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Prologue
Lois Willow leaned against the tree and watched Kenny playing with Tye and Lena. They got along so well. The therapy sessions were helping so much. It was like Kenny, Tye, and Lena had an instant bond. The past few months had gone by in a blur, and Lois couldn’t believe that school was only a few days away. She felt her chest tighten and a nauseous sensation fill her heart. She swallowed hard as tears filled her eyes. How was she going to let him go? How was she going to make it through the day not seeing him, checking on him, and making sure that he was safe and sound and not still suffering from what he witnessed?
She wiped the tears before they fell and looked away from the kids in an attempt to hide her tears. When her eyes locked on to Evan and Ford Brazos, who had been talking to Sparrow by the side of the house, she was shocked. Their expressions darkened and their eyes squinted with concern and she quickly avoided their stares.
Please don’t come over here. Oh, God, please don’t. I can’t handle it. I can’t handle any of the Brazos men being close and acting concerned. I don’t want any man next to me. Oh, God, please.
She started to feel herself panic. She couldn’t help the sensation. This was another aspect of her fears and anxiety from the assault and all that had taken place nine months ago. Her therapist told her it was normal, a natural reaction to dealing with her fears, but why now? Why, when she should feel safe and in control while watching Kenny and the kids play?
She glanced to the right, hoping that they hadn’t noticed. No such luck. Sparrow led the way, his concern apparent. She didn’t know what to do or how to avoid them. She pushed away from the tree and Kenny called to her. “Mamma, can we have something to eat? We’re hungry.”
“Yeah, Aunt Lois, can we have cookies?” Tye asked, running toward her.
“Me, too! Me, too!” Lena exclaimed and ran forward. She fell down and Lois gasped and ran to her.
“Are yo
u okay, honey?” she asked her and Lena looked up with a sad expression on her face as she nodded her head. Lois smiled. She was so brave and strong. They always seemed to fight showing fear.
“Everything okay out here? I thought I heard some kids mention cookies?” Valentina asked as she came out onto the porch carrying a tray of milk and cookies.
“Yes!” Tye and Kenny exclaimed and they ran for the tray.
“Oh, no, you don’t. You three go inside and wash up first,” Valentina said and smiled.
Lois glanced behind her as the men approached. Ford and Evan didn’t take their eyes off of her and she quickly hurried up the stairs.
“Is Grace sleeping?” she asked Valentina, and her sister smiled. “Out cold with Beck on the couch in the living room,” Valentina said and chuckled. Lois smiled softly. Her sister was so happy and very lucky to have met and fallen in love with such great men. They had accepted her adopting three kids and helped her out every step of the way.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Sparrow said to Valentina and pulled her off the porch and into his arms. Her sister wrapped her arms around his shoulders and they kissed. Lois couldn’t help but smile and then turn away as Ford and Evan approached.
“Afternoon, Lois, Valentina,” Evan said and Valentina said hello as Sparrow set her down.
“Where’s the baby?” he asked her. She smiled. “With your brother, out cold on the couch. I guess he needed a nap, too.”
They laughed.
“Damn, he beat me to it. I could use a little nap and a snuggle with a sweet little angel in my arms,” he said. Valentina caressed his cheek.
“If she naps again later on, I’ll call you over,” she teased him and they all chuckled.
Sparrow lifted her up into his arms and held her close.
“I was talking about you and me snuggling a bit, angel,” he whispered.
