave her a questioning look.
She forced the words past the lump in her throat. “I’m pregnant, Jay.”
He blinked.
She felt her ecstasy bloom on her face, and she nodded her assurance. “I’ll need to go to the doctor to verify, but I think I’m at least four months along.”
Jalen whooped. Then, laughing out loud like a crazy man, he swung her around in circles.
“What the heck is going on in here?” Cole stood in the doorway, holding a plate that was in grave danger of tipping all its contents onto the carpet at his feet. He licked some sauce from one thumb, eyeing them with raised brows.
Jalen gave Riley a quick wink. Their temples were pressed together as they eyed their God-given son.
“Mommer is expecting a baby,” Jalen said, his arms tightening around her a bit as he did so.
Cole looked baffled. “Is that all? Wow. I thought the Seahawks game was on or something.” Cole turned and clomped back out the door calling a loud reassurance, “Don’t worry everyone, Mommer is just expecting a baby.”
“What?!”three female voices called in unison.
And then the backyard seemed to explode with joy and congratulations.
Dear Reader,
Well, we made it to the conclusion of the Pacific Shores series! I hope you've enjoyed the journey of reading as much as I enjoyed the one of writing.
If you have a moment and would be willing to leave an honest review, that would be greatly appreciated. I know many of you have helped spread the word about my stories, and I am always touched by that.
If this is your first book or series of mine, I invite you to check out my other series. You can find them on my website at www.lynnettebonner.com. You can also get a free story if you choose to sign up for my newsletter. I only send out the newsletter when I have a new release to announce. There is also a contact button on my website - I always love to hear from my readers.
Till we connect again, may the knowledge that God truly does have good plans for you reside in your hearts every step of your way.
Sincerly,
Lynnette Bonner
Lynnette Bonner, Written in the Sand (Pacific Shores Book 4)
