“You coming, Spice?” Copper asks.
“I didn’t know you allowed women at your Church, so I wasn’t sure what to do,” I admit.
“We’ve amended our rules on a case-by-case basis. You’re needed for this one, Spice.”
“What about Noah?” He’s sitting on Copper’s shoulders, looking happy up there.
“I stay him.” Noah points to Copper's dad, Tinman, who’s waiting for us by the door.
“Oh, baby, you can’t—”
Tinman holds up his hand, stopping me. “It’s okay. I’ll skip Church. Cop, let Coal know.”
“Will do, Pops,” Copper agrees, lifting Noah from his shoulders and passing him to his dad.
Noah wraps an arm around Tinman’s neck. “You big like Copper.”
Tinman chuckles. “That’s because I’m his dad.”
“You stay with me. My Bee is going away.”
“Yeah, bud. I’m staying with you. Maggie and me.” He points to Copper’s mum.
“And my Bee’s mum?”
Tinman smiles and turns towards where my parents are sitting on one of the sofas with Thea and Coal’s little girl, Shea, on my dad’s lap. “That’s your Bee’s mum and dad. Her dad is called Dog. Can I tell you a secret?”
Noah nods hard. “Your Bee’s mom is also called Maggie.”
“She is?” Noah’s eyes widen, then he stuns us by saying, “My mum’s Maggie.”
My heart beats hard in my chest when he reveals this little tidbit. It’s the first time he’s spoken about his parents. I know Cahir is waiting to fill me in on what happened to them. That Noah is still with us means it’s not good news.
“It’s a good name,” Tinman tells him. “All the best mums are called Maggie.”
Noah nods and puts his head on Tinman’s shoulder. “And Bee,” he says softly.
I bite my lip when Noah whispers those words. Tears flood my eyes, and my gaze moves to my mum. She smiles mistily at me and blows me a kiss. Even Dad looks choked up.
Copper wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me into him as I inhale a shaky breath.
“Yeah, Noah. Bee is a good name for a mom,” Tinman agrees, looking at me warmly.
“Everything okay out here?” Coal wants to know.
I was so lost in Noah that I didn’t hear him approach.
“Yeah, brother. All good,” Copper says, pressing a kiss to my hair. “We’re coming. Just settling Noah.”
“Do you need to bring him in with you?” Coal asks.
If I’d had any doubts that this was a good MC, they would have disappeared right then.
“No,” I answer. “He’s good with your dad, if it’s okay that Tinman misses Church.”
“No problem. I’ll fill him in afterwards.”
Reaching out, I ruffle Noah’s curls. “I’m going into that room with Copper and Coal. If you need me, tell Tinman or Dog, and they’ll come and get me, okay?”
