When I emerged into the kitchen I found Cole, Cal, and Mack seated at the kitchen table talking in low, serious tones. All three sets of eyes swung in my direction as I made my presence known.
Cal stood, coming to stand in front of me. “How’re you feeling?” he rumbled, tipping my chin up to look at him.
“Okay,” I murmured as my eyes searched the room.
“He’s down for a nap,” he answered my unspoken question.
“What time is it?”
“Just after three. He should be up any minute.”
“Three? Wow, I slept the whole night and most of the day away,” I muttered.
His expression grew soft. “You needed it.” That soft gaze turned hard when it landed on my neck. The dark purple bruise was ugly. I’d only glanced at it briefly in the mirror before forcing my eyes away. “Did you take anything when you got up?”
I shook my head. “I’ll take some ibuprofen once I get some food in me. I’m not taking any more pain pills. I can’t miss another day with Mason.”
He looked like he was going to press the topic before he simply nodded.
“Hi, guys.” I nodded to Cole and Mack, feeling slightly embarrassed with how much effort was being centered around me. “Did you guys eat?”
“We’re good, baby. How about I get you some coffee?” Cal replied.
I nodded, shuffling over to the table to sit with the guys. I still had a case of foggy head and caffeine was just what the doctor ordered.
“How’s Tatum?” I asked Cole.
He smiled. “Good. Eating like a champ. Not sleeping so well, though.”
“Your girls okay?” I asked as Cal placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me.
“Girls are great. Scarlet’s a natural, but that’s not surprising.”
The pride with which he referred to his wife warmed me from the inside out.
“What do you want to eat, babe?” Cal asked.
“I can get it,” I protested.
Cal sighed. It was the exasperated, Jill-is-being-a-pain-in-the-ass sigh. I was getting to know the sound well. “Toast?” he continued, as though I hadn’t spoken.
I thought it best not to argue right then. “Toast would be good. But I didn’t think the toaster was one of the appliances you were well acquainted with,” I teased.
“Smart-ass.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
I was just finishing up my food when I heard Mason’s babble over the monitor Cal had brought into the kitchen. “I’ll get him,” I said immediately, rising from the table and heading down the hall.
Mason was standing in his crib bouncing up and down as though it were a trampoline. He squealed when he saw me, his toothy grin the best sight in the world.
I picked him up, cradling him close, and kissed his sweet cheeks before taking him over to the changing table.
“Mama missed you, sweet boy,” I murmured, grinning down at him as I changed his diaper. “Did you have fun with Cal? I bet he took good care of you, hmm?”
Mason looked up at me as I continued our one-sided dialogue. Ever since he was a newborn, I’d talked to him. Most of the time it had been just the two of us. I figured even if he couldn’t understand what I said, the sound of my voice might be soothing. And truth be told, it soothed me to talk to him.
“Mama will always protect you, baby,” I told him quietly. “And Cal will protect us too,” I said with a soft smile. “He’s going to teach you what a good man is,” I murmured as I pulled his pants up. “He might just have to teach Mama, too,” I added. “We’re lucky, Bubs. Did you know that?”
Despite everything, I did feel lucky.
