“Are you serious?” I smile. “Thank you.”
“I am, I’ve been filling in where I’m needed. But I really would like a permanent part to play in our families.”
I hug Georgíos. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.”
“This also means that I’ll watch River as well. But when you’re racing, is River with Sawyer?”
“No, he’s with the other kids. I was going to say, maybe with you there, he can stay in my garage. Sawyer has to be working. But with you there, River won’t be alone. And we can make an area that he can stay in.”
“That would work. That way I can still keep an eye on Sawyer.”
“Are you ready to tell Sawyer?” I chuckle.
“Yup. And I think we should leave soon and get to the bakery a little early.”
We walk over to Sawyer and tell her that Georgíos is going to be hers and River’s bodyguard. She hugs him and thanks him.
“There’s perks for me too. I get to travel with all of you.” He laughs.
We all laugh and get ready to leave. River will be staying with my parents while we deal with this situation. I’m hoping that it’s just her mother trying to be a bitch. But we’ll see.
“I still want Ares, Adonis, Celestino, Sebastiano, Lorenzo and Francesco to go with you,” Zio Enea says.
We all agree and head to the bakery. I can feel the tension in Sawyer, she’s fidgety. I hold her and kiss her head.
“It’s going to be alright. No matter what she says or does, you’re not alone.”
“Thank you. It’s just hard because I haven’t heard from her in so long. So why now?”
“I wish I had an answer for you. All I can say is that I love you, and it’s going to be okay.”
Sawyer’s quiet for the rest of the drive. When we get to the bakery, we talk to the mamas before we grab some food and a table. My antín Graínne, Antín Caitríona Bastianini and Tia Rosaura Mancini own Precious Risings Bakery and Cafe. We’re all watching out the window even though none of us know who we’re looking for.
“There she is. Holy shit. That’s my father and my sisters. I don’t know who those men are. Wait. That can’t be…” she says softly to all of us.
I turn to look at Sawyer and she’s frowning. There are three men with her parents and sisters.
“I think that’s the guy I chose,” she whispers to me.
“You mean River’s donor?”
“Yes. But it can’t be, it was all supposed to be sealed. There’s no way he could’ve found me, right?”
The look of worry on Sawyer’s face is making me angry for her. If that’s who she thinks it is, he better not think he’s going to come in here and try to slide into Sawyer and River’s lives. All the guys stand up as they walk into the bakery. We all make sure they don’t get near Sawyer.
“Where’s my grandson? I told you to bring him, but it looks like you’re still stupid and can’t follow simple instructions,” her mother says as her sisters laugh.
“You have no right to demand anything of me. Andmyson will never be around you,” Sawyer says as she sits up straighter. I move closer to her as they all look at me.
“That’s where you’re wrong. This is Palmer Beaumont IV, he came to us a few months ago. And to our surprise, he thinks we have something in common. Can you guess what that something is?” Steve smirks at Sawyer.
“I don’t care who you are. But if any of you threaten or say something to put Sawyer down again? This meeting is over,” I say as I look at each of them, one at a time.
“You should stay out of family matters,” Steve says to me.
“Sawyer is my family.”
Steve starts to stand up and my family steps closer to us.
