Chase was focused on Natalie and didn’t notice the tension in the room.Do seven-year-olds notice things like that?
“You know what I just realized?” Meg asked, breaking the silence. “Natalie has all these aunts and uncles, but no big brother.”
Jack didn’t miss a beat. “You know who’d make a great big brother?”
“Who?” Meg asked, mischief dancing in her emerald-green eyes as she played her part.
“Chase,” Jack put his hand on Chase’s shoulder, “what do you think, Little Man? Do you want to be Natalie’s honorary older brother?”
“Can I do that?”
“She’d be the luckiest little girl on the planet if you did,” Meg answered.
Beth mouthed, thank you, to Meg as she wiped a tear from her eye.
Doug bent down and kissed the top of her head.
“Can I hold her?” Chase asked.
“Only if you promise to sit still and let us help you,” Beth answered.
“I promise.”
I was rooted to the floor as I watched the scene play out.
Doug and Beth sat on opposite sides of Chase. Jack carried Natalie over and taught Chase how to hold her, making sure he understood the importance of supporting Natalie’s head.
“Yes, sir,” Chase said. Unlike when I said it, there was no hint of sarcasm.
Doug twisted slightly in his seat, positioning his hand so he’d be ready to help Chase when his arms got tired.
Chase stared down at Natalie and said, “Hi Natalie. I’m your big brother now.” That kid went with the flow better than most adults I knew. “I’ll be the bestest big brother ever, and I’ll protect you and never let anyone hurt you.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. “And I’ll make sure you always have plenty of ice cream and Aunt Meg, she’s your mommy, she makes the best mac and cheese and I’ll even share mine with you and…”
He stopped and looked around, clearly confused about why we were all laughing.
“You’ll make a great big brother. Do you know why we’re at the hospital?” John asked.
“Because Uncle Jamie and Aunt Emily are having babies too.”
“That’s right.”
“Can I be their big brother too? I’m big and strong. My dad says so. I can protect all of them even though I’m not the police yet.”
That kid had a protective street a mile wide. It was no secret he dreamed of becoming a police officer, just like his late father. I had a feeling he’d be a great one.
Unless he ends up at SSI. Everyone knew Chase worshipped the ground John walked on.
I still chuckled when Chase called the Sheppard men uncle. Apparently, John and Mary were his godparents, and when asked how they wanted to be addressed, Mary suggested the titles.
Initially, remembering all the extended family ties was dizzying, but I had it down now. When the J-squad referred to the team as family, they meant it literally. Mary adopted AJ because Jack loved him, so he and Blake were family. Doug became family when he proposed to Beth, despite Beth not being blood related. Nathan became family when he married Ashley, despite Ashley not being blood related.
The rule of thumb I’d give new-comers, if they asked, was if a Sheppard calls someone family, blood ties are irrelevant.
And don’t fuck with them.
I turned and stole a glance at Madi, who was watching Chase and Natalie with longing in her eyes and love in her smile.
The next words out of her mouth were a juxtaposition to her soft expression. “Just don’t be too overprotective, because then she’ll want to throttle you.”
