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Name Of The Game
“Mom, Dad, this is Royce Kennedy. Royce, my parents, Mark and Doreen Grey.”
Royce moved forward and shook hands with her parents. “You didn’t say he was so tall,” her mother said. “Nice to meet you.”
Chloe let out a sigh. She told herself not to take exception to things said today. Her parents wanted to meet Royce and she wanted them to all get along. Dane had wanted to meet him too and, between his rotations with the hospital and everything going on in their lives, it’d taken a few weeks and was decided they’d have Easter together.
It wasn’t a major holiday in her eyes, but she was damn well going to spend it with him. This was going to be the beginning of many things she’d have to figure out.
For someone that was told she didn’t compromise much, it seemed to be the name of the game in her life currently.
“You too,” Royce said.
“Chloe tells us you own a construction company with your father?” her father said.
“And my sister,” he said. “Elise and I each have equal shares and my father the rest.”
“I told you that, Dad,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I just forgot. We don’t know a lot about you and would like to know more. Chloe isn’t one to always volunteer information about her life. We weren’t shocked she’d been dating someone for a while but were with the baby announcement.”
“Things happen in life,” he said. “I’m committed to your daughter and this child. I know we haven’t been dating long, but we’ve known each other and worked together for years.”
Her heart was racing over his choice of words. In the past few weeks she’d known she was falling in love with Royce.
She’d never been one to shy away from voicing what was on her mind and wasn’t so sure why she was this time.
It’s not like they weren’t going to be tied together for life now with a child between them.
“As Chloe has told us,” her mother said. “But not much more. We know you’ve got a house not far from here. One that has a lot of space in it.”
She should have figured this would come up. “Mom. We are working it out. I’ve got my lease for a few more months and Royce and I haven’t talked all that much yet.”
“I’ve told Chloe that I’m going to be there for her and the baby. My house is plenty big enough and a great place to raise a family. I’m sure you’re aware that Chloe isn’t someone to push and that she has to come to decisions on her own.”
Her parents looked at each other and smiled. She might be annoyed over Royce’s choice of words, but they were the truth.
“I guess you know her better than we thought.”
She turned to see Dane coming in the door with the kids behind him. He only had them for a few hours today and then had to return them to Melanie. They were having an early dinner here and then she’d go back to Royce’s house. They hadn’t made plans on if she’d stay the night, but she was going to need the comfort of it for sure.
“Dane, this is Royce Kennedy. Royce, my brother, Dane Grey.”
“Daddy is a doctor,” Tiffani said.
“And this is my niece, Tiffani, and my nephew, Tyler. Kids, this is my boyfriend, Royce.”
Royce shook hands with everyone, even the kids who giggled. “Nice to meet you. Did you find all the Easter Bunny’s eggs this morning?”
“We did,” Tiffani said. “He’s sneaky too. Some were too high up for us and Daddy had to get them. And when we go to Mommy’s house she said the Easter Bunny went there too. She’ll help us find them.”
“I can find them on my own,” Tyler said. “And I would rather stay at Daddy’s house.”
Chloe looked at her brother and he just shook his head. She’d have to find out what was going on there and realized that she was so focused on her life that she hadn’t found out much about Dane’s. She wasn’t normally like that.
“You’ll be back soon,” Dane said. “You know how it is, Tyler.”
“Please,” her mother said, “come have a seat. Children, you’ve got Easter baskets here too from Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Chloe.”
