Bastard hadn’t deserved her, then.Each of her scars—well, he suspected she’d triumphed over them.She deserved so much better than that.
Of course, so did his sisters.And hers.His mother had told him once that thescarsa person faced were part of what made them who they were.As she’d been battling cancer for the third time.He had never forgotten.
Everyone had scars.Everyone.
“When do we stop paying for the sins of our fathers, Aug?I just don’t get it.”His sister sounded utterly heartbroken.
The baby fussed.
Cal practically flinched at the sound.
“I don’t know.But I’m going to make it where Em and Juniewon’tever again.And neither will the rest of my girls.They won’t ever have to pay forhimagain.No matter what I have to do.” There was such…passion and emotion.But Cal understood—his own brother and sisters had paid because of their father so much.Hell, maybe so had Cal.
He was starting to understand that more now that some time had passed.
What their father had done had changed them all so much.Just like losing their mother had.Scars.They all had them now.
“Hand her over,” Claudia said, reaching for the baby.“And Aug, it’s not right that you will be paying forhimforever, either.You deserve to have a life of your own, too.”
The echo of the dinner conversation wasn’t lost on him.
Claudia was right.But he couldn’t see any other solution.He had easily seen how much Auggie loved her younger sisters.And who else would have taken on six traumatized young girls?They’d have had to be split up.No one would have really wanted that.
Hell, he’d have done it, too.If he had been in her position.And if Cloe and Claudia ever needed a roof over their heads, and a big brother to protect them from the monsters of the world—well, Cal would be there.No matter what.Sisters took care of sisters here, well, in his world, he took care of his sisters.His baby brother, too.Because he loved them.Period.
“I do have a life of my own.I canwalk.Mostly.I have a great job that I love and it pays really well.And the boss is a man I’ve loved my entire life.I have my home.And it’s inmyname now.No one can ever take it away.I’m going to live here forever.I’m planning on it.I have six little girls I’m going to raise.And they are beautiful, funny, sweet, smart, and wonderful.They give me…meaning.I have two other sisters I adore, and I know exactly who my real friends are.You and Cloe and Sage top that list, by the way.I’m good, Claud.As good as I can be now.”
“But don’t you get lonely?”
“I don’t know that I’ve even had the time to be lonely since I woke up in the hospital to learn I’d inherited six little girls I’d never even met.I’m still trying to figure that out.I’ll worry aboutmenwhen Mae-Mae there is in college or something.I may be ready then.But who knows?I may find I like my life just as it is.I’m kind of set in my ways already.”
Claudia sighed.“I am not so sure I can say the same thing.I just wish I could go back in time andfixwhat Dad did, so it will stop hurting all of us now.Clancy won’t talk about that stupid guy, Cloe won’t even attempt to date, and I…well…there were whispers at the WHP all the time that I was involved, too.I still think that asshat Weatherby is digging into my old cases, too.I just want…a chance to live my life on my own terms.Not because of what my father did.”
Cal’s heart broke for his little sister then.All of them.
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“Okay, enough of the pity party,” Claudia said.That was her through and through—just keep going,Claudia.She tried to stubborn her way through everything and always had.“How did the girls do, having a man in the midst of them?Did Cal scare them?”
“A little, I think.But they seemed okay once they learned he was your brother.It’s Em who was the worst.”
“I am almost afraid to ask.”
“Let’s just say, if she had her way right now, we’d just keep your brother for breeding stock, and dispense with male-female relationships forever, altogether.”
“Still upset over that guy from Pinedale?”
“Very much so.Apparently, he was rather frightened by the idea of eight sisters.And as loyal as she is, she let him have it.His ears are probably still ringing.”
“She’s better off without him, then.But if you want to use my brother as breeding stock, go right ahead.I wouldn’t mind nieces and nephews sometime soon.Either of my brothers.Just take your pick.”
Cal almost said something in response, but he didn’t want to betray he’d been listening.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on that offer.No offense.”
“None taken.He has his faults, after all.But I love him, and he’s one of the best men I know.Wouldn’t trade either of them for any other brothers out there.Not even for a moment.They are good men, both of them.So if you want one—you totally have my blessing.”
Well, at least there was that.
