“I miss Mom and Dad so much. I miss Mommy’s singing and Daddy’s laugh.”
“I do too, Lucas.” Miller laid his head on top of Lucas’s. His eyes met mine, and I could see how much it hurt him to see his nephew suffering so much. I wished I could do something to make them all better, to take their pain away, but I knew it wasn’t possible. I had been down that road myself, and it would take a long time before sorrow didn’t overshadow everything.
Hearing them giggle in the back seat, looking happy, was worth the teasing they gave us. “Someday you’ll fall in love too, wise guy, and you’ll want to do things like smooch and hug that person.”
“Uncle Jag and I will make kissy noises at you when you do,” Miller added. An eye roll was Lucas’s response, but the smile never left his face. “Remember what I said about your behavior today. No running. No touching everything in sight. You will be polite and respectful.”
“Yes, Uncle Miller,” they echoed from the back seat.
Miller pointed his finger at me. “That goes double for you.”
“Yes, Miller,” I said, imitating the kids and making them giggle again.
We all ended up liking the same overpriced but sexy-as-sin SUV. It was charcoal gray with black leather interior and totally badass like something Batman might drive if he ever became Batdad. Miller let me take the kids to the Y in it while he met with Vanessa to decide what to do about Darryl and Destiny’s belongings. They were still at Darryl and Destiny’s house when we got done, so I took Lucas and Lily to meet baby Grace.
I didn’t know a person could appear exhausted and exuberant at the same time, but that was the only way I could describe how Chase and Gray looked when they let us into their house. They had bags under their bright, sparkly eyes and tired but happy smiles.
“Nice wheels,” Gray said, then bumped my fist. “Plenty of room in there for more passengers.” He gave me an impish smile as if the thought would scare me. Ha!
“So you’ll understand if I consider my visit to my littlest client as billable hours to help pay for the shiny new toy?”
“Very funny,” Gray said before he turned to Lucas and Lily. “What else have you guys been up to today?”
“Uncle Jag took us to the Y so we could swim for a bit,” Lucas told him.
“I bet you could use a snack,” Gray offered. “We have fresh chocolate chip cookies from Gram.”
“Yay!” The kids skipped into the kitchen with Gray, and I took a seat next to Chase, who was feeding his daughter, on the couch.
“Hey there, Gracie Lou.” I kept my voice soft because it looked like she was just about to drift off.
“Dang it,” Chase said without venom. “I owe Gray twenty bucks. He swore up and down you’d be the first one to call her that.”
“We don’t have to tell him,” I suggested.
“Too late,” Gray said as he entered the room with a tray full of drinks and a large plate of cookies. He set the tray down and looked at me. “I already heard what you called our baby girl.” He turned to Chase and said, “I’m willing to let you pay me in trade instead of cash.”
“Yeah?” Chase sounded hopeful.
“Mmm hmmm,” Gray replied suggestively. “You let me nap for an hour, and we’ll call it even.” Gray smiled wickedly while Chase groused under his breath.
“I can’t believe I’m about to offer this, but why don’t both of you take a nap, and the munchkins and I will take care of baby Grace. She’s asleep”—I nodded to the bundle in Chase’s arms—“so you should be sleeping too. I’ll turn on Nickelodeon, and Lucas and Lily will be asleep in a few minutes too after all their exercise today.”
“Seriously?” Gray sounded shocked I’d offer.
“It’s been a while since I changed a diaper, but I’m sure the technique is still the same—wipe off any poop or pee, powder their butts, and close up the new diaper.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Chase said as he gently leaned over and placed their daughter in her bassinet. “She sleeps pretty soundly for about an hour to ninety minutes.”
“Get some sleep, take a hot shower, and I bet you’ll feel brand new. Miller texted me and said they’d be a few more hours, and I don’t have any place I need to be. I want to help.” I directed my words at Gray.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely before they went upstairs.
I turned on the TV to the kids’ favorite channel, kicked my shoes off, and got comfy as I ate a cookie on the couch and watched cartoons until Lucas and Lily fell asleep. Little Grace slept through it all and didn’t wake for nearly two hours. By that time, the guys had napped, showered, and looked like they’d fooled around a little too. They’d either had sex or smoked a joint because they were looking pretty damn mellow as they made their way down the stairs. I knew neither did drugs so that left only one thing.
“Shut up,” Chase said when he caught sight of my smirk.
“I didn’t say anything,” I said defensively. I gave him my most innocent expression, which only made him laugh.
