Wynna showed the first sign of shock he’d seen in nearly ten years, releasing a shaky breath as she sank into her seat, relief washing away the tension she’d been holding in.
Ford had never seen her this worried before, but he could understand the weight she’d been carrying the last few weeks.
“We?”Chase was shocked, no doubt, but Ford didn’t see anything to worry him.
Lucky practically emanated relief, the love in his eyes almost overwhelming, though the tear that pooled over his eyelashes broke his heart.
Ford plucked a cigarette from his pocket.They were in a back corner of the restaurant and he wasn’t surprised nobody had appeared to clean up the mess, either intimidated by his ORT badge or the sight of Wynna Walker.Lighting his smoke, while everyone froze in shock, he answered Chase’s fears.“We just sat here and said we’re all bonding, right?”he reminded him, feeling his nerves settle at the adoration in Lucky’s eyes.“That’souromega, and if he wants a fucking kid, he’ll have one.Even if he is a monster,” he teased Pip, who risked peeking out from behind Lucky’s leg.
“Go back to your seat, Pip.Your food will be cold,” Lucky said, like anyone cared.
Ford would buy him another two servings of whatever crap he wanted if it made Lucky smile.
Lucky walked to where Ford sat and cupped his face in warm hands.Another tear fell, but he bent to gift him a kiss, light and fleeting.
Wynna held Pip, who hugged her side, no doubt overwhelmed.“You are a remarkable omega, and I will agree to your request.Legally I can keep Philip for eighteen months, then I’m obligated to find a home with age-appropriate parents.”The disgust was clear, but once Lucky returned to his seat, she grasped his hand like he was a lifesaver.
He just might be, from the fact Pip was upset but not a sobbing wreck.Ford suspected the kid had known about this longer than Wynna realised.What rotten luck to be an innocent kid and know he was unwanted by parents he loved, despite their selfishness.Maybe Ford had been better off having no parents.
Holding onto Wynna’s hand, Lucky let the tears fall and gave a wobbly smile.“I can’t let him get hurt just because I’m scared.”
As one, they looked to Chase, who remained silent.
Chase downed the last of his wine, then lifted the bottle from the middle of the table and poured another glass.Tossing back half the glass, he slipped the forgotten cigarette from Ford’s fingers.“I’m not even allowed to have sex before I get a kid,” he grumbled, putting the cigarette to his lips.
It was so unexpected, the words took a moment to sink in.When the relief shot through his veins, Ford rubbed the heel of his hands over his eyes, unable to fathom how the day had ended this way.Had Wynna planned this by bringing Pip along or had she been giving him a nice day out before losing him?She couldn’t have known how Lucky felt, but she was smart enough to know Chase wouldn’t deny his nephew a stable home.Maybe she’d been counting on Lucky’s sense of loyalty towards his new alpha true mate.
Like Chase, Ford had a hard time making sense of it.He would be a dad before he’d even claimed his omega.This wasn’t how life was meant to go, but when Pip left Wynna’s arms to climb into Lucky’s lap, he knew it was the right decision.
“What about you, little man?You can’t manage Chauncey, but can you learn to call me Dad?”Chase asked, securing his agreement to this impossible idea.
Pip froze in Lucky’s arms, but when he looked at Chase, it must have sank in that he wasn’t gaining just one parent.Pip’s eyes lit with happiness, and he nodded.
“You call me Sir.”Ford winked to show he was teasing, giving the kid something positive to cling to.“And I’ll keep calling you monster.”
Lucky blushed furiously.“He calls me flower.”
Pip’s mouth dropped open and spread into a gentle smile.“That suits you.You’re pretty, like a flower.”
It did suit him.Only, he wasn’t a flower because he was gentle.He was fucking beautiful, breathtaking in every way, and could withstand any storm.
The compliment destroyed the last of his control.Lucky cried, accepting a napkin from Wynna to wipe at his eyes.She didn’t look any better, dabbing the corner of her eyes with a finger, like she was too fucking elegant to cry.Ford had always been fond of her, as a boss, but seeing her like this warmed his heart.
Although…she’d soon be his mother-in-law, which was terrifying.
Chase placed the cigarette on the edge of his plate, then stood and rounded the table to where Lucky sat.With one hand to Pip’s back, he brushed a lock of fallen hair from Lucky’s eyes.“I love you both.You’rebothalready my family.”
Pip cried and let Chase lift him off Lucky’s lap, acknowledging that Chase was no longer just his uncle but soon his parent.“Do I gotta wait long?”
Chase took his seat at the table, brushing away Pip’s tears.“We’re family and you’ll see us all the time.Once we have a place to live, you can stay for the weekend.”
“You can take him whenever you want.For a week, a month, for weekends.We will work around your needs.”Wynna looked relieved by the firm plans.
“Chin up, kiddo.”Ford tried to twist his brain around this.Everything was happening so fast, but it felt right.Like fate.“Soon you’ll be a teenager, then you’ll be sick of us.”
Pip played along with a sweet giggle he could get used to.“Nuh-uh.”
He was an adorable monster.As sudden and unexpected as this was, one look at Pip in Chase’s arms and Lucky discussing open visitation for Wynna told him this was right.
