Midnight had come and gone by the time the medical team got the baby cleaned up and wrapped in a blue blanket. Mitzi wanted to stay in their little three-person cocoon for days, but the family—both those by DNA and those by love—were waiting, so she nodded to Graham to go get them. They filed into the room in awe at the baby lying in his mother’s arms.

“Y’all come meet Taylor Graham Harrison. He weighs nine pounds, ten ounces and is twenty-two inches long. He’s going to be a big boy like his daddy.”

Dixie and Tabby didn’t waste a bit of time getting from the door to the bed. “Oh, Mitzi Mama, he’s beautiful,” Tabby said. “We promise we’ll spoil him rotten.”

“So rotten that the garbageman won’t even want him,” Dixie giggled.

“But he’s going to learn to play ball, not sew dresses,” Alice declared.

“Maybe he’ll be a ballet dancer. Whatever he wants is what he’s going to be,” Tabby said.

Alice and Fanny Lou both groaned.

“But today he’s going to be a much-loved baby,” Jody said. “I can’t wait until Quincy and I have a sibling for Hazel. We’ve talked about it and we’re going to start trying as soon as we’re married, just like y’all did.”

“Where’s Ivy?” Mitzi asked.

“Quincy is watching her and Hazel at the shop.” Paula touched the baby on his chubby cheeks.

“He has red hair.” Tabby held her hand out toward Dixie. “Pay up, sister. You owe me five bucks.”

“It’s the light. His hair is going to be dark like ours. I get to hold him first,” Dixie said. “Please, Mitzi Mama, let me be first.”

“He’s so beautiful.” Harry wiped away a tear and kissed Mitzi on the forehead. “Your mama would be so happy to see our first grandbaby.”

Mitzi patted her dad on the cheek. “She sees him, Daddy. Remember what you told me? There’s holes in the floor of heaven and she sees all the wonderful things that happen to us.”

Harry nodded. “That brings me peace. Now give that baby to his daddy. Graham should be the first one to hold him. After all, Taylor is his son.”

Mitzi handed the baby to Graham. “Family, friends, a new baby, and the love of my life all in one place. I’m truly blessed.”

“Life is good. No. Life is great,” Graham said as Taylor wrapped his chubby finger around his pinkie.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Dear Readers,