The tension in the room subsided. Darcy walked Courtney through the nursery they had put together so quickly.

“The bassinette is one that has been in the Keller family for years. Curtis slept in it. Ed, Chris, and Clara. And of course Tyler and Spencer. I suppose it’s going to be a very busy bed here soon,” Darcy said softly.

“Does it bother you to all be having babies at the same time?”

“Oh no,” she said very quickly. “What a blessing. My sisters and I will have a lot in common, don’t you think? We can go out and eat strange things. We can complain about this and that together. And in the end we can hold and coo over our own babies because none of us will be fighting to hold the other’s baby.”

Courtney laughed. “Sounds like it’s all worked out.”

“And you and Tyler?”

“What about us?” she asked and her voice fluttered a bit.

“I know you haven’t known each other long, but you’re very serious.”

Courtney swallowed hard. “We are. There is a lot of excitement and a lot of mourning going on around us right now. We need to take some time to figure it all out.”

Darcy rested her hand on Courtney’s arm again. “I’m so sorry about your brother.”

“Thank you. It’s hit me a few times. I’m sure it will many, many more.”

“C’mon, time for Avery to give up the baby,” Darcy laughed and escorted Courtney back down the steps.

Tyler would admit he wasn’t one for holding babies. In fact, other than Spencer, and he himself was not more than a baby, he didn’t remember holding them.

But when Courtney came back into the room that was what he was doing. Holding his niece and he could have sworn she smiled at him.

“Come sit by me. I have Emily.”

He reached a hand up to guide her down next to him.

“Are you ready for her?”

“I’m nervous. I haven’t held too many babies.”

“Me neither, but she seems content. I’m going to lay her in your arms.”

Courtney held her arms to accept the baby and Tyler slid Emily into them.

“Oh, my! This is wonderful,” Courtney said holding back the tears that were forming. “Tell me what she looks like,” she said as she let Emily wrap her little hand around her finger.

“She’s dark like Ed,” Darcy said. “Ed is half Puerto Rican and half Italian. Emily is Hispanic.”

“You truly have continued the eclectic mix of your family.”

“That was our plan,” Ed said.

“She has a full head of black hair,” Darcy continued and Courtney smoothed her hand over Emily’s head.

“It’ll be curly too. In time,” she said.

“How do you know that?”

Tyler laughed. “She has these superpowers like that. You don’t want to second-guess her. She knew you were pregnant when you hadn’t announced it yet.”

“You did?” Darcy laughed.

“I can see the things others can’t,” she said with a brilliant smile as Emily cuddled closer to her.

Tyler draped his arm over her shoulders and looked down at that new eclectic addition to the Keller family. This baby would never know anything but love and compassion. That’s how the family worked. And as Courtney cooed to the baby and felt her with delicate hands Tyler knew that Courtney, with her superpowers, belonged here too.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Planning, negotiating, replanning, and late nights became the norm for the next two months. But the team of Tyler, Avery, and Courtney had pulled it off. The event was a mere two weeks away and Tyler was pleased with what they’d done in such a short amount of time.

He worked at Courtney’s desk, in the corner of her living room, while she prepared dinner for him. Piece by piece, his life had been slowly moved into her house and only unimportant items remained in his house for the time being. When they announced their engagement, then he would move in completely.

They’d discussed it. It made sense for her to live where she knew the layout the best. Though, in time, when they had their own family, that would have to change. Neither of their houses were big enough for more than one child. At least that’s what Tyler thought since he’d had ample room to run and play.

Courtney had been a little edgy the past two weeks dealing with her mother, and Tyler thought that was acceptable. After all, Fitz’s birthday had passed, the headstone had been erected, and her mother had fallen apart on more than one occasion while Courtney had been the rock to settle her. And Tyler had been there after to settle Courtney.

What had surprised him most was the lack of people who contacted Courtney to see if she was okay since Fitz’s death. She loved him so, but didn’t the rest of the world? He couldn’t think of a single time her phone had rang and someone had said, “I’m calling to see how you’re feeling.”

He thought better of that. His own mother had called her nearly every week to do that.

Pride swelled in him. That’s what she needed more than anything at this point. She needed to be his wife and an official part of his family.

Tomorrow. He would go to her father tomorrow and ask for her hand in marriage. He’d propose at the gala. Yes, that would be the perfect venue to make it official. Of course he’d keep it under his hat and not make a scene. But this had brought them together. It had let Courtney shine as a writer and a planner of big things. She might not see the world the way he did, but she saw a bigger picture, that was for sure.

“Dinner is ready,” Courtney’s voice broke the silence he was sitting in.

She stood in the doorway, a vision of beauty in an apron.

“Smells wonderful.”

“You’re a man. It’s food. Of course it’s wonderful.” She laughed easily.

Tyler stood and moved to her swiftly. He gathered her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you.”

“Those are big words for a simple meal.”

“It’s not the meal. It’s so much more.”

She held her hands to his chest. “I love you too. Now let’s eat before it gets cold.”

She turned out of his arms and went back into the kitchen.

Oh, in two weeks she’d understand the extent of those words and then for the rest of her life he’d make sure to fully show her. He’d seen his parents over his life. They never faltered in their love. They never distrusted the other one. Sure, there had been arguments and tears, and in the end hugs and kisses.