Chapter 32
I thought Gage was mine, but I think he’s ours.
Addy
T he doorbell rings and Mila rushes toward it. I hurry after her. She’d open the door to a serial killer and invite him in for a tea party if she got the chance. The girl has no fear.
She throws the door open. “It’s my birthday!”
Gage kneels down in front of her. “Happy birthday.” He hands her a present with pink wrapping and a pink bow.
“Can I open it? Can I? Can I?”
She doesn’t wait for a response before plopping down on the floor and ripping the paper open.
She squeals. “It’s a Steel City Seals’ jersey.”
“Flip it over.”
“It’s your name and number.” Mila jumps to her feet. “Can I put it on now?”
Why does she bother to ask? She doesn’t wait for answers. Gage helps her to put the jersey on over her t-shirt. It falls past her hips to her knees.
Mila darts to the living room. “Look at me.” She twirls around. “I’m Gage’s favorite. I have his number on my shirt. ”
“Nice shirt.” Otis lifts his chin to Gage. “Hey.”
Gage makes his way to my brother and slaps his hand before pulling him into a half hug. Otis’s cheeks darken with delight. And I nearly melt at the display.
Mom rushes into the living room. “Gage, welcome.”
He kisses her cheek. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course. You’re family.”
His breath catches at Mom’s declaration. And tears well in my eyes. My family has welcomed Gage with open arms. Something he’s never had before. My family may drive me crazy most of the time but they’re the best people.
Gage reaches for me and I squeeze his hand. No words are spoken. We don’t need them.
“We’re having cake!” Mila shouts and the moment is broken.
Mom shakes her finger at her youngest daughter. “We’re eating dinner before cake.”
Mila claps. “Mac and cheese! Mac and cheese!”
Penelope groans. “Is it possible for you to speak with a normal voice?”
“This is my voice,” Mila declares.
“At a normal volume.”
“Stop being a fuddy duddy.”
“What’s a fuddy duddy?”
“You are, fuddy duddy.”
Mom sighs. “Girls! No fighting. It’s Mila’s birthday.”
Mila sticks her tongue out at Penelope, who returns her attention to her book. Mila doesn’t enjoy being ignored. She snatches the book from Penelope and rushes out of the room .
Penelope stands but Otis waves for her to sit down. “I’ll go. The two of you will end up arguing with each other.”
“Do you need help with dinner?” Gage asks Mom.
“You and Addy can set the table. There’s beer in the fridge if you want one.”
Gage grasps my hand and leads me to the kitchen. He tugs me into his arms and kisses me. I lean into him but he pulls away. I pout.
“Why are you stopping?”
“Because your family is in the next room.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Boring but true.”
Mom peeks into the kitchen. “Is it safe to come in?”
“Mom.”
She blinks. “What? I was young once, too.”
“You still are, Nora.” Gage winks at her and she giggles. “If I weren’t obsessed with your daughter, I’d ask you out.”
She swats him with a towel. “You’re a charmer.”
We set the table while Mom puts the finishing touches on dinner. She removes the mac and cheese from the oven and the scent of melted cheesy goodness floats in the air. Gage’s stomach growls.
Mom frowns. “I hope I made enough.”
I snort. “You made me get the extra-large holiday dishes out. I think we’re good.”
“Let me carry that for you.” Gage takes the pan from Mom and carries it to the table.
He barely has a chance to set it down before my siblings besiege us. He chuckles. “I’m not the only one who’s hungry. ”
Otis rubs his belly. “I’m starving.”
“I want mac and cheese!” Mila shouts.
“I want my book back.” Penelope scowls at Otis.
He shrugs. “You can’t spend the day reading when it’s Mila’s birthday.”
My eyes widen in surprise. Usually, he doesn’t interfere in the squabbles between Mila and Penelope. Except lately, he’s been stepping up. Offering to babysit, making dinner, and mediating arguments between the two. Huh. My little brother is becoming a man.
We sit around the table and Mom hands Gage the spoon for the mac and cheese. “You can serve.”
Oh wow. Mom usually doesn’t let anyone serve but me. I hope Gage understands how big an honor it is. Guessing by the blush tainting his cheeks, he does.
“Birthday girl first.” He fills up Mila’s plate before serving the rest of us. He fills his plate last.
“Such a gentleman,” Mom mutters.
“So, what does everyone think of Addy becoming famous?” Gage asks once everyone is eating.
I elbow him. “I’m not famous.”
“Not yet, but you will be. Juliet Ash is the first singer to record one of your songs, but she won’t be the last.”
“I’m proud of her.”
I roll my eyes at Mom. “You’re legally required to be proud of me. You’re my mom.”
Otis shrugs. “It’s cool. But it’d be really cool if we could get tickets to one of Juliet’s concerts. ”
“You should ask for tickets in your contract,” Gage says.
I blink up at him. “What?”
“The contract negotiations. You should ask for tickets.”
I bristle. “I’m not in a position to ask for anything.”
He frowns. “Yes, you are. What did the lawyer say?”
I duck my chin and concentrate on my food. “Nothing.”
“Nothing? A lawyer who said nothing?”
“I might not have spoken to her yet,” I mumble.
He freezes. “You didn’t speak to your lawyer yet?”
I shrug. “We have a call scheduled.”
A call I’ve rescheduled twice. It would be different if my lawyer was Siena – the local lawyer who handles pretty much every case on Smuggler’s Hideaway. But no. My lawyer is some fancy entertainment lawyer who works with the biggest names in the business. Why is she interested in me?
Gage studies me. His chocolate brown eyes bore into mine. “Juliet contacted you a while ago. Why haven’t you spoken to your lawyer yet?”
I bristle. I don’t enjoy being exposed in front of my family. “I didn’t get the contracts from Juliet’s lawyers until last week.”
I might be lying. But it’s a teeny weeny white lie. I got the contract two weeks ago. A week? Two weeks? What does it matter?
“I’m done! I want cake!” Mila shouts before Gage can respond.
“Done?” She resembles a chipmunk with her cheeks swollen with mac and cheese .
“You need to eat at least one serving of salad before cake,” Mom says.
“But salad’s boring.”
“Do you want to be big and strong?” Gage asks and she nods. “Then, you have to eat your veggies. They’re good for you.”
“Workers in diamond mines would love to be able to afford the fresh vegetables we have on our table,” Penelope says.
Mila sticks her tongue out at her sister. Thank goodness she finished chewing her pasta. “Nerd.”
Penelope shrugs. “Knowing about the world and the plight of others does not make me a nerd.” She turns to Gage. “Do you donate your time and money?”
“Penelope,” I warn. “Don’t be rude.”
Gage pats my hand. “It’s fine. I donate to the Miracle Foundation.”
“What’s Miracle Foundation?” Mila asks.
“It’s a charity that works with orphans to provide them food, shelter, and education.”
Penelope studies Gage. “Why orphans?”
“Conversation over,” I declare. She has no idea she’s hit on a sensitive subject.
“It’s okay, songbird. I don’t mind talking about it.”
“You don’t?” I purse my lips. “No one knows about your past.”
He kisses my forehead. “This is your family. They have a right to know.” He clears his throat and addresses Penelope. “I grew up in care. I didn’t have a family.”
“No Mom and Dad?” Mila asks .
Gage shakes his head.
“We don’t have a dad but we have a mom and we have Addy.”
“You’re very lucky to have a loving mom and Addy for a big sister.”
Mila’s little nose wrinkles. “Some of the kids at school make fun of me because I don’t have a dad.”
Otis growls. “Who makes fun of you?”
Gage holds up a finger. “Hold on, Otis. What do you do when the kids make fun of you?”
Mila shrugs. “I tell them they’re jealous. It’s what Addy told me to say.”
It’s not exactly what I told her but as long as she walks away, I’m fine with it. Knowing Mila she could go one of two ways. Walk away with her nose in the air or punch the kid in the stomach .
Mom stands. “I’ll get the cake.”
I follow her. When I reach the kitchen, she’s standing with her head bowed. I wrap an arm around her waist.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, Addy, it is my fault those children don’t have fathers. I could have chosen better. I should have chosen better. But when your dad left…” She trails off.
It’s been twenty-seven years since my dad left, but she still finds it difficult to discuss him. It hurts. I want to know more about him. I want to know why he left us – me. But I can’t cause Mom more pain than she’s already in.
“Today is Mila’s birthday. Let’s enjoy her birthday and we can discuss this later.”
It’s a cop out but Mila doesn’t deserve for Mom to sink into guilt. Not today.
Mom straightens her shoulders. “For Mila.”
I nod. “For Mila.”
I help her light the candles on the cake and she carries it to the table.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mila, happy birthday to you,” I sing on my own since my family refuses to sing if I am.
Mila jumps to stand on her chair and leans over. “Can I blow them out? Can I?” She doesn’t wait for an answer before blowing out her candles.
“My wish is coming true. I wished Gage became part of our family.”
I ruffle her hair. “You’re not supposed to tell anyone your wish.”
“Don’t care. I want Gage!”
“Works for me, little sis.” Gage winks at her.
“Cake!”
Mom cuts the cake into pieces making sure to give Mila the biggest one. She hands a plate to Gage and his phone rings.
He frowns. “Sorry.” He digs his phone out of his pocket and sighs at the display. “Sorry, it’s my manager. I need to take this.”
He stands and kisses my forehead before making his way out onto the deck to answer his phone .
Mom squeezes my hand. “You chose well. He’s perfect for you.”
I didn’t have a choice. Gage barreled into my life and I couldn’t stop myself from falling for him. But I am lucky he fits with my family and that they love him. I want to give Gage everything he desires – including a family of his own.