I sighed. “But they deserve stability. Max should be in school. They should have a bedroom filled with their things and a family they can rely on. I’m just so afraid to give them those things and then have them taken away. This could just be temporary.” I bit my lip.
“Worst case, it’s temporary,” Scarlet interjected. “You still have the opportunity to give them that stability for as long as you can.” She watched the kids play, her gaze far away. “Kids have long memories. You still have the opportunity to shape their lives, even if it’s for just a short time.”
I knew she was thinking of her mother and father, who’d both passed away.
“You’re right.” I nodded as a new determination lit within me. “Thank you,” I added meaningfully.
“You and Cal both seem so happy.” Sophie smiled.
I beamed. “We are. I can’t believe what a natural he is with the kids. Back before we got together, when I just had a monumental crush on him, I was sure he wouldn’t want to start all over again. He has a grown son. He already did the baby thing. He’s forty-seven, far from old, but I wasn’t sure if he’d want to do it again. Turns out I can’t stop him!” I shook my head with a grin. “I can barely keep up with him.”
“You love him,” Sophie stated. It wasn’t a question.
“I do,” I agreed.
They all squealed in response. Gracie, Mad, and Mason didn’t even look over, accustomed to our antics. Max and Emmie, however, looked over in comical surprise at the noise. The fact that laughter and joy wasn’t a sound they were used to made me want to fill their lives with it.
The sliding door opened behind us and I craned my neck to watch as Cal emerged onto the patio with Cole and Sal behind him.
“Babe.” He nodded toward me, leaning down to kiss my forehead. They’d been at the club for the morning.
“Hi.” I smiled up at him.
“How were things here?” he asked, his eyes turned toward the kids.
“Good,” I replied. “The kids are getting along great. Max hasn’t said much but he seems to be having fun leading the younger ones around.” I nodded toward Max as he held his sister’s hand.
Cal nodded thoughtfully before heading over to the kids. He kneeled down and said something to Max. After a moment, he scooped up a grinning Emmie and took Max’s hand, headed in our direction.
“Max, Emmie, this is my son, Cole,” he introduced as Emmie wrapped her small arms around his neck and peeked at Cole shyly.
Cole smiled, his blue eyes shining.
“And that other knucklehead is Sal,” Cal continued.
That got a small giggle out of both kids.
Cole kneeled down so he was eye level with Max. “Hey, bud. I’ve heard you were watching out for Gracie today. Thanks for taking care of my best girl.”
Max nodded solemnly, his hand still grasped in Cal’s. I crossed the patio and scooped up Mason, kissing his chubby cheek.
“Who’s staying for dinner? We’ve got steaks to grill and beers in the fridge,” I offered as I rejoined the group.
Scarlet looked up at Cole with a raised brow. “Gracie’s having a ball and Tatum’s inside sleeping. It’d be fun to stay.”
Cole chuckled, reaching down to squeeze her shoulder. “All right, babe.”
“We can stay too.” Kat shrugged.
“At least yours checks with you,” Sal grumbled to Cole before his lips turned upward into a small smile toward his wife.
“We all know Axel doesn’t want me cooking, so we might as well stay too,” Sophie muttered. “I’ll text him.”
“Acceptance is half the battle.” Scarlet grinned at Sophie, a teasing glint in her eyes.
God love her, she’d tried, but Sophie was still a terrible cook.
“Get into our bedroom and strip.”
