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Sixty
Nick looked into light blue eyes. Looked at this kid of his heart. And he knew what he had to say now. “Having more people to love you is never a bad thing, Noah. For anyone. You choose to stay with me—and I will love you. You choose to go with your uncle, I’m still going to love you. That’s what a dad does. I have never seen you as my fake son. Not from the first moment I heard you were out there, needing me. And if your uncle wants to be a part of yours and Nova’s lives…well, I would never want someone to keep Phil and the rest of my doofus brothers from you or Nova, if it was reversed. I won’t keep you from your family. Or Nova. We can make room for another uncle, too. Maybe convince him to give Masterson a good shot?”
Noah gave a watery nod. Nick grabbed a tissue from one of the boxes Robin had stuck in every room. His kids were crying.
He wasn’t ever going to be so good with crying kids. But no matter what, Nick was going to be right there.
“I don’t want stuff to change again. And I want to be with Nova.” Noah looked at his little sister, an expression in his eyes Nick couldn’t interpret. Resolve. Hope. Strength—he could see it all there, in the boy’s eyes. Could get a glimpse of the man Noah was going to become.
“Then you will be. We’ll make it work.”
“What did Linsey mean? When she said you started the permanent stuff?”
“I spoke with an attorney last month, after I talked with Jude about how to make it happen. About what I need to do to adopt you. If that’s what you want. I’ve just been waiting on paperwork before I discussed it with you.”
“I’d be a real Tyler? Like Patton?”
“If that’s what you want. You can be adopted by me and still be Noah Brown. Or you can be Noah Brown Tyler. Or Noah Tyler. It’s your choice on that, too.”
“Like Ivy was adopted by Perci and Nate?”
Nick nodded. “Exactly like that.”
“What if I changed my mind? Or you got mad at me?”
Nick shook his head. “You’d still be a Tyler. You already are. Nothing is going to change that. I promise. And a Tyler—”
“Keeps their word,” Noah said. He grinned, but it was a small one. “So I’ve heard.”
“It’s not something we have to decide today. We’ll figure it out as we go along. Fix whatever needs fixed together.”
“I think I’d like that.” Noah stared at him for a long, long moment. Nick almost held his breath. Waiting.
Noah shocked the hell out of him when he threw himself at Nick. Nick just hugged his kid close for a long time. He never wanted to let this kid go; not if he could help it. This was his son. No matter what. Forever.
When he looked up, there was a trio of gorgeous women watching him, soft expressions on their beautiful faces. And tears in their eyes.
Hell, there were tears in Nick’s eyes, too, and he knew it.
The front door opened. Everyone jerked around. And stared.
Chandler stood there, an almost panicked look on his face. “I hate to interrupt, but…Becky—”
“No more diapies, Mama! I gotta potty now!”
“I’ve learned not to wait with Maggie’s daughter. So…” Chandler lowered her to the ground. Becky took off running toward the bathroom in the back.
Nick looked at Robin as he let go of his son, and reached for his daughter, who still clung to Robin. “Leave it to Becky to steal the show.”
Robin gave him a watery grin. “She’s good at that.”
Nova came to him, a confused look on her face. Most of what had been said had gone over her head, of course. But she’d understood just enough to be thoroughly confused. Nick lifted her into his arms. “Nova Lynn Tyler, you are my baby girl, and I love you. I’m always going to be here to keep you safe. You and your brother. I promise.”
He just hugged her tight as the twins came in, curiosity on their identical faces. Becky ran back out of the bathroom, her hands dripping wet and her little pink pants all twisted up.
Robin grabbed a paper towel and dried her daughter’s hands then righted her pants before swinging Becky up into her arms.
Nick reached one arm out for them. He swept her and Becky close as the twins went to Noah’s side, full of questions. Nick leaned down so only Robin could hear his words. “And I’m always going to be right here, for you, Robin Patton. You and the three kids we both love, too. You can count on that. No matter what.”
He kissed her on the forehead as he held her and his girls close, his boys standing next to him.
And he meant every word. He just had to convince her.
