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Twenty-Eight
Nick made a point of sticking close to Noah. He suspected the kid was feeling overwhelmed. Robin's kids were entertaining. The boys were on the quiet side, but they were a bit rough and tumble, too. They favored Robin a great deal, but their hair was darker, with only hints of Robin’s red. They were strong and sturdy and tall.
But little Becky...she was like looking at her mother, or her late aunt Rebecca, all over again. She was beautiful and hilarious, hell on wheels in training pants, and he could see where she probably gave her mother fits on a regular basis.
Becky was chattering away to Nova, who was just nodding seriously, though Robin’s daughter was still a bit hard to understand at her age. The ball fields were right behind them. The twins took off toward the ball field, asking Noah to go with them.
Robin looked at Nick. "Looks like the slides are in my future. Probably the swings too."
"I...am a baseball guy at heart. I'll go see if the boys will let this old guy hang around with them."
"That's probably a good idea." She smirked at him, an expression that was guaranteed to make him want to kiss her senseless. "Since your brother and three of your nephews just pulled in on the other side of the ball fields. Have fun."
"You don't mind..." He looked at Nova as she chattered at the little girl.
"I think we'll be ok. Glenna and the girls are with Phil. I think it's suddenly going to be a family day at the park."
"I haven't fed the kids lunch yet."
"Neither have I. We'll figure something out." She smiled up at him again. Nick couldn't help himself. He planted a kiss on her forehead, right smack between her eyes.
She looked up at him, wide-eyed, as the little girls hit the slides fast. "What was that for?"
"Because...you're the prettiest woman I've ever seen and it's a pretty day after two days of rain, we’re together with our kids—and apparently, my brother and his family. And I just couldn't help myself. I'm going to go play with the kids. Yell for me if you need me. I’ll keep an eye on your boys, while I’m at it."
"You are trouble, Nicholas Tyler. Pure trouble. Go have fun playing like a kid."
Three little girls ran by, yelling for Robin's daughter and Nova. His own hesitated, then stepped toward them. They looked at him as he walked by. "Hi, Uncle Nick!" the two oldest yelled at him as they waved.
He smiled. They were adorable kids, Phil's new daughters.
This was exactly why he had come home to Masterson. So he could have days like today. Him, his family, the woman he wanted, his kids...just being together.
Perfect.
But first…Noah was uncomfortable. No denying that. Nick headed toward him now. Tylers all at once could be overwhelming. And this was just a fraction of them. “You doing ok?"
The kid nodded. But it was a lie. Nick could see that. "Look, when the ball comes at you, put your hand there. And squeeze. The rest...just takes practice. You'll do ok. And...everybody drops the ball sometimes. Look..."
He motioned to his nephew Pete—who had just missed the ball by a mile. When it should have been an easy catch. “It's not about being perfect with the ball today. It's about...hanging out with family and friends. Just try your best, and we'll work on what you want to work on next at home when it’s just us. I promise."
“I don’t know these people.”
“Then get to know them, Noah. You’re a part of us now. Don’t forget that. Of course, some of us—like my brother there—are full of warts, but…even Phil’s not half bad. Just…keep an open mind, ok?”
He backed off. He didn’t want to push. Noah would have to find his way to them on his own terms. In the meantime, Nick wasn’t going anywhere.
Nick looked at his brother who had finally caught up with his three youngest boys. "Fancy meeting you here."
"The kids were getting stir-crazy, and I've been roped into heading the rec league board this year. Figured we'd get in some practice and check the field conditions after the rain," Phil said. "It's a little wet, but it's dried out well enough." He looked toward Noah, who was talking to Patton awkwardly when Nick’s nephew approached him. "How is he doing? Glenna said it might be easier for Nova to adjust than Noah. That he’ll feel like an outsider for a long while, since there are no biological ties, yet you have them with Nova. If he’d been yours, too, Glenna says it would be different, but…”
Glenna says…Glenna says… Nick liked the sound of that. And the look of love in his big brother’s eyes.
"He's struggling. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but...hell, I feel like I'm winging it every minute."
"I know the feeling. That’s just…parenthood." Phil clapped him on the back, then tossed a baseball at his stomach. "Take center field. Best way to show him he's a part of our family—is to treat him just like the rest of the family."
“I’ll need to feed my kids soon," Nick said. "This...was an unplanned trip when Robin walked by. I don’t even remember if I locked the back door.”
"Followed her just like a Tyler in heat, didn't you?"
He looked toward her—Glenna had caught up with her and the two were supervising the little girls on the slides.
Two beautiful women he and Phil definitely didn’t deserve.
"Shove it. Put the ball where your mouth is. Let's do this."
