“Sit down,” Doc ordered. “She has three kids at home and carrying a fourth. It takes a lot out of a woman to have back-to-back pregnancies.”
“As if I can’t feel any shittier about the whole thing,” he mumbled.
“He’s not telling you to make you feel worse. Listen, brother, you and Catherine have worked out bigger problems,” Shadow encouraged. “Why will this be any different?”
“Because I let her down. She seems to think I’ve done this on purpose. First, we raced to Texas to help Matthew. Then she told me about her pregnancy, and I rushed off to help Julio find Rebecca. I’m on her shit list,” Leo admitted. “She doesn’t want me coming to the hospital.”
Taco rested his elbows on his knees. “Did she say she didn’t want you to come?”
“I texted her this morning.”
Whiskey shook his head. “Gah, the whole texting thing. You can’t hear the inflection in her voice or see her face to know how she means it. Don’t read into it. She’s a redhead. If she didn’t want you to come, she’d tell you to fuck off.”
“Good point,” Leo conceded. “I heard a tree fell yesterday, and Liam and Addyson took a joyride down the mountain via a mudslide. How are they doing?”
“Addyson has a gash across her forehead, and Liam’s leg got pinned under the dashboard, but he’s good. They’re very lucky,” Doc informed the team.
“Good,” Leo agreed. “I must speak with Liam about his hire date. He’s due to get out of the hospital soon, and he’ll have to bunk here. All the cabins have veterans in them, and the second subdivision has guests in them.”
“We’re here for you, brother. We’ve all done dumb shit and pissed off the women. One day, we’ll remember this and laugh,” Saint spoke up.
“All right. I have to go into town. It seems word has spread like wildfire, and I have major ass kissing to do.”
“Try using your words,” Taco said. “Kissing her ass probably got you here in the first place, dude.”
Shadow punched Taco in the arm.
“Owww, come on, like you weren’t thinking it. They have three kids and still have time for sex. Except for Doc, who does things in doubles and adopts, the rest of you are slacking,” Taco bragged.
“Says the man with no kids,” Shadow said, punching him again. “Between school functions, bake sales, work, and spending time with Deni, I don’t know how anyone handles more than one.”
Leo scrunched his nose. “It’s easy. You somehow do it all.”
Doc rubbed the back of his neck. “Sometimes, Kassie and I drop on the bed and pray we get two hours of sleep before one of the kids wakes us up. Luckily, we have a huge family to support us all. Kassie’s godparents, Joe and Maddie, volunteered to take Emma, Sara, and Tori for the weekend while we visited Lucas and José before they ship out. Kassie’s still reluctant to leave the twins because they’re a handful. Joe and Maddie aren’t spring chickens.”
“Tess and I will be here to lend a hand,” Taco offered. “We may want to see the world, but we make a great aunt and uncle.”
Doc rose. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll let you know when we finalize the plans.”
“Shit. I’m a horrible person. I can’t recall the last time I spoke with Lucas,” Leo said, ready to find his wife.
“The boys haven’t communicated much. Kassie’s only spoken to José once. He writes and always includes money for Sara, which Kassie puts into her college fund,” Chase informed him.
“I doubt we’ll make it to Lucas’ shipping out. Will Victoria, Nick, and Ivan go?” he asked.
“Yes. Victoria has a bunch of presents for both. I tried explaining it’s not like moving out. She only glared at me and told me to mind my own business,” Chase explained with a chuckle.
The team laughed as they left the office, letting Leo leave.
“Good luck,” Doc said, giving him a manly pat on the shoulder.
“Thanks. I think I’ll need it,” Leo said as he headed for his truck.
He missed his wife and the chaotic mess of their kids. Leo didn’t want to leave with this hanging over their heads.
CHAPTER 3
Liam waitedfor the otologist to read the test results of his hearing test after receiving his cochlear implant.
