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“I thought we didn’t do this stuff,” he managed to get out around the obstruction in his throat. The thought of having a “thing” with Piper wasn’t something he wanted to contemplate, because when he did the only word he could use to describe what he was feeling was excitement.
“What stuff?” Ava frowned.
“The sister-brother stuff,” he said.
“We thought we’d give it a go.”
“Nice,” Dylan said. “But don’t think that means you’re both going to start by ganging up on me. I’m the oldest, only I get to do that.”
This produced hoots of laughter, interrupted by a sharp whistle.
“Breakfast!” Mr. Goldhirsh called. “At Phil’s.”
Chapter 25
Piper’s yawn was wide enough to crack her jaw.
“You doing okay there, sweetheart?”
“Sure, Joe. Sleep deprivation is not something you get used to overnight.”
She was working the morning shift. They’d cut her back to two a week until everything was sorted with Grace. Joe and her mom had insisted, because she needed some time with adults and to leave the house.
Joe, Jack, and Luke had arrived with Grace to have breakfast, and Piper had to say that seeing her little girl made her smile.
She was Piper’s little girl now. After several days of sleepless nights, tears, hugs, and changing diapers, they were now a team, as was the rest of her family.
“She likes donuts,” Luke said, smiling.
“She likes everything,” Piper added. “But she shouldn’t have too much sugar.”
Grace was sitting on Jack’s knee while Luke fed her, even though they had a high chair in the cafe.
She’d never have been able to do this without her family’s help. Nights were her domain, and she’d insisted on this. Her family needed their sleep, and Grace was settling down now into a routine and only woke once. But the early starts were taking some getting used to.
Her mom had been amazing, and took to being a grandmother with ease. She was often seen dancing around the house with Grace on her hip, and the little girl had certainly taken to her.
Piper had seen nothing of Dylan since he’d dropped her and Grace off, and the hell of it was she missed him. Missed his big, solid presence. Missed that little zap of excitement that came with seeing him, but most of all she missed the real Dylan she’d got to know that day and night in Rummer. The kind, gentle Dylan who had dropped that cool exterior and been her rock when she’d needed one.
“Come here, Gracie, let your favorite uncle hold you.” Joe picked her up and made kissy noises under her chin that had her giggling.
The resilience of children, Piper thought. She’d accepted this life, and while she’d probably not forgotten her mom yet, it wouldn’t take long—which was a sad thought. Piper needed to find a picture of Joanie and get it framed so she could talk about her with Grace.
The funeral had been small with just Piper and a handful of her friends and family in attendance. She’d done everything she could to make it special, including a celebration of her life afterward back at the house.
“Well, as I live and breathe, it’s the Howards, all together,” Joe said softly.
Piper’s eyes went to the door and there he was. Big and sweaty, the man’s looks hadn’t deteriorated in the last five days. Hell no, to her sleep-depraved mind they’d increased. In front of Dylan walked his sisters.
He looked happier; the tight, closed expression on his face had gone. It made him look more relaxed.
Piper stayed where she was behind the coffee machine and fought the twin urges to smile and throw herself at him.
“Joe.” Dylan shook his hand, but his eyes were on Piper before settling on Grace.
The little girl shrieked and lunged at him, arms out.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” Dylan said, taking her. “How you doing?”
