Shayla's Story (The Mathews/Clemmins Family Series) (20 page)
Read Shayla's Story (The Mathews/Clemmins Family Series) Online
Authors: Beverly Preston
Everyone gathered for
breakfast at John and Shayla’s home in Las Vegas. They’d gotten married the
night before at an intimate ceremony at The Little Chapel of Love, and they
were leaving that afternoon to enjoy a short honeymoon on the beach in Hawaii.
John and Shayla had searched
a total of two days for a new home when Tess called to inform them that she
knew of the perfect house, the home John had been raised in.
“Do you think
they’ll notice?”
“I’m not sure. I
don’t think so. Well—”
“JC,” they said
simultaneously.
“She’s the master of
April fools pranks.” John simmered a laugh, rolling his hand over her belly.
Shayla laid her hand
on top of his, following the circle. “It’s your fault,” she teased.
“Me?” He pointed to
himself, scoffing in innocence. “The hospital was your fault.”
She blushed, but
raised her brow, giving him a doubtful smile.
“Okay. The Ranch Exit
on the drive home was my fault.”
Still unconvinced,
she cleared her throat.
“Okay, maybe it was
the second Ranch Exit. That one I will proudly take full responsibility for.”
He laughed.
They strolled down
the long hallway filled with family photos. John stopped to straighten a frame.
The wall had just been repainted a creamy white, but Shayla insisted each
picture be put back in its exact place. She loved the stories he told recanting
each memory of his childhood, captured forever in a photo. Carrying on the
family tradition, she’d already added several new pictures.
Their family
gathered in the kitchen.
“We have a few
pictures we wanted to share with you.” John handed his mom a small stack of
photos.
“Are these
ultrasound pictures?” Tess’s blue eyes beamed and a surprised smile broadened
across her face.
Tracy and JC quickly
moved in around her.
“Yes. We wanted to
surprise you.” Bliss rang in Shayla’s shaky voice.
John wrapped his
strong arms around her from behind, pulling her into his chest as he leaned
against the kitchen counter. He kissed and nibbled on a sensitive spot behind
her ear.
Tess released a
small gasp of joy, handing the first photo to Tom. Tracy and JC took the second
one.
“Awe. It’s a boy!”
Tracy exclaimed. “Richard! Awe…you’re gonna name him after Dad?
Congratulations!”
More squeals of
excitement followed from JC. “Can somebody tell me what’s what? Wait a minute,
this one says Thomas.”
Shayla’s eyes and
nose stung as she watched a veil of pride wash over her uncle’s face. They
shared a warm smile between them.
“So is he gonna be
Richard Thomas Mathews or Thomas Richard Mathews?”
John and Shayla
twisted to face each other. John kissed her cheek and rubbed her belly, a
routine becoming habitual. “You tell them.”
Shayla lifted her
chin proudly. “It’s Thomas
and
Richard.”
“Twins?” Rang in
unison throughout the kitchen.
“Hold on. Wait a
minute!” JC squinted at her brother suspiciously. “Is this an April Fools joke?”
~The End~
For over twenty years,
Beverly
Preston
has been married to Don, the love of her life. As her four
children begin to venture out on their own, she’s left to shed a
tear—for a minute—wonder what’s next in life, and embrace the
feeling of empowerment that surely must’ve been wrapped in a present she
received on her fortieth birthday. If Beverly isn’t at home
riding her spin bike, you’ll find her spinning richly emotional and
sinfully sexy romance stories. Also available by bestselling author, Beverly
Preston:
The Mathews/Clemmins Family Series:
Shayla’s Story
~ More from The Mathews/Clemmins Family ~
Series in early 2014