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“Is that my sister spouting rainbows?” Andrew strolled in behind Trish and Ella. He rubbed my hair, causing some of it to loosen from the knot it was tied in.
“Call me Sunshine,” I said with a fake smile.
“Never, Wicked,” Patrick murmured in my ear. A shiver rolled through me.
“Think they’ve broken in the bathroom down here?” I whispered back.
“You want me to bend you over the sink?”
“What are you two whispering about?” Andrew slapped Patrick’s hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
“You sure? Gummy wants another cousin. What I have in mind is a sure fire way to make that happen.” He slid his hands across my stomach as he nuzzled my neck.
“Thank God you’re here, old man.” Andrew slung his arm around Trish when our father stepped into the office. “Patrick wants to tell me how to make a baby.”
“At least he didn’t offer a demonstration,” I said.
Holt covered his ears. “No. No. No. This discussion ends now.”
Baker peeled his hand away. “I don’t know. Maybe we need to hear it.” She winked at him, and his mouth dropped open.
“We should’ve started a day care.” Dad pulled me in for hug. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“Good, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of my head and rubbed my stomach before shaking Patrick’s hand. “You taking good care of my daughter and grandkids?”
“Yes, sir.” Patrick embraced him for a long moment. Then he turned to Mrs. Quinn and kissed her cheek. “What’s wrong, Mom?” He frowned and held her at arm’s length.
She glanced down, and Dad squeezed her shoulder. “It’s Cricket. She didn’t come back to the shelter last night. I haven’t seen her all day.”
“She worked yesterday,” Trish said, a crease forming on her forehead.
“Have you talked to her today?” The hope in Mrs. Quinn’s voice had Trish’s face twisting with worry.
“No.”
She knotted her hands in front of her. “I’m afraid she’s gotten herself back into trouble.”
“I’ll get my guy on it.” Patrick already had his phone out. In seconds, it vibrated with a response to his text. “He’s headed to check where he’s seen her before.”
“What if he can’t find her?”
I’d rarely seen Mrs. Quinn lose her composure, but a fine sheen covered her eyes.
“He found Dara. It may take some time, but he’ll find Cricket too.”
I took his fingers in mine, grateful he was here, not just for me, but our whole family.
“Will you let me know when you hear something?” Trish gripped the handles of Ella’s stroller.
“You got it.”
“El.” Blake reached out for his partner in crime. She screamed back.
“I brought the double stroller.” Dad pointed toward the reception area. “Shall we head to Dino’s?”
“Let’s do it. I’m starved.” Holt stood and admired his new desk one more time before ushering us out of the office.
