I\u00a0turned\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0Judy\u00a0squealed\u00a0and\u00a0jumped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0arms.\u00a0I\u00a0shook\u00a0my\u00a0head,\u00a0smirking\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0ran\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0training\u00a0grounds\u00a0and\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0best\u00a0friend\u2019s\u00a0arms.\u00a0Nan\u00a0laughed\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0Judy\u00a0in\u00a0a tight\u00a0embrace.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Chester,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0carrying\u00a0a\u00a0toddler\u00a0in his\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0slinging\u00a0the\u00a0diaper\u00a0bag\u00a0over\u00a0his\u00a0shoulder,\u00a0I\u00a0nodded\u00a0my\u00a0greeting\u00a0to\u00a0him\u00a0and\u00a0returned\u00a0it\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grin\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0approached\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0Alpha,\u201d\u00a0Chester\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0rolled\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0know\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0call\u00a0me\u00a0Gavin,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0reminded\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0practically\u00a0family\u00a0now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0I\u00a0guess\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0habit\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0quite\u00a0break.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0birthday\u00a0girl?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0asked,\u00a0looking\u00a0around\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0now\u00a0one\u2013year\u2013old\u00a0daughter.\u00a0(<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting\u00a0changed\u00a0with\u00a0Irene,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0down\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0love\u00a0the\u00a0present\u00a0we\u00a0got\u00a0her,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0bright\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u00a0Uncle\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0Auntie\u00a0Judy,\u201d\u00a0Emalyn\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0walked\u00a0towards\u00a0us,\u00a0her\u00a0blonde\u00a0pigtails\u00a0bouncing\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0dress\u00a0flowing\u00a0evenly\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0small\u00a0body.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0strange\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0like\u00a0Ethan,\u00a0and\u00a0yet\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0uniquely\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cHey,\u00a0Emmy,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0kneeling\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0squeeze.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0giggled\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0hugged\u00a0me\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0hugged\u00a0Judy\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0sweetheart,\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0said,\u00a0twirling\u00a0her\u00a0around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0dizzy,\u201d\u00a0Emalyn\u00a0teased.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmmy!!\u201d\u00a0Declan squealed\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0ran\u00a0to\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
They\u00a0were\u00a0close\u00a0in age\u00a0and\u00a0best\u00a0friends.\u00a0Emalyn\u00a0chuckled\u00a0and\u00a0ran\u00a0towards\u00a0him,\u00a0hugging\u00a0him\u00a0tightly,\u00a0both\u00a0tumbling\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0ground from the\u00a0force\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0collided\u00a0bodies\u00a0and bursting\u00a0out\u00a0into\u00a0laughter.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0made\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0us\u00a0laugh\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0should\u00a0get\u00a0inside\u00a0before\u00a0more\u00a0guests\u00a0arrive,\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0said,\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0shower\u00a0and\u00a0get\u00a0dressed\u00a0myself.\u00a0My\u00a0parents\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0arriving\u00a0soon,\u00a0as\u00a0will\u00a0your\u00a0mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0though\u00a0it\u00a0took\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0while\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0idea\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0marrying\u00a0Judy;\u00a0she\u00a0eventually\u00a0stopped\u00a0fighting\u00a0me\u00a0every\u00a0step\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0way,\u00a0especially\u00a0when\u00a0Declan\u00a0was\u00a0born.\u00a0Now\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0typical\u00a0grandmother\u00a0who\u00a0loves\u00a0to\u00a0spoil\u00a0her\u00a0grandchildren,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0even\u00a0gets\u00a0along\u00a0with\u00a0Judy.<\/p>\n
We\u00a0headed\u00a0inside\u00a0so\u00a0Judy\u00a0could\u00a0finish\u00a0getting\u00a0dressed,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0finish\u00a0setting\u00a0up\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0party.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0parlor,\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0everything\u00a0set\u00a0up.\u00a0The\u00a0party\u00a0balloons\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0place,\u00a0along\u00a0with\u00a0streamers\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0banner\u00a0that\u00a0read:\u00a0Happy\u00a01(st)\u00a0Birthday,\u00a0Lilith.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0table\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0representatives\u00a0that\u00a0were\u00a0quickly\u00a0piling\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0another\u00a0table\u00a0for\u00a0finger\u00a0foods,\u00a0mainly\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0kids.\u00a0The\u00a0food\u00a0the\u00a0adults\u00a0were\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0eating\u00a0was\u00a0catered\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0staff\u00a0I\u00a0hired;\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0food\u00a0was\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Howling\u00a0Spoon,\u00a0Nan\u2019s\u00a0thriving\u00a0restaurant.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0doors\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0patio,\u00a0where\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0outdoor\u00a0activities\u00a0were\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0place;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0pretty\u00a0much\u00a0a\u00a0carnival\u00a0out\u00a0there\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0point\u00a0with\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0stuff\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0party.\u00a0Not\u00a0that\u00a0a\u00a01\u2013year\u2013old\u00a0can\u00a0enjoy\u00a0most\u00a0of\u00a0it,\u00a0but slie\u2019ll\u00a0like\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0activities,\u00a0and\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0colors around\u00a0the\u00a0place\u2026\u00a0also,\u00a0there\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0ton\u00a0of\u00a0children\u00a0running\u00a0around,\u00a0so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0something\u00a0for\u00a0them\u00a0to\u00a0enjoy\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0734<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0grandbaby?\u201d\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0asked\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0arrived 30\u00a0minutes\u00a0later;\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0parents\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0far\u00a0behind\u00a0her.\u00a0They\u00a0had\u00a0gotten\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0each other\u00a0well\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0few\u00a0years,\u00a0and\u00a0now\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0practically\u00a0friends,\u00a0which\u00a0was\u00a0nice\u00a0to\u00a0see.<\/p>\n
Thugged\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0and\u00a0shook\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0minute.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0pretty\u00a0sure\u00a0Irene\u00a0is\u00a0hogging\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0now\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0turn,\u201d\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0went\u00a0upstairs\u00a0in\u00a0arch\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0daughters.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0laughed\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0greeted\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0mother\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0both,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0pulling\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0busy\u00a0lately.\u00a0Sorry,\u00a0we\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0been\u00a0around\u00a0much\u00a0lately,\u201d\u00a0Michelle,\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0mother,\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0get\u00a0how\u00a0it\u00a0is,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soon,\u00a0Sampson\u00a0and\u00a0Lucy\u00a0were\u00a0arriving\u00a0along\u00a0with\u00a0their\u00a0two\u00a0kids,\u00a0Samantha\u00a0and\u00a0Austin.<\/p>\n
Samanth\u00a0was\u00a04\u00a0years\u00a0old,\u00a0and\u00a0Austin\u00a0was\u00a02.\u00a0They\u00a0immediately ran\u00a0off\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0my\u00a0other\u00a0young\u00a0kids.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0party\u00a0was\u00a0starting,\u00a0music\u00a0was\u00a0playing,\u00a0and\u00a0everybody\u00a0seemed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0enjoying\u00a0themselves.\u00a0Irene\u00a0went\u00a0off\u00a0thenjoy\u00a0some\u00a0of<\/p>\n
the\u00a0festivities,\u00a0while\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0carried\u00a0Emalyn\u00a0around,\u00a0making\u00a0my\u00a0little\u00a0girl\u00a0giggle\u00a0with\u00a0delight.<\/p>\n
Judy\u00a0stepped\u00a0beside\u00a0me,\u00a0a\u00a0relaxed\u00a0look\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0We\u00a0sat\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0patio,\u00a0watching\u00a0our\u00a0friends\u00a0and\u00a0family\u00a0enjoy\u00a0themselves;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0nice\u00a0sight\u00a0to\u00a0see.\u00a0She\u00a0leaned\u00a0into\u00a0me,\u00a0her\u00a0scent\u00a0stronger\u00a0than\u00a0usual.\u00a01<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0seem\u00a0happy,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0kissing\u00a0her\u00a0temple.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0am,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0looking up\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0have\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0you.\u00a0Something\u00a0I\u00a0did\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0dressed\u00a0earlier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u00a0frowned,\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0thudding\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked;\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0sound\u00a0upset;\u00a0she\u00a0sounded\u00a0happy.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0reached\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0pocket\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0something\u00a0out;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0wrapped\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0tissue\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0handed\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
Unwrapping\u00a0the\u00a0tissue,\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0breasts\u00a0were\u00a0feeling\u00a0tender,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0feeling\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0nauseous\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0day.\u00a0So,\u00a0I\u00a0decided\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0pregnancy\u00a0test,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a02\u00a0lines\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0stick,\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0swelling\u00a0with\u00a0pure\u00a0bliss\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0her.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0lingered\u00a0with\u00a0hundreds\u00a0of\u00a0tears,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0wide\u00a0smile\u00a0spread\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0unison,\u00a0we\u00a0both\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0words\u00a0out\u00a0loud.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0having\u00a0another\u00a0baby.\u201d\u00a07<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 734 I\u00a0turned\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0Judy\u00a0squealed\u00a0and\u00a0jumped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0arms.\u00a0I\u00a0shook\u00a0my\u00a0head,\u00a0smirking\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0ran\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0training\u00a0grounds\u00a0and\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0best\u00a0friend\u2019s\u00a0arms.\u00a0Nan\u00a0laughed\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0Judy\u00a0in\u00a0a tight\u00a0embrace. I\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Chester,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0carrying\u00a0a\u00a0toddler\u00a0in his\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0slinging\u00a0the\u00a0diaper\u00a0bag\u00a0over\u00a0his\u00a0shoulder,\u00a0I\u00a0nodded\u00a0my\u00a0greeting\u00a0to\u00a0him\u00a0and\u00a0returned\u00a0it\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grin\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0approached\u00a0me. \u201cHey,\u00a0Alpha,\u201d\u00a0Chester\u00a0said. I\u00a0rolled\u00a0my\u00a0eyes. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21803\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}