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“That will be nice.”
“Whatever she wants,” he says in an affectionate way. As if he truly means it and isn’t trying to skip out of a girly activity like wedding planning.
We’re interrupted by the front door opening. It’s so bright out, the two figures silhouetted in the doorway are impossible to make out at first. Chance breaks free of Z’s hold and runs toward me. “Mommmeee!” he yells the whole way across the living room, flinging himself against my legs.
I press my fingers to my lips, reminding him that baby Grace is still sleeping.
“Did you have fun?” I ask, pulling him into my lap for kisses. He wraps his little arms around my neck and hugs me tight and I inhale the scent of my son mixed with crisp mountain air.
He turns and flings one arm toward the door. “We rided in the TV. I helped.”
I lift my gaze to Z who shrugs. “The UTV we use on the grounds. It’s a side-by-side.”
I look at Chance again. “How was it?”
He’s off babbling excitedly about his trip around the property. Murphy chuckles and high-fives Chance for being a good co-pilot.
“Everything okay?” Z asks, sitting next to me.
“Yup.”
“Can I see?” Chance asks Murphy, peeking past him to get a look at Grace.
“Sure, buddy.”
He sets Grace’s carrier on the floor and Chance squats down next to her.
“You want a little sister?” Murphy asks.
“No,” Chance answers without looking up.
“Uh-oh.” Murphy laughs. He pulls out his cell phone and snaps a quick picture of them. “Sending it to Hope.”
“Don’t send it to Rock,” Z jokes.
Murphy chuckles.
This isn’t at all what I expected.
Z leans over and grabs some of the papers Murphy had been going over earlier. “What’s this?”
Murphy shrugs. “Gonna have three kids up here now.” His mouth quirks. “Hopefully more. Thought that would be fun.”
“Is that why Wrath was clearing out the spot by the garage?”
“Yeah. We’re not doing anything with it anyway. Guys keep throwing tires and junk there.” He points two fingers toward his eyes, then swings them toward the door. “That way I can keep an eye on ‘em when I’m working in the garage.”
“What is it?” I ask, sitting forward.
Z pushes the papers over, and it takes me a second to realize I’m looking at a rather elaborate plan for a jungle-gym-clubhouse—swing set. Every child’s dream playground with multiple slides, swings, a tire swing, a rock-climbing wall and its own little clubhouse, complete with front porch and windows. Except for park playgrounds or elementary schools, I’ve never seen such an elaborate set-up.
“You’re installing a playground at your motorcycle clubhouse?” I blurt out.
“Well, I’m sure Sparky will get some use out of it too.” Murphy says, making Z crack up and bump his fist against Murphy’s.
I shake my head, trying to go over his words. Three kids. Is he including Chance in that number? My son who he doesn’t even know?
My own parents barely acknowledge my son’s existence, but Z’s friends are ready to welcome him as if he’s one of their own? I can’t wrap my mind around it and tears prick my eyes.
They’re not his friends.
They’re his family. His brothers.
Z moves closer to go over the plans with Murphy and then they start talking about building another treehouse further back on the property. Not surprisingly, Z mentions the kind of camera system he wants to install so they can keep track of the kids at all times, especially as they get older.
“Good call.” Murphy grins. “We can build it ourselves.” He taps the plans. “I have a list of supplies we need or there’s a place up in Round Rock that sells the complete kit. We can install it ourselves or hire them to do the installation. We can construct it in stages too.” He taps one of the pages. “This one for the little guys and expand out as they get bigger.”
“Bricks and Winter’s kids are big enough. Might as well do the whole thing now,” Z says. “Every time I see Alexa, she looks like she’s grown.”
“Tell me about it.” Murphy laughs. “Jasper was up earlier. If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve asked him to stick around.”
“That’s all right. I’ll call him. How’s your place coming along?”
“We’ll probably be able to move in before we get married.”
The front door bangs open and a little blur of pink and blue toddles across the room. “Dad-dy!”
Murphy’s whole face lights up and he stands to catch Alexa, picking her up and kissing her cheek. “Where’s your mom?”
She twists and points toward the door. Murphy meets Heidi and grabs her bags, leaning down to kiss her cheeks and whisper a few things to her.
Z reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Everything okay?”
I nod, surprised that it’s the truth. I thought this afternoon would be a lot more awkward.
But then I’m reminded I’ve only run into a few of Z’s brothers.
And none of the women.
Heidi gives me a cool look as she approaches.
“Hi, Uncle Z.” She leans over to give him a hug. “Hi, Lilly.”
No hug for me, I guess.
“Where’s Chance?” she asks.
Z nods to him and Heidi smiles wide. “Hi!” She scoops her daughter out of Murphy’s arms. “Did you say hello to Chance?”
“He seems fascinated with Grace,” Z says.
Heidi laughs. “It’s okay. She can sleep through anything. Thank God. Alexa started sneaking upstairs and staring at her in the mornings. It’s so cute though.”
Good sleeper or not, all the attention finally wakes Grace. She yawns and blinks, staring at all of us.
“You hungry, baby?” Heidi coos.
Murphy taps her shoulder. “Hope left bottles for her.”
Heidi scurries off to the kitchen and returns a few minutes later with a bottle. She sets Grace in her lap to feed her while Chance and Alexa sit and watch.
“You’ve got an audience,” Heidi whispers, kissing Grace’s cheek.
Murphy runs his hand over Heidi’s hair while she’s busy and barely pays attention to the notes Z scribbles down about the swing set.
It’s all very homey and domestic, exactly the opposite of what I expected.
The front door opens again and two giant dogs come racing in.
“Doggies!” Alexa yells.
Z claps his hands and the dogs hurry to his side, sitting at his feet. “What’s up, guys? Trin taking good care of you?”
“Yes,” Trinity answers, breathing hard. “Christ, they’re fast buggers.”
Z stands and gives her a quick hug. “Thanks.”
“No problem, Z.” She peers around him and waves at me. “Hey, Lilly.”
I’ve always liked Trinity and gotten along well with her, but I’m also fully aware she’s dedicated to the club and may not be too thrilled with me right now. “Hey,” I answer carefully.
She doesn’t display any hostility toward me, and she seems excited to meet Chance.
The dogs shuffle my way, sniffing and rubbing up against my legs. “Hi, guys. You’re both so big now!”
“Ziggy, right?” I ask Z, pointing to one. “And Zipper?”
“You remember.”
“I do.” I lean down and they both press cold, wet noses to my cheeks.
“Doggies!” Alexa yells, patting Zipper’s side. He turns and slurps her cheek, making her giggle.
Chance approaches the dogs carefully and Z crouches down, showing him how to approach the dogs with the back of his hand extended. The dogs sniff and lick Chance, making him squirm and laugh.
“Gentle,” I remind him when he pats Ziggy on the head.
After they’ve greeted everyone, Z points to a couple dog beds in the corner between the two couches. “Bed,” he orders and the dogs scamper over, s
ettling down next to each other but keeping an eye on all the activity.
Grace coughs and gurgles, prompting Heidi to set the bottle down and burp her. “Full, Gracie?” she asks.
