Walker chuckles. “This one’s not mine, kiddo.”
“Hey, Walker,” Poppy says as she comes in and settles in next to me.
“She’s already a good baby, I can tell,” Walker says softly, his eyes still on the baby.
“Do the parents know you have it?” Owen asks, stepping closer like the baby might disappear if he looks too hard.
“Well, buddy, she’s ours,” I say.
He squints at me. “What?”
Poppy clears her throat gently. I shift closer to her and squeeze her hand without thinking.
“We’re her family,” I correct.
Owen’s eyebrows shoot up. He looks between us, then back down at the baby, who is sleeping peacefully and utterly unaware that she just flipped our entire lives upside down.
“So,” he says carefully, “like… another sister?”
There’s hope in his voice. Real, fragile hope. I knew he would be into this. Owen loves being a part of a family. He lights up around Mack, Walker, and Violet.
He leans in, inspecting her tiny fingers and her scrunched little nose like he’s evaluating a very important project. “She’skinda cute,” he adds. “Really small though. Kinda has an egg head.”
Poppy watches him, her expression soft and a little nervous. “Would that be okay?” she asks. “If you had another sister, I mean.”
Owen looks up at her like the answer is obvious.
Then he grins.“I mean,” he says, shrugging, “we already have a weird family. Why not make it weirder?”
I laugh, the sound surprising me, and something in my chest finally loosens. Poppy laughs too, wiping at her eyes, and Owen steps closer, reaching out one careful finger.
The baby curls her hand around it.
Owen goes very still. “Oh,” he whispers. “She likes me.”
I glance over at Poppy, and she looks back at me, and for the first time since this all started, the fear quiets just enough to let something else through.
“Of course she does, buddy,” I say softly. “You want to hold her?”
He nods and steps closer, careful and serious. Once he’s seated, Walker helps settle her into his arms.
She sighs and relaxes like she knows exactly where she is.
I watch them, my chest tight and steady all at once, and realize I’m not scared of what this looks like anymore.
Chapter 25
Poppy
Hold On by Luke Grimes
“Can I tell Violet?” Walker asks, half grinning. “Because if I don’t, she’s gonna know something’s up and assume the worst. She has my location on her phone and will wonder why I’m at the hospital.”
Ollie shakes his head quickly. “Let me tell my sister first, or she’ll lose her damn mind.”
Walker laughs. “Yeah. That’s true. Carry on. But just so you know, her and Violet were at the bar when I left, and it’s only a matter of time before they realize where I am.”
Before anyone can say anything else, there’s noise in the hallway. Fast footsteps and voices. Then a sharp knock that barely waits for permission. The door swings open, and Violet barrels in first, Cami right behind her. They stop short and stare at all of us.
