“I’m older.I want to be six.”Ian had to tease.Had to.
She laughed.“Fine.But then I expect you to be the responsible one.”Mom gave him a wink.
“Always.”He grinned over, rolled his eyes.“It’s good to see you.How have you been?”
“Missing all of you.Why did we move to Port Hope again?”
“To retire on the water,” Dad reminded her.
“Oh, right.”
They all chuckled, Mom and Dad rocking the babies, letting him and JP —and Mike — relax.
At least for a second, because the doorbell rang, and he hopped up, finding Ally there with bags full of food.“I heard our girl was hurt.”
“Thank you for coming.”He wrapped her in a tight hug.“Let’s get this in the kitchen, and then you can go into the zoo and see for yourself that she’s okay.”
“Mom and Dad?”she whispered.
“And Michael.”
“Fuc—I mean, fun!”
He chuckled.“Exactly.”He took one of the bags from her and started unloading.“Wow, there’s enough food here for days.”
“Well, that’s my love language, and you have company.”
“Ally, is that you?”Mom called, and Ally grinned.
“It is.I brought food.”
He rolled his eyes but nodded toward the living room.“Go on, I’ll put away the rest of the food.”And get his husband that pill.
He made a tray of cheese and fruit, grabbed JP a drink and a pill, and some baby Tylenol for his Tori.Maybe he would take some for his head, too.
When he got back to the living room, Tori was now sitting in Grandma’s lap, Ally sitting close, chatting with his mom while his dad read to Peter.Mike and JP were arguing about what exactly the Ottawa Lightning needed to make it to the Cup next year.
Maybe that meant he could sit and just be Zen for a second.
JP wasn’t going back.
He said he wasn’t going back.
God, he said they wouldn’t have to go.
Ian was going to get to stay here in the home he loved, the only home that the twins had ever known.And he was going to get to stay here with JP.
He didn’t believe it, but God, he wanted to.
He leaned his head back, listening to his family and friends talk.He just needed two shakes.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Ian’s parents had been visiting for a full week so far.JP liked them well enough, and the kids adored them, but a week was a long time for company, and at present there was no indication they were planning on leaving anytime soon.
He snuck out to the backyard with his morning coffee and sat, his cane next to him.He was just going to take a few moments to himself.
It was great that Irene and Stephen were in a hotel, but?—
