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They instantly abandon their argument. Ace comes closer and asks, "Where'd the baby come from?"

Wilder comes behind him and stares at her like she's a new species he's never seen.

"Uncle Jagger and Lainey had a baby," Mason says with glee.

Alexander's head jerks back. His eyes widen.

Phoebe gapes, mouth open.

Alexander recovers, claps a hand on my shoulder, warm and steady. His voice has a hint of teasing. "Congratulations, Daddy. She's beautiful."

"I take it the little mix-up about Jagger and me being engaged has something to do with the fact we're learning about this now?" Phoebe questions, tilting her head at us.

Lainey nods. "Yes. I-I didn't know it wasn't true."

"Please. Sit down. All of you. Can I get you a coffee, Lorraine?" Mom asks Lainey's mama, giving her a sympathetic look.

She cautiously nods.

"How do you take it?" Mom asks, handing the baby to Dad.

"Two sugars, please," Lorraine replies.

Mason pulls out a chair and tosses her a grin. "Have my seat, Mrs. Cooper."

Her eyes narrow at him again, but she lowers into the chair.

"I get to hold her next!" Paisley announces.

Mom puts a steaming mug in front of Lorraine and calmly squeezes her shoulder. She sits next to her. "I'm not sure what's gone on, but I'm sure this hasn't been easy for you."

Lorraine takes a sip and shakes her head. "No. Not for me, my husband, or my daughter."

Mom glances at Lainey with a tiny smile. Then she pins daggers on me. "What did you do, Jagger?"

"It's not his fault," Lainey declares.

I squeeze her waist and look down on her. "It's okay. You don't have to take the blame for this."

"But it's really not your fault," she insists, and we stare at each other.

Silence settles over the kitchen for a beat, plates forgotten, coffee cooling.

Ava breaks it. "Okay. I need the actual story. Not the five-second version. How does a man not know he's got a daughter? Or did you just not tell us?"

"Seriously, Ava?" I retort.

Lainey squeezes my hand.

I sigh. "Lainey and I met at the Red Dirt on New Year's Eve. We stayed at my apartment in town. But I had to leave before sunup to deal with the fence line down by the south pasture. She was sleeping, and I didn't want to wake her, so I left her a note. Only thing I had on me was a receipt, so that's what I used."

"Romantic," Mason mutters, and Mom shoots him a look sharp enough to end him.

"By the time she got up, the note had fallen on the ground. She never saw it. Then Carla came to get her. Troy had told her I was engaged to Phoebe."

"Troy." Dad seethes, shaking his head. He's never had any respect for him, claiming he's always been lazy. Then his eyes light up. "That's the receipt you've been carrying in your glove box all year, right?"

My face heats a bit. I stand taller and affirm, "Yeah."