“My turn!” Uncle Dane shoves his way to the front, the biggest smile I’ve ever seen stretched across his face. “I know it can be a lot, leaving your home and your family for a new adventure. So I thought you could use a new friend.”
When he pulls his hand out from behind his back, my heart leaps at the sight of the pink triceratops stuffie. “Oh my gosh! She’s beautiful!”
Rising up on my knees, I throw my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Uncle Dane!”
“You’re welcome, little one.”
He releases me with a pat on my diapered bottom, and as soon as I sit down again, Daddy pulls me back into his arms. “It’s cute, but kinda small. Not like the one Daddy bought for you in Vegas.”
“Daddy, don’t be mean.” Cradling the stuffie to my chest, I bury my face in her softness. “She can’t help how little she is.”
“Yeah, Colt.” A smug smile tugs at the corner of Uncle Dane’s mouth. “Don’t be mean to your babygirl’s new friend.”
“I swear you’re a bigger brat than any of the Littles,” Daddy mutters darkly.
Grinning widely now, Uncle Dane lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Probably.”
Peeking up at Daddy, I watch as he glares at his brother. My heart constricts as I wait for the harsh words, the yelling.
But none of that happens. Daddy just rolls his eyes and shifts his attention to Uncle Ford. “You’re up, baby bro.”
“I really have to start going before Dane,” Uncle Ford mutters as he steps forward to hand me a small package wrapped in the same paper as the others.
It’s a thermometer, I discover when I unwrap it and open the box. Not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, I smile up at Uncle Ford. “What a thoughtful present, Uncle Ford! Thank you!”
As I’d hoped, Uncle Ford lights up at my words and steps back from the bed.
“And now it’s time for my present,” Uncle Eli announces, clapping his hands together. “Your wedding brunch awaits, little one.”
CHAPTER 18
TABITHA
Our wedding brunch is even better than dinner the night before. There’s biscuits and eggs and bacon and a delicious gravy I swear I could drink by the gallon. Uncle Eli even whips us up a batch of his frozen hot chocolate, which might be my new favorite thing in the entire world.
The best part, though, is that unlike last night, now I am actually taking the time to appreciate being part of such a large family. Seated in my highchair beside Daddy—an unexpected change from being held on his lap last night, and one that almost got me spanked when I initially protested—I watch as the Thornes tease and laugh and share stories about each other. Mostly about my Daddy, and I get the impression early on that they’re trying to embarrass him. But he takes it all in stride, grinning and occasionally tossing out a rude comment in response.
After one such story, Auntie Gray throws her head back and lets out a loud, happy laugh. “Oh my god, I thought Mama was going tomurderthe two of you,” she says to Daddy and Uncle Bram. “She always swore she could tell you two apart no matterwhat, and the fact that you got one over on her pissed her off to no end.”
Daddy chuckles. “Nobody was more surprised than us that it actually worked. Totally worth the welts from Dad’s belt when he found out.”
“Do your parents live close?” I ask, delighted by the prospect of meeting the people who raised such a happy, tight-knit family.
But at my question, the table falls silent. Josie reaches for Uncle Bram’s hand, squeezing so hard her knuckles turn white, and my stomach drops to my knees.
“They passed a long time ago,” Daddy says softly. He’s smiling, but it’s strained at the edges and there’s a glimmer of tears in his eyes. “But they would have loved you.”
“I’m so sorry.” Even though I barely remember my own parents and what I do remember is tainted with fear and hunger, I can feel the love the Thorne siblings had for their parents and my heart breaks for all of them. “Was there an accident?”
Shoving away from the table, Uncle Eli stalks to the kitchen and my heart lodges itself in my throat. “What did I say? Did I do something wrong?”
“I’ll go check on him.” Uncle Ford pushes out of his chair and follows his brother.
Daddy runs a soothing hand over my hair. “You didn’t do anything wrong, baby. It’s just… not something we like to talk about.”
“But she deserves to know.” Josie’s voice is quiet, but insistent. “It’s not fair for everyone else to know the truth and not her. She’s family now.”
Another silence falls, this one heavier, more intense. I’m just about to insist it’s okay, that they don’t have to tell me if it’s too painful, when Daddy sighs. “You’re right, Josie. Tabby is a Thorne now, so she deserves to know about our past.”
