"Okay, let me go finish up this consult, it should be quick. Then I’ll round up the guys and we’ll get some stuff to get you started," he promised before he handed over the twins to me.
"Thanks, I'll take these guys to meet her and they can hang with us for a bit. Maybe they’ll help her open up. Do you want to meet her?" I asked the others, realizing I hadn’t considered all that.
"Let's start with the twins. We don't want to overwhelm her too much," Ash said gently. Fuck, he was right. Thank god they were all thinking straight.
"How did I get so lucky with you guys?" I asked, pulling the twins closer to me and giving them a snuggle. They smelled like baby lotion and I swear it did miracles for my nerves. They wiggled in my grip but accepted their fate when I stood up.
"Okay, team, let's get this going," Ash said before he gave Taryn a kiss and disappeared.
"You guys are lifesavers," I whispered to my friends, barely keeping fresh tears at bay.
"We’re family, that's what we do," Dani said. It was said so simply, as if it were a fact, and I was finally starting to see that.
"I'm glad to be part of this family."
"Get your cute ass back to your office before we are all blubbering like babies," Taryn ordered with a huff, swiping at her own watery eyes.
"Love you, bitches," I said before securing a twin on each hip.
Liam and Gem started their little twin jabbering as I navigated the hallway with them.
I knocked on the door with my foot and Phoenix opened it with a look of surprise on her face at the sight of the toddlers. She moved back to her corner and I set the twins down and introduced her to them.
"Phoenix, these are my best friend Taryn's twins, Liam and Gem. Are you good with them pestering us for a little bit?" I asked as Gem stepped closer to her.
"I guess," she shrugged and eyed the little girl carefully. I had a feeling she wasn’t used to little ones.
"I’m here, too,” I promised. “I just have to check some emails. If they bother you too much, or you need distance, just tell me. I prefer honesty.” She eyed me but nodded as I dragged out a box of toys I had in here.
With the toys out, their attention shifted. I took the opportunity to sit at my computer and pull up our inbox. There was a hefty backlog and I started to click through them.
Giggles drew my attention to the twins and I bit back a laugh as they started climbing on Phoenix. She was being so gentle with them and already smiling.
“You alright?” I asked. “If you want quiet I can sit down with them.”
“No, they’re cute,” she said quickly, tickling Gem’s toes when she stuck a foot in her face. More laughter was mixed with Phoenix’s this time.
I took a breath, letting it out along with some of my nerves, and rushed back into the emails, hoping to knock out as many as I could while they were distracted.
After about twenty minutes, a knock on the door interrupted us. Taryn opened it, her hands full of food. The scent of greasy goodness filled my office, making my stomach rumble this time.
"Did someone order lunch?" she asked, flashing a smile at me and then towards Phoenix who had snoring twins in her lap as she read softly to them. I guess she wore them out. "Oh. Maybe we found a future babysitter for the twins?"
“What?" Phoenix questioned, glancing up at my friend. It was a joke, but she seemed to be torn between worry and curiosity.
"Well, only if you want to. I'd pay you, of course," Taryn offered. “It wouldn’t be too often, I promise.”
My niece's eyes lit up at that. "I get the choice? And pay?"
"Of course. The twins are a good judge of character and them sleeping on you sold me," she explained. “Plus, we’d always give you a choice. Your opinions matter here, kiddo.”
"I'd like to give it a try," she decided. “Having some money of my own would be nice.”
"It will be after school," I interjected, making sure she knew that would happen, too.
"Of course," Taryn agreed as she set the food down on the corner of my desk. "Let me lay them down and you both eat. I'll check with Bea when they are up if you want more time with them."
"I'd love it," she said without hesitation this time. Being given a choice seemed to shift something in her. I hoped that worry would continue to ease the more time she spent with me.
