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“Well, I don’t want him,” she snapped back at me. “Look, just meet him, take him for a few weeks and I’ll sort something out when I get back, okay?”
With that she stormed back to the car, opened the back door, and said something.
I stared, shocked as a little boy toddled his way towards me. It was like looking at Mike and me in the past, the same black hair and when he looked up, I saw he had our green eyes. He was also filthy, in clothes that weren’t suitable for this weather and looked like he hadn’t had a good meal in months. My anger at Rachel and Mike rose again at the sight of their son and the obvious lack of care he’d had.
As soon as Avy stepped out of the café I knew, I’d heard the door open and felt her presence at my back. I’m surprised it took her so long to come out. I realised it was because she’d seen the boy in front of me. I also knew that she’d step in and take him if he had nowhere else to go. I knew my wife and her family. There was no way they’d ever let any child go without, especially if that child was tied in blood in some way.
She slipped her arm around my waist, and I relaxed now that I wasn’t standing here by myself. She’d staked her claim and made it clear to Rachel by laying her hand on my chest, her new rings shiny on her ring finger. Avy quietly murmured to me, “Talk to me, handsome.”
So, I filled Avy in on why Rachel was here. Not long after that, she had my nephew in her arms, and he held on to Avy like he knew she’d be there for him always. He held on so tight I’m not sure how she was breathing, but she didn’t remove his arms. She just wrapped him up tighter in her arms while walking away from us.
Issuing an order to her dad as she walked past them. No sooner had she issued her orders to Reaper and Shep about Rachel not leaving then Rachel was jumping in her car and taking off down the road before there was anyway we could stop her.
“FUCK!!!” I shouted as we watched her car disappearing out of the village.
“Calm, brother,” Reaper squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll get it sorted.”
“She’ll be back,” I said. “But we need to find my brother.”
“Then we’ll find him,” Shep reassured me. Just then, Blaze jogged back towards us carrying something. I’d not seen him leave us.
He held out a black backpack to me, “Here, I saw her throw this out of the window as she sped away.”
Pulling the zip down to open the bag, inside was a change of clothing and what looked like paperwork. Taking it out, I saw it was a birth certificate and a book with his vaccination information in it. Looking at the birth certificate, I saw that she’d not lied. Under father, she’d put my name.
With a sigh, I handed it to Reaper, who raised his brows. “He’s not mine, I promise,” I stated.
“We know,” Shep assured me. “But don’t look at this as a bad thing. With your name on the certificate, it will be easier to get custody of him.”
“I have to speak to Avy first.”
“Hawk, if I know my daughter she’s already on board. You don’t have to worry about her.”
“Okay,” I agreed because I know he’s right. But how did I explain to people that took on children not of their blood that I was struggling to accept the fact that my brother’s child, who was my blood, had been dumped on me?
I felt like a dick, and I wasn’t liking what I was feeling. I was an adult, and I knew that little boy had nothing to do with my brother’s betrayal, but it felt like a slap in the face seeing him and how much he looked like me.
Avy and I were just starting out and now my brother’s bullshit was creating issues for me again. And as usual, I’d suck it up because that’s what I did.
I’d speak to Avy tonight and get her take on what we should do. Here I thought we’d managed to not have any drama clouding our relationship. Seems I was wrong.
Behind us the café door opened, and the women came out with Molly in the lead followed by Noni. I met Avy’s eyes over the heads of everyone and she knew just by looking at me that I was struggling. I’d never kept her in the dark about how I felt about what my brother had done. Rachel’s cheating hadn’t bothered me. It had been my brother’s betrayal that had cut me deep.
Our gaze was broken by Molly, who sounded put out when she muttered, “Can’t believe that bitch did a runner. I was hoping to get some practice in. I’m getting rusty, not being able to have any fun.”
Her grumbling broke the tension, and we laughed. “Come on, Firecracker. Let’s get you home and we’ll set up and throw some knives,” Draco grinned at her. She smiled back at him, “Sounds like a good time to me. Anybody want to join us?”
A few of the brothers and most of the kids said they would, and I knew this was to give us some time at the main house without a crowd. I could imagine that my nephew was pretty freaked at all the people.
That they all knew instinctively what was needed and didn’t make a big deal about it just went along and made it happen.
Wrapping my arms around Molly, I pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Thanks, Molls.” She smiled up at me, “Anytime, Hawk. I’m learning. It’s what family does.”
Passing her back to Draco, who was grinning at his Firecracker with pride. I left them to walk to my wife, who was waiting for me near the door. Inside I could see Maggie sitting with Kaleb at the table and looked like she was giving him something to eat.
Pulling Avy into my arms, I relaxed as she wrapped hers around me. “How are you doing, handsome?”
