“Daddy…for…forgot…my…blankie,” she sniffled in between sobbing hiccups.

“I’m sorry, baby. Let Uncle Lucas take you inside, ’cause I have a surprise for you,” he said.

She looked up at him with a bit of curiosity and her crying dimmed. Lucas could hear Austin sigh heavily behind him.

“Su…su…surprise?” she asked, still not sure whether she was willing to leave the car.

“Yes, surprise. But, only big girls get it.” That was all it took. Because she was the youngest of all the cousins, Isabelle’s major goal in life was to be a big girl.

Lucas knew that Grandma Katherine and Grandma Esther and all the children’s aunts and moms had spent all year making them new quilts. They’d used pieces of their newborn clothes and nursery blankets, and other cherished fabrics. Their grandmothers wanted to give these gifts to each of them on Thanksgiving, not Christmas, when the abundance of toys would make the quilts seem less special.

The women had all put their hearts into the project, and Lucas had a feeling it was going to become a family tradition for any new members of the family to receive one the year they were born.

While Lucas calmed Isabelle and Mark hunted Alex down to offer help in the sitting room, their new cousins began arriving. The entire family was happy to meet new kinfolk, and knew that Joseph, George and Richard were particularly jubilant.

As they rounded the corner, Lucas bumped into someone he hadn’t met yet.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he brought up his hand to protect Isabelle’s head.

“This house is huge, and I was admiring a painting, so wasn’t paying attention. I’m Crew Storm,” said the man, whose arm was around a petite blonde.

Lucas shifted Isabelle to his hip so he could shake Crew’s hand.

“Lucas Anderson. I’m one of your many cousins,” he replied.

“I’ve heard all about you, Lucas. It’s a pleasure to finally put a face to the name. This is my fiancée, Haley Sutherland.”

“Hello, Crew,” Amy said as she joined them. “Haley, would you like to join us women in the library?”

Lucas beamed at his wife. She always had a friendly smile for everyone, and he knew she would welcome his new family with open arms.

Haley gave Amy a tentative smile as she released Crew’s arm and followed Amy away.

“Congratulations, Cousin. She’s beautiful,” Lucas said and slapped him on the back. The two of them went to the playroom so they could hand off Isabelle to her grandmother and then go together for a cigar and a drink.

Meanwhile, Joseph, George and Richard sat in the den sipping cognac from crystal glasses as they enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

“Richard, I can’t even tell you how thankful I am this year that we’ve discovered a new brother. You are a person I’d call friend even if you weren’t blood,” Joseph said, his voice choking just the slightest. He quickly took a sip from his glass and looked at the leaping flames.

“I couldn’t be happier to know you. But I have decided to forgive my parents. What they did was wrong on so many levels, but they loved me, and I know I’m the man I am today because of the way they raised me. It saddens me to have missed the opportunity to meet my real parents, but I’ll learn all about them through the both of you. Our kids will now get to know each other, and our grandkids will be close, as well.”

“Speaking of grandkids, congratulations on the upcoming nuptials of Crew and Haley. That is wonderful. You may have your first grandbaby by Christmas next year,” George said. “I wish our kids had gotten engaged without us having to push them.”

“Oh, Crew needed a little push. I met Haley and fixed the drawing for her to get two weeks at Crew’s resort,” Richard said with a beaming smile.

“Brother, you are a man after our hearts. You must tell us what happened,” Joseph said, leaning back. The three of them were roaring with laughter by the time Richard finished his tale.

“So now that you have one child married off, what are your plans for the other four?” Joseph asked, his eyes lit up.

“Well, a few months ago I met this real sweet girl who’s graduating at the end of spring term with her bachelor’s in biochemistry. She’s going on for her master’s in oceanography sciences, but she has the summer off, and she’s fascinated by sunken treasures. It just so happens that my boy Ashton owns a boating business out of Seattle. I’ve given her a card and told her he’d be more than happy for some work.”

“It sounds like she’ll be too busy for a family,” George stated as he took a puff from his cigar.

“Nonsense, Brother. She’s such a sweet thing, and in need of a man to help her let down her hair. I think sparks are going to fly between the two of them.”

“Well, then, we have some work to do,” Joseph exclaimed, and he leaped from his chair. The thought of matchmaking again sent his blood pumping.

There was nothing like family — and finding true love for those you loved so dearly.

The three men walked from the room toward the warmth and laughter of their still-expanding clan. It was a new day — and the sun continued to shine for the Andersons.

The End