Rocky Mountain Wedding by Sara Richardson Read Free Book Online

mouth.
    “Babies? As in plural?” Sawyer asked, jaw suspended in disbelief. Did she know something he didn’t?
    Paige turned to Ben’s sister, Julia. “Sorry! I’m just so excited that I’m gonna be an auntie!”
    “What?” Aunt Elsie gasped.
    Isaac and Julia both grinned. “We didn’t want to steal Sawyer and Ruby’s thunder with the wedding coming up and everything,” Isaac said.
    “But yes,” Julia continued. “We’re expecting a baby, too. Next spring.”
    “Oh my God!” Ruby shot out of her chair and threw her arms around Julia. “Are you kidding? This is the best news!”
    Sawyer followed her to the other side of the table and shook Isaac’s hand. “Congratulations, man.” Those two deserved it. After everything Julia had been through with her accident and with Isaac in the navy, they’d finally reconnected at Ben and Paige’s wedding. Now here they were, starting a family of their own.
    “Maybe the babies will share a birthday!” Avery cried, bouncing Lily on her lap. “Think of the parties we’ll have. It’ll be so much fun!” She pressed a kiss against her daughter’s temple. “You’re going to have little cousins to play with, sweetie.”
    Sawyer cringed. He knew Avery hadn’t meant anything by it, but Lily already had a cousin. He looked over at his daughter, and sure enough, Brookie’s smiled had thinned into a worried expression.
    A hurricane-force sadness beat against his chest. No matter how many times they told her they loved her, that they wanted her, she still doubted. She still doubted her place here with them, with their extended family.
    Bryce happened to be sitting across the table from Brooklyn. His cousin shot him a look of understanding before he reached over and patted her hand. “And all of the babies will have the best older, wiser cousin in the world,” Bryce told her. “They’re gonna want to be just like you.”
    “Of course they will,” Avery agreed quickly, her face flushed. “You’re such a good cousin to Lily,” she went on.
    Murmurs of agreement hummed around the room while all of the adults exchanged concerned glances. They knew Brookie’s struggle. They’d seen it over the last month.
    Ruby looked at Sawyer with sadness muting her eyes. This was what she’d worried about. Why she hadn’t wanted to tell her about the baby yet. They hadn’t been able to make the adoption official, and he had a feeling Brookie wouldn’t feel secure until they did. That was the worst part about it. Damn. He had to call the social worker again. See if they could move things up. He didn’t know what to say anymore…
    “To Brookie!” Mom said, raising her glass and saving the whole mood of the party. She squeezed the girl’s hand. “We’re so happy you’re part of our family now.”
    A shadow of a smile crept across Brookie’s lips as everyone raised their glasses.
    “To Brookie!”
    Sawyer silently thanked his mother with a smile. Brookie might doubt now, but someday she would know. She would feel connected, and her whole identity would be rooted in something bigger.
    As long as they had this community—this family—they could make it through anything.

Chapter Five
    Y ou don’t have to stay, you know,” Ruby said, fully aware that the comfort of snuggling up with Sawyer on the couch robbed the words of any real conviction. The yawn that broke through clearly revealed she never wanted him to leave. “Shouldn’t you be out partying to celebrate your last weekend of bachelorhood?”
    “Screw bachelorhood,” Sawyer said, massaging her shoulder. “This is where I want to be.”
    Yes. Her, too. They were sitting in her living room—the living room that would be officially theirs in just two more days. And it was so cozy and lovely. Almost indulgent. Something out of a dream. After they’d put Brookie to bed, Sawyer had built a fire. It crackled inside the charming brick hearth, painting the room with a tranquil glow that somehow caressed away the