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“Yeah, he was easy on the eyes.”
“I thought you weren’t looking?” she teases.
“I looked enough,” I confess.
“Well, hold onto your panties because this is Marshall and his brothers.” She turns her phone screen to show me, and sure enough, the handsome stranger from yesterday is in the photo with four other guys who all have similar features.
“Wow.”
“Right? It says that Marshall is the youngest of the five and the only single one left.”
“Don’t start,” I tell her.
“Hey, I’m just saying. You’re young and you’re beautiful. What happened to Travis was tragic, but you have to keep living. Live for him, and for her.” She points to the swing. “Speaking of my niece, can I get some snuggles?”
“Have at it.”
She stands and lifts Madeline from her swing and snuggles her close. “Hey, sweetie,” she says softly. Madeline babbles at her, and my heart swells. I’m so glad she’s feeling better, and I thank God every single day that he brought my best friend into my life. She’s been my rock. She was there when I lost my dad, and she was with me when I lost Travis. I know that I wouldn’t have made it this far without her and her kind heart.
Chapter 3
Marshall
“The numbers are good,” Owen says. “The new marketing campaign has definitely increased our client list. All locations are above where they were last year,” he explains.
“That’s because our little brother is a marketing genius.” Royce nods toward me.
“Keep ’em coming,” I tease, motioning him to keep the compliments rolling in. All four of my brothers laugh.
“I’m surprised you’re not recording him saying that,” Conrad muses.
“That’s because I already did.” Reaching for my phone that’s sitting on the table, I pull up the video of Royce in his office a couple of weeks ago telling me that same thing.
“I should have known.” Conrad shakes his head at my antics.
Before I can reply, there’s a knock at the conference room door. We all turn to look to see Layla standing just inside the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt. Marsh, you have a visitor.”
“I’m not expecting anyone. Is there a meeting I forgot about?” I ask her as I pull out my phone to check my calendar.
“N-No. No meeting.” She shakes her head. “I normally wouldn’t interrupt, but well, I think you need to come with me.”
“Babe?” Owen stands.
“It’s fine,” Layla assures her husband. “I just don’t think that Marshall wants to keep this one waiting.” She gives me a look I can’t decipher as I stand from the conference table.
“We’re done here anyway. If you stay any longer, your head’s not going to make it out the door,” Royce teases.
“It’s not my fault I got all the brains,” I quip as I follow Layla out of the conference room and down the hall to her desk, which is also the reception area. As soon as I turn the corner, I freeze when I see the woman from the pharmacy last night.
“Hi.” She waves.
I take her in, and she seems to be more rested than yesterday, and the baby she’s swinging back and forth in her seat isn’t crying. Stepping forward, I crouch down so I’m eye level with the baby. “Hey, sweet girl, are you feeling better?” I ask her.
“She is. Thank you for that. Now that I know where you work, I can repay you.”
I stand back to my full height. “I told you that’s not necessary. Pay it forward one day when you see someone in need.”
She nods and places the baby and the seat on the floor, then digs in the diaper bag and thrusts her hand out toward me. “I believe this is yours.”
I don’t have to look into that white envelope to know that it’s the extra cash I snuck into the bag. The baby begins to fuss, so instead of taking the money, I lift the seat into my arms and begin to rock her. “That’s yours,” I tell her.
“It’s not.” She shakes her head adamantly. “I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t accept this.”
“It’s a gift.”
“The medication was enough.” She tries again to hand me the envelope, but I ignore it.
“How did you find me?” I ask her.
“My best friend, Carrie. When I told her about your generosity, she recognized your name.”
“Not you?”
“Not me what?”
“You didn’t recognize my name?” I watch her closely to see if she’s lying, but when she tells me no, I believe her.
“So what are you girls doing today?” I ask the baby girl. “Madeline, right?” I ask the mom. “And you’re Wren?”
She nods. “We came to give this back to you.”
“Other than that.”
“Nothing. I couldn’t work today because Madeline can’t go to day care until she’s fever-free for twenty-four hours.”
Heavy footsteps and the voices of my brothers carry, and I know they’re about to round the corner to see who my visitor is.
