Gavin dragged his gaze from Emilys, which had suddenly become teary, his eyes flicking from Noahs car seat over to a smaller infant seat. The difference in size was so overwhelming, yet the two fit together like pieces to a puzzle. Side by side, an older brother and a younger sibling. Swallowing, Gavin felt his heart start to hammer in his chest, bursting with a mixture of fear, excitement, love, and joy. Each a delicious, vivid component of what it felt like to be a father. A father to a first, and now a second child.

Gavins trembling hand immediately flew to Emilys stomach, his voice nearly trapped in his throat. Youre pregnant? The words rushed from his smiling lips.

Emily giggled, tears slipping from her eyes. No. I usually make it a habit of buying a few spares just in case. She unclicked her seat belt, climbed over the console, and deposited herself onto Gavins lap. He chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and peppered kisses against his lips, nose, and cheeks. Yes, Im pregnant, Blake. Its not funky forest green, but were filling this minivan with bucketloads of kids.

Gavin cradled the back of her head and slanted his mouth over hers as he spoke. Simply amazing. This girl named Mollyyou might know herbut yeah, she stormed into my life and hasnt stopped rocking my world ever since.

And in the year following the season thatd changed Emily and Gavin Blakes lives forever, fate finally played fair. It stopped its wicked games and decided to let up just a lil bit. From beautiful do-overs on a long stretch of highway in Mexico, to many layers of life peeled away, filled with bottle caps and another car seat in the back of a minivan, time had tick-tocked its way to where it belonged.

Fate such a funny little thing.