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“Kevin.”
“Okay, Helen. I promise I won’t tell the boys how Brandon happened. Though at this point, I don’t think—”
She slipped her fingers over his lips to shush him. “Listen, thisisimportant. Lauren says Jade is terribly nervous about being here. About meeting us. So we’re okay with this, right?” Gripping his collar, she leaned in. “We’rehappyabout this.”
Kevin leaned down and brushed her nose with his. “It’s like you think I’m a scrooge all of the sudden.”
Sighing, Helen went back to cradling his face. “Kevin, you’ve struggled with it. And I get it. But Connor is happy, and both Becca and Lauren approve. Please—”
He cut her off with a tender kiss as the sound of footfalls on the front steps reached their hearing. “I’m happy, Helen. I’m happy for Connor, and I’m happy to meet Jade and her kids, and if something more happens—” He cut off as if he knew something but wasn’t going to say the rest. “I’m happy.”
“Something more . . . like what?”
The front door clicked open.
Grinning, he kissed her forehead and stood up straight. “The kids cometh.”
“But, Kev—”
He stepped away and called, “Connor! Reid!”
Helen scrambled after him, nearly forgetting that she still wore a stocking cap and likely had evergreen needles covering her head to toe. Whatmorewas going to happen? Surely Connor wouldn’t propose here, would he? In front of this boisterous crowd, to a woman who apparently was shy and a little terrified to meet them all?
Her extraordinarily thoughtful, straight-as-an-arrow, do-the-right-thing, a-bit-on-the-dry-side son? Didn’t seem like his style.
Then again, it might be terribly romantic.
But what if it embarrassed Jade? Or, for goodness’ sake, she said no! Or worse, what if her kids objected? It could be a horrible disaster.
Oh heavens, what had Kevin meant?
Before she could unscramble her thoughts, let alone make them behave, she was in the front room and Connor was there, pulling her into his arms.
“Mom, the house looks amazing, as usual.” Connor stepped back and turned toward the woman standing behind him in the doorway. With a tender smile and a move that shoutedprotectiveif ever she’d seen one, Connor curved an arm around her.
She was short and small framed. Her hair was straight and brown, and her eyes were the color of a rich coffee brew. Nothing about her was reminiscent of Sadie, and though Helen had been told that was the case, it surprised her.
“Mom. Dad.” Connor looked down at the woman in his protective hold, his warm gaze nothing short of love. “This is Jade.”
Helen felt a surrealness about that moment, though she couldn’t define exactly why. She noticed Connor hadn’t said JadeBeck, and she would have bet that had been intentional. To them, she would be JadeMurphy, and if Connor had his way, she would be so soon. By her soft glance up to him, Jade was in favor of that too.
And Helen felt . . . somehow stunned by it. Not unhappy. Not anything bad, just . . . stunned, and she couldn’t say why.
Apparently, Kevin was not the only one to stumble with this life change.
“Jade.” Kevin stepped forward, a smile in his voice as he reached out his hand. “It’s good to finally meet you. Connor says you’re wonderful.”
A pretty pink blush flooded Jade’s face as she took Kevin’s hand. “He does?” She sounded breathless and shaken.
Kevin didn’t shake Jade’s hand. He pulled her into a hug. “Welcome.”
Kevin left his greeting with an open ending. It could have beenwelcome to the Murphy home.Orwelcome to the Murphy family.Helen had a feeling that he meant the latter. And she was proud of him, because he was being sincere.
Also, she noted that Matt was right about his dad and his girls, which meant Jade needn’t be so nervous. Her husband was mush, and as far as Kevin was concerned, Jade was already one of them.
Years ago they had asked foronedaughter. Now? Now they were well on their way to having loved eight of them.
Eight daughters!
