He stood and held out his arms. Adam came around and gave him a bone-crushing hug.
“You’re going to be great,” Owen said his voice rough with emotion.
“Thanks.” Adam squeezed him back. “That means everything. I’ll be safe, too, I promise.”
He better.
Owen cleared his throat as Adam moved on to Seth, then Josh.
Adam’s timing had been bang on, because as soon as they finished congratulations, a pretty young blonde woman wearing snug khaki pants and an Eco Guide hoodie came in through the double doors. She glanced around and raised her voice. “I’m looking for the Kincaid party for the owl prowl.”
Adam waved his hand. “That’s us.”
An owl prowl? Owen rolled his eyes. His brother had fallen for the pretty guide, he’d bet money. But this was better than strippers. It wouldn’t stop him from pointing out that the army usually paid him to do this in night reconnaissance exercises, though.
“Come on, boys. Let’s go find some nocturnal animals.” Adam flashed the guide a wicked grin. “We’re all yours.”
Owen just hoped he wouldn’t twist a damn ankle.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kerry spentSaturday night and Sunday morning at the hospital. She sent Owen a text mid-morning warning she might not make his Thanksgiving dinner, but soon after she sent it, her client’s labour sped up.
Bodies were wonderful, mysterious things. She helped bring a sweet, tiny slip of a little girl into the world just after one in the afternoon. After getting mom and baby settled into the postnatal ward for the day, under the watchful eye of a nurse, Kerry headed for her car, and drove north.
She would never tire of deliveries. She liked every part of her job, except saying goodbye to patients at the end of their time in her care, although even those had a note of celebration. But the rush of labour and the triumphant success of deliveries were by far her favourite. They made the long nights and weekends spent on call worth the sacrifice.
When she got to her apartment, she made an emergency espresso, threw herself into the shower, and changed into something pretty but comfortable, because Owen had warned her there might be some touch football played. Then she grabbed the bottle of wine she’d bought for the occasion, took a really deep breath, and headed to Owen’s house.
Cars lined the street. Two vintage cars, one of which she recognized as the beater Owen and his brothers worked on sometimes.That’s Will’s,she reminded herself. The black shiny one would be Josh’s. She’d seen his garage coming together on her walks down to the harbour, but they hadn’t met yet. Two pickup trucks completed the parade of vehicles, and she pulled in behind one that had a custom H0CK4 license plate.
She could bet money that would be Hayden’s. She’d never gotten much of a bead on him in the few appointments he attended with Becca, but he’d shown up for the birth and she knew the young woman loved him. For both of their sakes, and Charlie’s, Kerry hoped he wasn’t as one-note as he sometimes appeared.
When she knocked on the front door, it was Becca who answered. In the last month, the young mom seemed to have aged a couple of years in a really good way. She looked all grown-up, and in her arms was a bright-eyed boy who had changed so much.
“Charlie!” Kerry exclaimed. “Look at both of you, oh my goodness.”
Becca gave her a hug, then traded the baby for the bottle of wine. Charlie was easily twice as big as when he was born, and he followed Kerry’s face very carefully as she made cooing faces at him. “I have been thinking of you, little man. It is so nice to see you.”
He burbled and blew her a spit bubble. The highest of compliments. She held on to him as Becca introduced the uncles Kerry hadn’t met yet—Josh, the mechanic, and Seth, the pilot.
“Owen’s in the kitchen,” Adam said. “He was just threatening to kick us all out into the backyard because we take up too much space, but now that you’re here, he’s going to be nice again.”
“Is that right?” She laughed as she carried Charlie into the kitchen. “Let’s go find your grandpa, shall we?”
“I heard that,” Owen said when she appeared in the doorway.
“Which part?”
“The part where you called me grandpa.”
She wiggled Charlie at him. “I remembered how much you liked it in the hospital.”
He leaned in and bussed his grandson’s cheek, then shifted and gave Kerry a softer, welcoming kiss on the mouth. “I do like it,” he whispered. Then he straightened his apron—clearly a present from Becca at some point, because it saidDad Cooks It Beston it. “You’re just in time. I was about to carve the turkey.”
“Ooh, lucky me. Can I help?”
“You can keep me company while the boys finish setting the table.” He raised his voice. “Hayden!”
