Page 117 of The Addendum

I patted his back. “Is she okay?”

Matthew straightened, handing an unhappy Kylie to Grace. “She’s fine.” He bent and picked up the offending brick, studying it. “How did she grab this with no one seeing? We keep all the unused ones in the boxes around us.”

“She’s fast,” Jaxson said, holding his wife and child. “One must have fallen out and you didn’t notice. She’s been doing this lately—everything she finds goes straight to her mouth.”

“No one saw,” Ronan admitted, looking chagrined. “She was right beside me, and I never saw it or her reach for it.”

“No one is to blame here,” Jaxson spoke up. “And thanks to Ashley, she’s fine.”

“Maybe we’ll build stuff downstairs from now on,” Ronan mused.

“Good plan,” Matthew agreed.

Richard hugged me again. “Thank you.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. He pulled back, smiling, his eyes damp.

“I know it was in a moment of panic,” he said quietly. “But I liked it when you called me Dad. If you decide to do that again, I’m okay with it.”

I blinked, realizing he was right. I had called him Dad.

My head spun. Holy shit, I was moving as fast as this whole family did.

I had no time to process his words. There were more hugs and praise. I had to excuse myself for a moment to calm down my racing heart. Luc came with me, and we went outside. He held me close, pressing his lips to my head.

“Are you all right, love?”

“I’m fine. A bit shaky.”

“You were brilliant. You looked like a fucking gazelle jumping over Liam to get to her.”

“I didn’t think. All the training we have to take in case of a choking incident just kicked in.”

“Thank God,” he breathed.

“I called Richard ‘Dad,’” I told him.

“I heard. So did everyone else.”

“Kinda fast.”

“Sometimes fast is good.” He shrugged. “I think he liked it.”

A voice clearing behind us made me look up. Grace stood a few feet away, the stress of the past few moments etched on her face.

“Is she okay?” I asked.

She stepped closer. “Thanks to you, she is.”

“Good.”

“How can I say thank you?” she whispered. “How do I apologize, express my gratitude, and ask you for a second chance all at the same time?” Her lips trembled. “I’m so sorry, Ashley. I’ve been terrible and—”

I cut her off, moving from Luc’s embrace. I stood in front of her, knowing what I said or did would set the tone going forward. I felt a rush of emotion as I looked at the vulnerable woman in front of me. My sister. I felt her fear and sorrow. Her hesitancy. I knew if I rejected her or was cold, we didn’t have a chance.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Richard and Katy step onto the deck, looking anxious.

Richard’s words drifted through my head. “We have do-overs in this family.”