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“I am sorry for everything,” he says as I walk away toward the car.
It’s not like I don’t want to fix anything between us, but right now, there are more important things that need my attention. Like my little ones, Izzy, Dad, and, more importantly, Gideon. If I’m going to move here, I have to talk to Gabe about him and ask him to help me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gabriel
Ameline disappears for about six hours. I send her a couple of texts just to remind her that I’m here for her but don’t send Finn or Seth’s people to look for her yet. Someone should give me a fucking medal or at least a pat on my back.
Though, I’m worried about where she might have gone or . . . Was she in some kind of accident? What if Cedric did something to her?
Okay, I’m going a little too far.
“Whese Ame?” Cora asks as we prepare dinner. She’s washing the lettuce with Mom while I’m sprinkling the toasted breadcrumbs on top of the mac-n-cheese before putting it in the oven. I swear, tomorrow I’m leaving her with my parents and taking Ame to dinner. I can’t eat pasta and cheese again.
“Aunt Ameline went to run some errands,” I respond, and Mom arches an eyebrow.
I’m not sure if she’s not liking that I’m being evasive or maybe I sound too cold. Can she blame me? I’m concerned about Ame’s whereabouts.
Dad climbs down the stairs with Caleb in his arms. I swear this man is going to be the death of me. He doesn’t get the concept of ‘put the fucking baby down.’
“You were supposed to feed him and set him back in his crib,” I tell him. “If you get him used to being held all the time, he’ll become too dependent. Babies need some time to themselves to start learning about their bodies and movements. It’ll be harder for him to self-soothe and sleep later on if he expects to be rocked constantly now.”
Dad chuckles, glancing at Mom. “You sound just like a ducking doctor, Gabriel.”
“That’s because I am a doctor,” I remind him.
“Your mom and I want to think that there’s always a balance. Sure, you have to give them some independence, but also love,” he states and points at Caleb. “This little one needs that reassurance and bonding time even more than some babies.”
“Can you listen to me for once?” I ask, trying not to snap impatiently.
“You know why you’re so calm and loving?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Because I didn’t listen to your ducking doctor,” he states. “I was in the NICU daily with my twins holding them. When we arrived home, we continued doing the same. I barely left you in the crib—unless your mama pried you out of my arms.”
Mom smiles fondly at the memory. “It was a struggle to convince him at times. But you two were our little miracles and our rainbow babies. We didn’t know if we would get a chance to have any more.”
Sometimes, I need to remember that little detail. Dad was in a motorcycle accident when he was young and was told that he wouldn’t be able to have children. My parents were ready to be just Aunt Pria and Uncle Jacob until Jude and I arrived. Then Harper and . . . Well, they even adopted two more children because they have a lot of love to give.
“Perhaps you’re right,” I say. “But if Caleb doesn’t start sleeping through the night soon, you two should plan to come move in for a bit.”
“You heard them, Twinkle. We’re moving in with the grandkids,” Dad announces happily.
I groan. This wasn’t what I expected.
Mom rolls her eyes in exasperation. “Oh no, you don’t. Put that baby down already.” Dad shakes his head as she continues. “Harper is going to be staying with us for a while when she gets back. I don’t think we can manage splitting time between two households.”
At the mention of Harper, Dad’s face clouds over with anger. Caleb begins fussing, detecting the shift in mood until Dad forces a smile again.
Harper is currently in Baja at my grandparents’ house with some of our siblings and cousins—healing. Her fiancé had been abusing her for months. It wasn’t until Grace noticed a suspicious bruise that the Decker women put the pieces together and intervened.
It explained why Harper had been withdrawing from the family, isolating herself. More likely, that abusive asshole was deliberately keeping her from us, making her feel like we didn’t care. I’ve talked to her a couple of times, but she doesn’t want to discuss him or see Mom and Dad yet. Still, she agreed to move in with them once she returns.
I can see the pain and helplessness in my parents’ eyes. They’re struggling to respect Harper’s boundaries while aching to hug their little girl close.
Just then the front door opens, and we all glance up as Ameline steps inside, breaking some of the heavy tension.
