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Ari smiled, gripping her chin in fun. “All right, Sophia.”
Sophia looked like the female version of Ari, which was saying something, because Ari was a very pretty man. Sophia was stunning. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes.
Charlotte stared up at her father. He’d come to her in her dreams for several years before she’d met him, and it was still strange for her to see him in person.
He reached out and stroked her face. “Don’t be afraid of me.”
“I’m not,” she said, quickly.
He gave her a smile and then turned to Pepper, pulling her in for a hug. Charlotte could feel her sister’s emotions as they swamped her. Connall appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and pulled her away from Ari, wrapping her in his protective embrace.
“Come in,” Niall said, and Charlotte grimaced up at him, realizing she was being rude.
Niall’s eyes reassured her as she heard his thoughts. You’re not, baby. You’re just overwhelmed.
“Yes, come in,” Charlotte said. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry, but we have food and drinks upstairs, if you’ll follow me.”
The small group made their way up to the family room. Charlotte was grateful that Megan took the initiative to introduce herself and Sophia to the rest of the family.
Nausea reared its ugly head and Charlotte gripped Niall’s arm. Her newly pregnant body reacting all too normally and, she might add, inconveniently, to the baby girl growing inside of her. Niall laid his hand on her belly, calming her sickness and her nerves at the same time.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and kissed him quickly, before joining the rest of the group.
Ari sat with Megan tucked into his side on the sofa. Sophia was on the other side of her mother, and Charlotte could see the closeness of the two. She felt sadness flood in at everything she and Pepper had missed through no fault of their own.
“Megan and Ari,” Pepper said. “May I introduce you to your grandson? This is Callum.”
Callum pitched himself toward Megan, who caught him with ease. Pepper laughed. “Well, I guess he likes you.”
Megan blinked back tears as she settled the baby on her lap, facing her. “Well, hi there, little man. I can’t believe I’m a grandma. I’m too young to be a grandma.” Callum gurgled up at her. “Yes, I see you agree.”
The group laughed as Niall pulled Charlotte down onto the sofa across from them. Max and Grace sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, Connall and Pepper in the other.
Ari leaned forward and smiled at Pepper. “First, I want to apologize for what I did at your home, elskan. I have no excuses other than a misguided effort to gain your help through force rather than asking.”
Megan squeezed his knee. “And.”
Ari shook his head. “And... I will never do anything to threaten you again. I am here to serve you until I die.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Okay, honey. A little melodramatic, but a good first start.”
Callum smacked Ari’s cheek, and Megan raised an eyebrow. “That’s right, baby, you tell grandpa what you think of that.”
Charlotte bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Megan had obviously read Ari the riot act, and his devotion to her was evident. Sophia still looked a bit like a deer in the headlights, but Charlotte chalked it up to the fact she was probably still processing.
“You look like Mom,” Sophia said to Pepper.
Pepper smiled. “I know. It’s a little weird, huh?”
Sophia turned to Charlotte. “I think you and I look the most alike. Even more than your pictures.”
“You’ve seen pictures?” Charlotte asked.
“Sorry.” Sophia glanced at Megan. “Wasn’t I supposed to? Cam showed me a couple on Facebook.”
“No, honey, I’m sorry,” Charlotte rushed to say. “It’s totally fine. I’m just surprised. I still can’t believe Cameron’s your uncle.”
The sound of Megan’s sudden sob drew their focus to her and she jumped to her feet, handing the baby to Ari, and rushed out of the room. Ari gave Callum to Connall, and followed her.
