Rejoice by Kingsbury Karen

Author:Kingsbury, Karen [Kingsbury, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

FROM THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVED in Manhattan, Eliza beth felt better than she had since summer.

The family had four adjoining rooms at the Marriott Marquis in the theater district of Manhattan’s Midtown West area—Kari and Ryan and Jessie in one room, Erin and Sam next to them, Ashley and Cole and Maddie in the third room, and Elizabeth and John in the fourth. Brooke and Hayley would stay with Ashley when they arrived on Tuesday.

Once they were all checked in, they had dinner at the hotel and firmed up plans for the week.

“This is gonna be the bestest fun time,” Cole announced that night.

And so it was.

On Sunday, Luke and Reagan joined them on a tour of the city, complete with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and a cruise around the harbor. It was the first time Elizabeth had been to the city since the terrorist attacks, and she and the others were quiet as they took in the changed skyline.

“Still makes you want to cry, doesn’t it?” She leaned her head on John’s shoulder, her voice a whisper.

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“It really happened.” John narrowed his eyes and gazed at the place where the twin towers had stood. “Until you see it for yourself, I guess it’s hard to believe.”

The twelve of them had an early dinner together at a place near Central Park, and then walked to the New Amsterdam Theatre on Forty-second Street for a performance of The Lion King.

When they were filing in, Ashley leaned over and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek.

“Thanks, Mom… for making this happen.” She held Cole’s hand as they made their way down to their seats. “Cole’s never seen anything like this.”

When they were all seated, the lights dimmed, and the theater came to life with a procession of dramatically costumed actors, each playing an animal from the play.

“Hey, Grandma.” Cole tugged on Elizabeth’s sleeve. “They’re real! I can’t believe they’re real!”

Elizabeth wasn’t sure which was more fun to watch, the stunning drama taking place on the stage or the awe and wonder on the faces of her grandchildren. In the end, she split her time watching both, grateful that from the beginning of the play, Maddie and Cole were captured by the story.

Afterwards they walked down Forty-second Street and found an ice-cream parlor where they relived the play’s highlights.

“We’ll have to come back in a few years when our little girl can enjoy it.” Erin took Sam’s hand and grinned.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Little girl?”

“Wait a minute.” John lowered his ice-cream cone. “Are you making an announcement?”

Sam chuckled and looked at the faces around the table. “We found out the day before we left. The birth mother is having a girl.”

“Yay!” Kari held Jessie’s hand in the air and made a victory hoot. “A girl cousin for you, Jessie.” She high-fived Erin across the table. “That’s perfect.”

“Hey, boy cousins are good, too.” Cole crossed his arms and 195

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made a half-serious pout. “I’m the only boy cousin in the family.”

“Don’t worry, Cole.” Ashley grinned at Erin and Sam.

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