“I said, ‘This is different. I’ve been in love with this woman for years, and my marriage was on the rebound, but we’ve got it together now, and it’s right.’ Well, something like that.”

“We do have it together now, don’t we, John? It is right.”

He kissed her, quick and efficient, and grinned that magnetic grin of his. “Right. Never more right.”

Inside the McElroy house was a gathering that Leigh could never have prepared herself for. John couldn’t have, either, for that matter. The entire McElroy clan had gathered under one roof to meet and greet the newest addition. They had all hidden their cars down the block and in the garage. There was the aroma of roast beef in the air and a lot of noise in the living room. And right after Jeanette McElroy opened the door and greeted her son, they all yelled, “Surprise.”

Minister Mike was the only one who’d had to fly into town for this gathering. He and his wife and kids were staying with Ted and Chris and their clan. Bob had taken time off, and Judy had come over early to help prepare an enormous meal. Leigh was hugged and welcomed by each and every one of them.

“We thought you should have a look at what you’re really getting into,” Bob said. “This is no quiet little family.”

“It probably knocks you out to see this many of us, but don’t worry that we’ll all converge on Durango at once. We’ll give you a couple of weeks of wedded bliss before we do that,” Mike said.

“There’s a genetic problem in the family that you should know about going in,” Chris advised. “This family hasn’t produced a girl in generations, and we’re counting on you to be the first.”

“How did you dare do this?” John wanted to know. “I mean, it’s not as though this is my first time around the matrimonial block. Or Leigh’s, for that matter.”

“Easy,” Jeanette said. “I knew in my heart you had finally found your wife. The sound in your voice…I’ve heard that sound four times now,” she said, glancing around at her other sons.

It wasn’t until the beef was sliced, the many kids settled in the dining room and the adults gathered in the living room at a long, portable dining table, that someone ventured the hope that John and Leigh planned on having a large family. The conversation slowly ground to a halt as the question hung in the air unanswered. Mouths slowly closed, eyes slowly turned toward John and Leigh.

“Ah,” John said, “that’s one of the reasons we decided to come out and see you personally. It’s…ah…well, we’ve already gotten a start on that.”