Page 99 of Fighting for Family

Her eyes grew big, and she ran to hold it. “What’s his name?”

“He doesn’t have a name. He’s yours, and I thought you’d like to pick it.”

“Oh, yes,” she exclaimed. “I’m gonna name him Koda. It means friend.”

“I like it. In the evenings we can walk him together,” he said quietly.

She giggled as the puppy squirmed in her arms.

“You’re in charge of feeding him, giving him fresh water, and cleaning up poop,” he said firmly.

Shrugging, Melody replied. “It’s better than having to change Derrick’s doo doo, and now you get to clean up the new baby’s diaper. I’ll only have to clean up after him.”

“Thanks for the reminder. Do you want to go show your friends?” he asked.

Melody rushed from the room as Cole escorted her outside.

Turning to Catherine, he said, “You know, we never got to naming this guy.”

She peered at her son and smiled. “I didn’t have a name picked out yet.”

“I searched through one of the baby books last night while you slept. Then it occurred to me I have two dads in my life. Your dad saved mine growing up. Jake came for me. What if we called him Henry Jake Armstrong? They deserve to have a legacy.”

“It sounds perfect,” she said.

Two weeks later, Kassie and Chase rolled them into a medical van and took them home. The grans already came and went, leaving them with a clean house and something wonderful baking in the oven. The nurses stood by to help with the kids and their medical needs.

Cynthia took Henry to his bassinet.

“I wish I could breastfeed him,” Catherine said. “I feel bad he’s the only one I didn’t do it with.”

“What did Kassie and Dr. Greene tell you? ‘Fed is best.’ It doesn’t matter if it came from formula or you if he’s healthy,” he reminded her. “We’re learning to do what’s best for us.”

“You’re right,” she agreed.

“Call us if you need anything,” Kassie said. “Doc will pick up Leo tomorrow for all his tests.”

“We got it, PITA,” he said, rising from the chair. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”

“There’s no need,” Kassie said. “I’d do anything for you.”

“You’ve proven it time after time,” he said.

“So have you,” she said, hugging him before leaving. Grace ran into the living room and waved her “How to Make a Bomb” book at him. “Daddy read?”

“Sure, Gracie,” he said, sitting down to let her crawl into his lap. He kissed the top of her head and started reading when he noticed she held the rattle he brought home.

Kit Kat swiped the tear away and smiled when he peered at her. These were the moments he recalled before he died. They were the ones to treasure, and he planned on doing it the rest of his life.

CHAPTER 33

Four months later, he entered the facility on his own two feet. Doc made him attend physical therapy daily. He gained a little weight, and Tess dropped everything to make meals for the team again, helping him get healthy.

Whiskey met him in the hallway and beamed. “Welcome back, boss.”

“Did you do everything we discussed?” Leo asked.

“It’s done, and the paperwork only needs signatures. The new team wants to meet you,” Whiskey said as they walked to Leo’s office.