He leans in for a deep kiss.
Before too long we’re interrupted by a series of soft knocks at the door. “That’ll be Lucius,” he says with a chuckle.
Lucius is the second-floor robot vacuum cleaner. Edward is in charge of the first floor, and Rosalie the upstairs.
“Did I tell you Zach is working on a staircase model?” Noah asks as he dips his kisses from my neck to my breasts.
“I’m sure he is,” I breathe. “Adapting his stair-climbing wheelchair contraption to the little guys?”
“Something like that.”
After a quick shower, we come downstairs late and walk up to brunch set up on the patio. Calla and the pups greet us with wagging tails. Across the garden, Beck comes out of the barn, scratching his belly as he stretches.
Lane is at the table, reading a book. She smiles feebly at us.This must mean she’s going through with sharing her personal news this morning.I want to tell her it’ll be alright, because I know it will. But I can understand her apprehension.
“What happened to you, Lanie?” Noah asks as we take in the basket of fresh croissants, the apple cider donuts, the steaming coffee pot. He leans over her to kiss the top of her head. “Didn’t party hard enough last night? Or are you too used to hangovers now?”
She shrugs. “I was up early, so I took Myrtle to see her future house, and Chris sent me back with all this. One thing led to another…” She glances at me nervously, a small smile on her face. No hangover for her, but her brothers don’t know why yet.
“Myrtle?” Beck asks, ruffling Muffin’s hair as the pup jumps to greet him. “I thought Muffin was called Muffin because he was going to live at the bakery.”
I laugh. “Nope. Skye said Muffin was a great name but it couldn’t be her dog’s name.” I count on my fingers all the reasons she came up with. “It’s too obvious for a bakery. The dog would be confused every time they talked about muffins. And finally, she decided Muffin was a boy name, and she bonded with our little girl pup from the beginning.”
“Myrtle sure liked the smells there,” Lane says, petting the dog. “They already have a system to keep her out of the bakery.”
Noah strokes my forearm. “Whenever you’re ready, then,” Noah says.
I take a deep inhale, trying to organize my thoughts. It’s hard for me to accept that Myrtle should move to her new home. Yet I know it’s time.
“You’re going to be uncles,” Lane blurts, interrupting my train of thoughts.
Beck, eyes bloodshot, high-fives his brother. “Dude, good job.” Then he turns to his sister. “Wait. How d’you know?”
Noah, his hand still up from the surprise high-five, glances at me with a frown, then moves his gaze to his sister, his forehead smoothing as understanding dawns on him.
I place my hand on his thigh and give him a squeeze. Shock and a thousand questions are painted on his face. As he clears his throat to talk, Lane shoots him a warning look.
Before he can say anything, I stand, round the table, and pull her into a hug. “That’s wonderful news, honey.” I lock eyes with Noah over her shoulder, watching him as he rubs the spot where his glasses normally rest, then relaxes as he realizes it’s really not the end of the world. It’s actually the beginning of a new one.
“How the fuck did that happen?” Beck blurts as he catches up.
“You missed the lesson on the birds and the bees?” I tease him as I release Lane.
“Fuck,” Beck says. “I didnotsee that coming.” He leans over the table. “Are you okay?” His gaze searches his sister’s.
She gives him nothing for a beat or two, until her eyes brighten and she bites her trembling lip. “I’m fine,” she whispers.
He stands abruptly, Muffin scurrying from under his chair with a soft yelp, and rounds the table to take Lane in his arms. “Who’s the fu—the father?” he asks as he nearly smothers her.
I’m not surprised by Beck’s reaction. He’s always acting a little goofy and immature, but he loves fiercely. I’m convinced his mostly irreverent attitude is a front to hide how big his heart is.
“I don’t wanna talk about him,” Lane says, her voice muffled from Beck’s embrace. “Not yet.”
Beck takes a long inhale, clearly struggling to keep his opinions to himself—and mostly succeeding. Finally, he pulls back from her. “You need me to talk to him, just say the word.”
Lane wipes a tear. “I’m fine, really. I don’t know why I got all emotional all of a sudden.” She smiles brightly at Beck, then turns a hesitant gaze to Noah.
Noah stands to hug her while Beck sits back down. “Congratulations, Laney.” He strokes her back. “What do you need from me?”Noah, always the caretaker.
