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And then all three of us laugh as we look up at Lexi and listen to her finish the song

"Thank you all very much," she says into the microphone when the last notes dissipate Her voice is rich and husky, and her eyes are shining bright, as it's clear she's in her element

The applause is thunderous as Lexi hops off the stool she had placed center stage, and carefully lays her instrue to put money in her tip jar or speak with her for a few ulars here, and it warms my heart to know that Lexi has found a place where she truly belongs It's so weird to look at hters, both very different in their successes Gray is a genius, Ivy league-educated Olyer of a professional hockey tea ready to have a child with hi the life that most women would kill for, and she's deliriously happy with it

Lexi didn't go to college, has basically worked as a waitress for her adult life and lives off the tips she gets fro She lives in a small apartment and drives a beat-up little car And she's just as deliriously happy as Gray

As a father, that knowledge for both of them fulfills me beyond measure

When Lexi coe and joins us at our table, Gray and Ryker inal positions and Lexi takes the one opposite of e

She sits down and exhales in relief before s around the table at us "No matter how many times I perfor you all here to watch "

Gray laughs, and I love that it's natural and she seems to have accepted Lexi completely "Well, you were truly wonderful Dad and I ondering if thatnot"

Lexi laughs and waves Gray off in a self-deprecating way "I'd kill to have gotten the genius-level IQ that got passed down to you"

Gray's laugh dies immediately and she looks at Lexi solemnly "I think you're very smart, and that's obvious by the clear talent you have You're a genius too, just in a different way"

And my heart swells with pride Yes, Gray is fully on board with her new sister

Which brings up an iirls, I'd like our team publicist to issue a statement about Lexi"

"I think we should do it sooner rather than later," Gray says with a nod, and this is co from her business side "We do it now, it coincides with the test, and there's no speculation that ere sitting on this or afraid of the media's take on it"

"Should be we afraid?" Lexi asks hesitantly

"Not at all," I assure her "But I do feel like we need to be truthful that we didn't know about each other until recently I don't think we have to give details, but we need to be clear that this is new to us as well It willis possible"

"And you'll have people wanting to talk to you," Gray warns Lexi "You handle that however you want, but we can have our publicist deal with all inquiries"

"Okay," Lexi says with a slight quaver to her voice

"It will all be fine," I assure her "You'll see"

There's a gentle hand to the middle of nize the touch as Georgia's, but then it's gone after a slow glide as she walks around the table to Lexi She has a bottle of water and a pink teddy bear hite silk ribbon tied in a bow around its neck She sits the water in front of Lexi and hands the bear to her

"What's this for?" Lexi asks with joyful surprise, and she looks froia

"Your ," she says as she plops her arm around Lexi's shoulder "What a romantic, huh?"

I smile as I see Lexi's eyes shine with happiness even as her cheeks turn pink Her head raises and she scans the interior of the coffee shop

"Oh, he's not here," Georgia says to her as she nods down to the stuffed aniive it to you There's a note on the bow"

Lexi turns the bear around, looking at the bow When she can't see anything, she unties it and pulls it free, and I can see there's handwriting on the underside I watch as she reads it silently to herself, her lips , and when she finishes, a look that I've never seen on Lexi's face breaks free It's a dreamy expression, full of wonder and hope It's a look that says, All is right in my world

I recognize that look I've seen it on Gray's face many times since she fell in love with Ryker

"So what did your honey say to you?" Ryker asks, and I can tell there's a little bit of brother-in-law intention to e her on the spot

Lexi gives Ryker a secretive smirk as she reties the bow around the bear's neck "That's for my eyes alone"

"Why didn't he stay?" I ask Georgia