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Declan stood up. "I'm going to draft up papers for custody."
"No, brother, you will not do that, okay? The last thing I want is for her to feel threatened by any contracts or legal stuff that you come up with."
"It's important," he emphasized.
"We can deal with it later."
"I'm going to be a grandmother again," Mom said, hugging me. I hugged her right back. "My goodness, Travis, what a surprise. I never thought I'd hear you say that."
"I'm just as surprised as you are, Mom."
Dad shook my hand, patting my shoulder. "Congratulations, son. It's a privilege to be a father."
Gran came up to me next, putting her hands on her hips. "Young man, we taught you better. You do not leave the mother of your child in a lurch."
"Gran, it was a technology failure."
"Don't you 'Gran' me. You owned a technology company. Are you telling me you had no other way of finding that poor girl?"
"Yes, I could have," I admitted. "I was very focused on the hotel, and time got away from me."
"Well, now I hope you're going to rethink your priorities. Having a child and raising it is one of the most important jobs in this world," Gran said.
"I'm going to try my very best," I assured her. "Any other words of advice?"
"Plenty," Tate said. "I'm going to share them with you over whiskey."
"Not wine?" I joked.
"Nah, this conversation needs something far stronger."
Tyler and Luke seemed too stunned to say anything. Reese was silent, which was unlike her. But I knew whatever they had to say wasn't for parental ears to hear.
The benefit of being the fifth one in the family was that I got to see my older brothers go through every life phase before me. They liked to flaunt their knowledge like it was an absolute truth. Granted, no one had been in my situation, but I was sure they’d weigh in, nonetheless.
Dad took me to one side. "Son, I have a piece of advice. Don't mess this up."
"I won't. It's not my intention. I want to be there every step of the way. You know me."
"Good, good. We raised you to do well." He narrowed his eyes. "You know I don't like to butt in."
That was true. Mom and Dad didn't like to give their opinion on everything.
"I'm listening," I said.
"Figure out what you want, how you feel about Bonnie. Don't tell me, just be honest with yourself. If you want more than friendship, then go ahead, guns blazing. No apologies."
"Thanks, Dad. This is good advice."
He patted my shoulder.
“But this kid is yours. He’s a Maxwell and accepted unconditionally. Know that and act accordingly, you understand?”
“Yes, I do.” This child would be a part of the family, no question, and Bonnie would be too. Everyone would embrace her. Friendship was a solid basis on which to raise a child.
But I couldn’t help the nagging feeling that Bonnie and I couldn’t bejustfriends.
"You can call me any time you need more advice. I'm going to grab a slice of pizza."
