I tiptoed around details of what happened back then, but I remembered what he’d said before the war. “This won’t be a permanent thing, Keir. No way am I going to remain a vampire.”
I vowed to do everything in my power to be sure I honored Dash’s wishes, and if I had to fudge a few particulars here and there, so be it. I was pretty sure I wouldn't go to Hell because I told a white lie.
“Dash and I went to Amelie’s egg retrieval yesterday. They’re going to freeze them for when we’re ready. Grace will be three this winter, so maybe after her birthday, we’ll find a surrogate. Is there something wrong? Do you need some time off? Is Jamie okay?”
Lake giggled. “Jamie’s fine. She just had her five-year analysis, and she’s still cancer free. I want to volunteer to carry your next baby, unless you’ve found someone already.”
I was stunned. “After everything you went through, you’d be willing to do it again?” She’d nearly died. I couldn’t imagine wanting to sign up for another pregnancy.
“I loved carrying Grace. I’d be happy to carry another little Dearly.”
I took a deep breath to give myself time to understand her offer. “I’ll talk to Dash and let you know, if that’s okay.”
I was stunned by her excited smile. She gave me a hug before leaving the mortuary. I was speechless, but in my gut, it felt perfectly right.
“I see you’ve had your hands full today. Has Grace been this insistent all day?”
The memories of Lake carrying our little boy were beautiful, but now I had a very tired-looking husband’s glassy-eyed stare fixed on me. He had baby formula on his T-shirt and butt cream in his hair—I didn’t want to ask how it got there.
“Oh, this is calm, trust me. She wanted to hold him, feed him, and love on him. She got mad and kicked my shin when I told her to leave him alone. She’s fiercely protective to the point I’m afraid she’ll hurt him.” His voice was soft as he put his hand on Davy’s chest.
“Okay. Uh, why don’t you go relax? Take a bath or a long shower, and I’ll take over.” I turned to Grace. “Little Miss, come help me fix dinner. We need to have a talk.”
I took off my tie, tossing it over the arm of the couch before I picked Grace up and swung her around to hang off my back like a monkey. I placed her on the counter next to the fridge and looked into her eyes. “We need to talk.”
“Why, Daddy?” And so it began.
“Davy is a baby, and what do we have to do with babies?” It wasn’t the first time we’d had the talk.
“Be gentle.” She reached up and pushed my hair off my forehead. It was her go-to move when she thought she was in trouble. Dash was much more of a sucker for it than me.
“Why do you think we have to be gentle with babies?” I believed Grace to be more mature for her age than her peers, but maybe I was biased.
“Because they’re little.”
“That’s right. I asked you to help Papa with Davy, but you can’t hold him by yourself yet, and it’s better if Papa feeds him. Youcan help by getting Papa clean diapers or picking up your toys. Davy needs to sleep so he can grow to be big like you, doesn’t he? In a few months, he’ll be crawling, and then you can play with him all you want, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy. I’ll be better.” I gave her a kiss.
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Macaroni!” Pasta it was.
After we ate, I gave Grace a bath and put her to bed without any fuss. Dash hadn’t returned, so I walked to our room to see him sound asleep and clutching the baby monitor from downstairs where Davy was sleeping in his bassinet, which had been Grace’s.Always on duty.
“Let’s get you comfortable, love. I’ll take night duty.” I kissed his cheek and stared at his handsome face, so grateful he was still alive.
No doubt Nyx would have ended him had Lucifer not stepped in when he did. I was certain it wouldn’t be the last fight between good and evil, but thankfully, the next one wouldn’t beourfight. That would be the job of the next Gatekeeper and Key.
Two years later…
“Daddy! Davy’s in my room messing everything up.”
I was sitting on the couch with Dash’s head in my lap. He’d been having trouble sleeping lately, and as he described the nightmares to me, I knew they were memories he was reliving inhis subconscious. I couldn’t tell him the truth because I was sure he wouldn’t believe me. I hoped they’d fade soon.
“Love, I need to go see what havoc Davy is wreaking. I’ll be right back.” I leaned forward and kissed his temple before I slid from under Dash and hurried upstairs.
Grace had set up her animal farm on the green foam mat, and apparently, Davy, who was well ensconced in his terrible twos, wanted to play with them too. His sister wasn’t happy with his company.
