A Family of Their Own, Part 5

Half an hour later, Janet, Alec, Felix, Cecily, Daniel, and Hetty stood around the bed where the Pike family sat. Hetty carried the King Family Bible with her, read to add an entry to the book that had listings for every King birth, wedding, and death since the marriage of her parents.

In Gus' arms lay his sleeping black-haired daughter. Felicity couldn't help but giggle earlier when she saw her nervous Gus was when she place the baby in his arms. He had never held one before, and now it looked like she'd have to fight him to get her back.

Felicity smiled at the inquestive faces of her family as they waited in suspense. She galanced at her husband and daughter before she began to speak.

"After much thinking and debate, we've decided to name her Colleen Henrietta Pike. Colleen after Colleen Pritchard and Henrietta. . ."

She looked back at her husband and grined. Gus continued where she left off.

"And Henrietta after Aunt Hetty, who helped me see the potential in myself and taught me to chew ten times before I swallow so I don't burp."

Everyone else chulcked, but Hetty was struck nearly speechless. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Janet, could you write in the Bible? I don't want to get tears on it."

Janet took the book from Hetty and flipped to the births page. She glanced down the page and saw the entries for her own babies. Felicity Victoria. Felix Alexander. Cecily Elizabeth. Daniel Ward. By the time she read Daniel's name, Janet too was crying.

"Here, Alec, take this."

Following the same format as the other entries, underdeath the one for Alicia Dale's birth and adoption, Alec wrote:

"Gus, you've already given me the most wonderful gift. What more could I want?"

"Felix, in my suitcase there's a package wrapped in tissue paper. Could ya please hand it to Felicity?"

Felicity took the small package from Felix.

"Sorry, it's not wrapped to pretty, sweetheart, but I thought I'd have time to wrap it here." With a smile, he gently touched Colleen's hair.

"No, Gus, it's the most beautiful package I've ever seen."

Felicity unwrapped the package to reveal a small wooden box. She lifted the lid and music filled the room. Closing her eyes, she began to hum along. Then Alec joined in, singing the song: