I ask him who’s in the room besides Anna.
“Saxon and Samson both insisted on watching over her.” I must raise my eyebrows at that ’cause Shane shrugs his shoulders at my reaction.Interesting.
Ma interrupts my thinking by asking Shane, “What about Tyson?”
“Well, he’s got broken ribs, a broken foot and is starting to detox. He’s not doing great at the moment. I think he’s looking at either doin’ some time for his part in the kidnapping or he’s going to have to agree to an extensive stint in an in-patient rehab facility. Grant and I were in there when the doctors came to talk to him. Grant and Pa were in there when I left.”
He’s mentioned everyone but the man whose action has everyone in the hospital.
“What about Abel?”
Pa walks in, using his cane and answers me with anger in his voice. “My fucking idiot of a brother is no longer alive. He’s started his time with Hel and she’s gonna be the longest relationship he ever managed.” He comes over and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“You aren’t sad that he’s gone, Pa?” Pa sits in the chair that Shane brought over for him, noticing he was leaning on his cane a bit more than usual.
“Fuck no. The brother I knew and loved was gone long ago. The man I saw today? That’s years of drug use and mental unbalance. There wasn’t any coming back from that. Plus, he tried to harm you and my grandbaby and nieces. For that reason alone, he needed to meet Hel.”
I tell them what I remember once we were all in the van. I tell them about Tyson asking who I was to Shane and his surprise when I said his wife and that I was pregnant with his daughter.
“It was like something clicked in him. He told Abel that this wasn’t what he signed up for and he wasn’t gonna hurt his brother. That’s when he told Abel he was gonna pull over and let me out. Abel started yelling and fighting with him, trying to grab the wheel. I know they were fighting for a few minutes, and the last thing I remember is a gunshot going off as we rolled.”
Shane speaks up for the first time in a bit. Looking in his eyes, I realize just how scared he was when we were in that van.
“We had no clue what was going on. Every swerve, every turn, it was like my heart stopped, knowing you and Grace were in danger and there was nothing I could do about it. It’s a good thing he’s dead, ’cause if he wasn’t, I would have sent him to meet Hel, very, very slowly.”
I think that’s enough rehashing, plus I feel if we talk about it anymore, my tears are gonna come back and I don’t feel like crying again just yet. I hear my girl Gracie starting to stir a little.
“Pa, your granddaughter is waitin’ to meet you. Wanna hold her?” I see Ma over at the bassinet and watch her pick her up to bring her to Pa. Something settles in me and reminds me that just because I found love in a roundabout way, doesn’t mean it wasn’t the way I was supposed to all along. I think there’s some circularity to my being the one to make Ma and Pa parents for the first time and my little girl being the first to make them a Papa and Amma.
“Linnea, bring me my Grace.” I can see Ma smiling at Pa as she bends down to hand her over.
“My dear, you have the same eyes as your mama did the day she was born. That tells me you’re going to be a beautiful soul. They also tell me that me and your dad are gonna have our hands full.” We all chuckle at that with Shane starting to say she’s not going to date till she’s thirty or some such nonsense.
“Thirty? She’ll be lucky if it’s that early. She’s gonna have to bring any boy who’s interested to meet her god-uncles before anything can happen,” Saxon declares as he walks into the room followed by Shane, Grant, Mads, and all of my brothers.
Kierstie looks at Saxon questioningly. “What the fuck do you mean god-uncles?” Saxon looks around like it should be obvious to all of us.
“Well, Dad is her godfather. That makes us more than just cousins, so it’s like uncles, but god-uncles.” He’s getting weird looks from everyone. I look at Mads and she must've thought of somethin’ ’cause she’s got a grin she’s trying to hide.
Looking at Saxon, she corrects him. “Well, technically since he’s Grace’s godfather, that makes you more like god-brothers than anything else, but that’s not really a thing. You’re her first cousin once removed, technically.” Saxon starts arguing with Mads. Most people would look at that and be annoyed, but I see it as Mads fully coming back to herself, a little bit more every day. Juan pushes past them and goes over to Pa.
“Hey, Pa, you’re hoggin’ her. Let me hold her. She’s gotta get introduced to her favorite uncle.” Pa looks at Juan like he’s nuts.
“Son, you ain’t touching her till you wash your hands and I know they’re clean.” Juan goes to the sink to wash his hands, and Rory comes up and gives me a hug and bumps his forehead to mine like we did as kids. He looks down at me, ’cause the ass is too tall for his own good. Only Pa and Jon are taller.
“You did good, Sis. She’s beautiful. Really glad you’re okay. I think we would’ve had to hog tie your man there if you hadn’t been.”
“You mean like how you were when Jane was kidnapped?” He shrugs as if not wanting to admit just how right I am. Jon elbows in next to him to give me a hug and he gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“We all just wanted to come see you and Grace before visiting hours are over. We’ve got someone staying all night with Brandy and Shandy. There are officers with Tyson. They won’t let anyone stay overnight. I’m gonna go over to your place in the morning with Ma and Mads to make sure things are ready for you guys to bring my niece home since you weren’t quite expecting her arrival today. When we come back tomorrow, I’m gonna get my chance to hold her. So, Pa, get your time in now.” Jon squeezes my good hand and tells everyone it’s time to leave us alone. Everyone says their goodbyes and all that are left are Ma, Pa, Mads, and Grant.
Mads is next to Pa and looking at Grace. She adjusts the blanket that she’s wrapped in and walks over to me.
“I’m off, but after I get to your place in the morning to get everything situated, I’m gonna spend the day with Shandy and Brandy. I’m gonna grab their Kindles and load them up with audible books so they can zone but have something to listen to. Ma and I will bring you all some real food tomorrow.” She gives me and Shane a hug goodbye. He looked surprised when she went over to him and hugged him. She must’ve said something to him ’cause he gave her a hug and said somethin’ quietly back. I love how he’s embraced her as a sister and has gotten used to her stopping by all the time.
Grant gets up and walks over to Pa, standing in front of him with his hands on his hips.
“I know you damn well saw my old ass go and wash my hands, so you best share her with me, brother.” Pa grumbles under his breath a little, but hands her over. Ma and Pa then take their leave, promising to be back tomorrow to check in on everyone.
