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“That’s a lot of people,” he said.

“It is.”

He looked at me. “You good?”

I glanced at Sparrow among the other babies. “I am.”

Moff nodded and went to help Robin with the coffee. Dion let Maya introduce him to each baby. Simon went out to see how Betty was getting on with the boys, and Nick got pulled into their game.

Seb was the only one who hadn’t come by. Later, while Indira made Rohan’s bottle, she caught me looking toward the drive.

“They’re at Glitch’s,” she said. “Dutch called church. Glitch wanted you to have time with us and the babies.”

He would have loved seeing Sparrow with the other babies. From the front room, I heard her squeal at something Maya did.

“I wish he’d come for a little while,” I said.

Indira screwed the top on Rohan’s bottle and went to get him.

They started getting ready to leave at six thirty. Finding the children, their shoes and everything they’d brought into the house took the better part of an hour.

As Robin carried the last bags out, the four bikes pulled up outside the house. This time Dutch got off his bike. He stopped partway up the drive and waited to see what I’d do.

I went down and hugged him. He put one hand on the back of my head. “We missed you, Wren,” he said quietly. I held on a moment longer before stepping back.

He looked over at Sparrow in Robin’s arms. “Can I meet her?”

I nodded. Robin brought her down the drive, and Dutch offered her a finger. She grabbed it and held on.

“Hello, Sparrow,” he said. “Your daddy’s been talking about you.”

Sparrow tried to pull his finger into her mouth. Dutch laughed and gently worked it free. I couldn’t help smiling.

Handful hugged me next. “Good to see you, Wren.” He glanced over my shoulder at Sparrow in Robin’s arms. “She’s gorgeous. Tell me somebody got a photo of all the babies together.”

“Several thousand,” I deadpanned.

“Good. Austen can show me all several thousand when we get home.” He gave me another squeeze before letting Holden through.

Holden was quieter. He put his arms around me and said, “Glad you’re doing okay.”

“You too.” I looked past him at Bea fastening Curtis into his seat. “Congratulations.”

Colt had Poppy on his hip. “Good to see another girl in the family,” he said. “She could use help keeping her brothers in line.” Poppy got a fistful of my hair. “Looks like she’s managing,” I said, working her fingers loose.

Seb wasn’t with them. I stood in the drive with Sparrow back in my arms and watched the cars and bikes disappear down the road.

I carried Sparrow back to the porch. Robin waited there for me.

“You all right?”

“I wanted them to stay.”

He nodded. “I’ve spent a year thinking of Venom as the place you got hurt.”

“Seb hurt me there. The others didn’t.”

“No,” he said. “I can see that now.” Robin rubbed his face, touched Sparrow’s cheek, and went inside. I stayed on the porch a moment longer then got my phone out.