"March is pregnant too," Caitlin said. "I just got off the phone with her. She's also almost four weeks along."

Celeste Hayes and Norris Richards had been trying for a second child for a long time with no luck. The moment she tested positive, she'd called Caitlin to share the good news.

Gertrude was astonished. "Really? That means my baby and March's baby have some kind of special connection!"

Not only did they find out on the same day, but they were both at the same stage. "Yeah," Caitlin agreed with a smile. "Those two little ones definitely share a bond."

Silas started jumping up and down beside her. "Yay, yay! I'm gonna be a big brother again!"

Jasper shot him a disdainful look. "So what if you're a big brother? You still have to call me big brother!"

Nine and a half months later, Gertrude gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Celeste's second child was also a boy.

That November, Carey and Stuart, along with Caitlin and Gordon, took the three children to Neon Spire to visit family.

Even with Hannah gone, Caitlin remained the cherished favorite of the Richards family.

And Gemma was the new little darling, doted on by everyone.

Most of Caitlin's thirteen brothers had married over the years, and between them, they had a small army of sons. They were all absolutely smitten with Gemma.

Norris and Celeste's second son, now three months old, was a chubby and adorable baby.

They stayed for over half a month, returning just before Christmas.

This year, the Gonzales and Sylvester families celebrated Christmas together.

By one in the afternoon, Caitlin and Gordon were busy decorating the house while Stuart and Carey took over the kitchen. The three children were in the yard, having snowball fights, building a snowman, and running around with joyous abandon.

The house was filled with warmth and life.

Beatrice, Keira, and Fortune Kensington sat together, playing cards.

Beatrice glanced out the window, a happy smile on her face. "It's so much more festive with everyone together. We should make this a tradition and spend every Christmas together from now on."

"Oh, yes!" Keira readily agreed. "It's a deal."

After dinner, the elders took turns handing out presents to the little ones.

Clutching their large gift boxes, Jasper and Silas turned on the charm.

"Thank you, Great-Grandpa! Thank you, Great-Grandma!"

"Thanks, Grandma!"

"Thank you, Nana and Grandpa!"

Though she was almost four, Gemma still couldn't speak. She could only watch as her brothers silver tongues charmed the great-grandparents into heaps of affection.

After opening their gifts, the three kids ran back outside to play hide-and-seek.

Suddenly, Silas tripped and fell face-first into a snowdrift.

Jasper and Gemma rushed to his side. "Silas, Silas, get up!"

Silas lay motionless on the ground.

Jasper's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Gemma. "Gemma! Go get Mom and Dad! Silas isn't moving!"

Terrified, Gemma scrambled to her feet and ran into the living room.

Caitlin was curled up in Gordon's arms, watching television. Or rather, Caitlin was watching while Gordon was busy peeling grapes and cracking nuts for her, his hands never still.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Gemma cried as she burst into the room.

Caitlin froze, then sat bolt upright, staring at Gemma in disbelief. "Gemma, what...

what did you call me? Was that you talking?"

For a second, Caitlin thought she must have imagined it.

"Mommy!" Gemma said urgently. "Si-Silas fell down!"

Caitlin swept Gemma into a tight hug, her own eyes growing misty "Gemma, My Gemma. You can finally

talk You can finally call me

FindNovel.net

Four years.

It had been four long years.

Although she knew deep down that her daughter was fine, a part of her, the

mother's part, had always worried.

She had secretly begun to fear that her daughter might never speak.