“Yes, you are.” She laughed and scooped him up so Brogan could lift Shayna out. “That had to be some tricky maneuvering.”
“Little bit,” Brogan said. “He’s a determined kid. Once he decided he wanted a turn pushing the stroller, there was no talking him out of it. Fortunately, Shayna didn’t mind. Andy also showed her his nose, one of his eyes, and a foot.”
As she laughed again, Andy touched his own face and announced, “Noz, noz, noz.”
“Yes! Where are your teeth?”
He touched his fingers to them, then wanted to touch hers, too. And then Brogan’s.
Brogan dried Andy’s fingers first, then dutifully opened his mouth so Andy could say, “Tif.”
“Such a smart little boy,” he praised. “Seriously, dude, you’re like genius level. I had no idea.”
Pixie laughed at that. “It’s something he’s only recently learned, and still gets parts mixed up sometimes.”
“Kids learn at different levels, I know, but I can’t help thinking he’s ahead of the pack.”
As a proud mom, Pixie wouldn’t disagree.
“One thing,” Brogan said, his tone joking. “I had to explain that he couldn’t poke Shayna’s eye—after he poked mine.”
Since he said it with a grin, Pixie wasn’t too worried. “Did he hurt her?”
“Nope. He means to be gentle …”
“But he’s still a toddler.” She gave Brogan a hug. “Thank you for being patient with him. He’ll learn, but until then, we need to watch them closely when they’re together.”
“He’s Shayna’s brother,” Brogan said simply. “He’ll be a better brother than I was, and that’s because of you.” He kissed her. “You don’t know how much this”—he gestured at the kids—“means to me.”
“I do, because it means a lot to me, too.” She wanted to interact like this forever.
When his phone dinged, they reluctantly stepped apart.
Brogan glanced at the screen and said, “It’s Erin.”
Pixie took Shayna from him so he could answer. Together, they all went to the living room. Pixie got out toys for the kids while Brogan sat on the sofa.
She listened to his side of the conversation and knew from his expression that it wasn’t a pleasant call. Not hostile, but maybe not great news. She hoped Ruthie hadn’t caused moreproblems, but then she heard Brogan repeat the name of a hospital as he wrote down notes.
In ten minutes, she’d need to leave for work, but first she wanted to know what had happened.
Finally, he disconnected.
Cautiously, Pixie asked, “Bad news?”
He let out a long breath. “Not great. Erin found out from a caretaker that Brian is in the ICU with liver failure.”
Pixie’s first thought was disbelief that Ruthie was here, hassling Brogan, instead of staying with her husband.
“They think he’ll survive,” Brogan said, “but the next few days will be critical. He has a lot of complications that are going to make daily life rough, especially if he doesn’t stop drinking.”
Pixie moved to sit beside him, wishing for a way to ease the conflicting emotions he had to be feeling.
With Connie gone and Ruthie playing the part of a badger in Bramble, Brian was left utterly alone. He’d never been a dad to Brogan, and now he might die without ever once reaching out to his son. “I’m so sorry.”
Brogan shook his head. “Thanks. I know I should care, but I don’t. Not like a son should care for his father. It’s more … I don’t know. Pity for a man I barely know and usually resented.”
“With good reason,” she said, unwilling to let him feel a single moment of guilt. “What will you do?”
