Cuddling Jr. on my chest has me swamped with emotion so it’s with relief that Mom ushers Rosie into the kitchen. I know Rosie saw the longing in my eyes. I want to have what Michael has, but hopefully it will stay unspoken between us for now. It’s taken me all this time to accept I can have a relationship without freaking the fuck out. My dad has set a good example with love and I guess that’s why it’s always frightened the hell out of me. Having someone relying on me for their happiness. Even forty-five years later, he still looks to be in love with Mom.
Jr. makes a small cry against me, which abruptly brings me out of my thoughts about love and commitment. Jr. settles back down again, snuggling more into my neck. There’s nothing like snuggling a baby against you to make all those walls you’ve built inside crumble. Who’d have thought that Michael would be the first one to produce the much-wanted grandbabies?
“Wearing a baby suits you,” Michael comments, sitting beside me, “even if the baby belongs to me.”
Hmm, brotherly love. “You have two. Go find Charlotte.” I kick back with my feet resting on the coffee table. In fact, snuggling a sleeping baby is making me want to nod off with him. Although, I think that has more to do with Rosie keeping me up half the night. I grin.
“I’m not sure why you’re grinning like that, but please behave around my son.”
Michael is so easy to wind up. “I was thinking about what you have to do to get one of these.”
“I’m getting plenty of practice,” Sebastian interrupts as he joins us, “I can’t get enough of my woman.”
“As though we haven’t noticed, son. But I’m not sure you need to keep mentioning it out loud. You’ll embarrass Carla.”
From the look on Sebastian’s face, I’d say he’d forgotten that Dad is sitting in the lounge with us.
“And Ruben, I’d take your feet off the coffee table before your mother catches you. You know what she’s like when we have company.”
Mom always has to have the perfect house—all the time. It keeps her busy, which she likes being and I love how no matter how long I stay away that I only have to walk through the front door and I’m home again. The apartment above Kenza is home now, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to call this ranch house anything other than home.
“Is anyone going to tell me what’s really going on at Kenza?” Dad asks pulling me away from thoughts of home. “I know you boys don’t like telling me when there’s trouble, but I need to know that you’re all okay. I worry.”
I hadn’t realized that by keeping my dad out of the loop that he’d worry like he’s just admitted. In fact, I didn’t realize he knew that I was having problems at the club.
“Dad, I’m sorry.” I sit forward and pass Michael his sleeping son. “I didn’t want to worry you and Mom. I’m okay and the club will be. Ramon and Lucien overheard talk of drugs.”
My dad’s eyes widen in shock because he knows how badly I hate drugs. “Oh my.”
I chuckle. “Well that’s an understatement.” I rest my elbows on my knees and run my hands through my hair. “We’ll get them Dad, and we’ll be okay. There’s a guy at the club who is helping out. He’s a customer and a friend of Rosie’s. I know he’ll make sure she’s okay and I’m sure he doesn’t miss anything. I’m not sure who exactly he is or where he’s come from, but he’s been good to Rosie so I guess I trust him for now.” I’m trying to lay the jealousy aside because I saw the way he looked at Rosie to begin with. Now he seems more of a friend—to the both of us.
“He’s cool. I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Ramon adds having come through the front door.
“If you need any help you know you can still come to me, right? I might not be as young as I once was, but I still have plenty of life left in me.”
“Thanks Dad. I’ll let you know. I’m actually hoping this will all be over with soon.”
“I hope it will be as well then you can concentrate more on Rosie and not screwing up. She’s a nice girl and the women folk seem to love her.”
My brothers for some reason find the comment from Dad funny. I don’t—really. Okay, maybe slightly. “No matter what you idiots think.” I scowl at my brothers before looking at my dad who also has a grin plastered across his face. “I’m capable of having a relationship with Rosie without screwing it up. She’s the only woman I want so I’m not going to risk being a dick.”
“Who is being a dick?” Mom asks walking back into the lounge with a huge tray filled with drinks and snacks. She places it on the coffee table with a frown in my direction. “You know you’re not allowed to put your feet on the coffee table.”
How the fuck does she do that. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Hmm, I notice you didn’t deny it.” She grins. “I don’t think you’ve ever sat there without putting your feet up on the table so I guessed right, obviously.”