Her brother Tristan was lying on a blanket playing with a few baby toys, next to a couple of the other little ones. The kids were so good together it made my heart melt.
“Go tell your daddy,” Ruby told Autumn.
The little one ran off, yelling, “Daddy, Mommy said to tell you that brother stinks!”
Lyric gave Ruby a serious look.
“Oh, someone is in trouble,” Alley sing-songed.
“Just the way I like it. It means spankings for me,” she said. “And the big slip of his mighty fine sausage.”
I’d just picked up my water off the table beside us and took a drink. I almost spit it all over everyone at her comment.
“You’re so bad,” I told her, shaking my head. “But I am suddenly craving sausage.”
“That’s the point,” she added, with a wink. “My man likes me that way.”
Everyone burst into hysterical laughter.
Our teasing was broken up when Pax walked over and laid Italia in my arms. He gave me a raised eyebrow that saidWhat the hell are you ladies doing over here?and I just gave him a saucy smile.
My sweet girl was getting a bit fussy. “I’m going to make her a bottle and then I will grab her back.” He kissed my cheek and ran his hands gently down my back. “You feeling okay?”
I saw the worry and sadness in all the women’s eyes as they watched us. When they first arrived, even though they’d seen me at the hospital, there was a lot of talk about them being there for me whenever I needed to talk or if I needed help with anything.
Of course Alley mentioned she’d wished she could take her bat to all the bad men’s heads and her husband Landon had to calm her down. The woman was fierce and loyal to the core. The love and loyalty in the group of women and men was something everybody needed in their life.
And I had that.
I had them.
Giving Pax a reassuring smile, I told him I was fine, and he headed toward the kitchen. But he was shaking his head, no doubt thinking about our silly antics.
“You got yourself a good one,” Gemma said. “Although, I might be biased since he’s my brother. I’m glad we are family.”
“Speaking of family,” Brinley said, causing my eyes to drift toward her. “Are you guys going to let Paxton’s mom see Italia?”
My gaze snapped back to Gemma. I always worried the subject of Paxton’s mom after what she did to Gemma would bother her.
Brinley must have seen where I was looking and glanced over at Gemma too. “Sorry,” she told her.
Gemma’s eyes were on me. “I told you that I understood about her illness and my brother knows I don’t hold it against him that his mom is still in his life. Please stop worrying about me when she comes up.” She blew out a breath. “My brother should share his daughter with her grandmother.”
“You’re a saint,” I told her. “But thank you. I know how hard it is on Paxton and he sometimes feels pulled in two directions.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Gemma told me.
Paxton and I had spoken about his mother in the hospital after they had found me and we agreed we would take Italia to see her grandmother.
I wished my parents could see their precious granddaughter and hoped they were looking down on her from above, so I wouldn’t want to take that opportunity away from Paxton or his mother. She would never be alone with our daughter, babysitting, and in Italia’s life like some grandparents, but she would know her.
Whatever made my husband happy, I would do everything I could to make that happen.
Because that is what he always did for me.
ChapterForty-Two
PAXTON
