Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“And how is big sister adjusting with everything?” I ask Vivian as she sits on the sectional burping Davis—a fact I only know because they are color coding the babies right now.
When they said identical, they meant copy and paste with these two.
My sister’s six-week-old sons are spitting images of each other, and while Walker and Viv swear they can tell them apart, so far, no one else can, even Savannah, despite her best efforts.
“She thinks they are her own personal little baby dolls, of course,” Vivian says with a warm smile.
“Eloise has been awesome through all of this, just like her mama.” Walker comes in from the kitchen holding a sleeping Henry. He sets the prepped bottle on the side table before sitting next to my sister. “Seriously, I don’t think it could have gone smoother.”
“That part, sure, but I would have appreciated if these two were a little more coordinated in their arrival.” After Henry was born, Davis flipped out of position thanks to finally having room to move around, and the doctor had to assist in getting him out.
There were more details, but it’s my sister, and that’s enough detail for me.
I’m just thankful they are all healthy and doing well.
It’s wild to think that when Vivian moved home almost two years ago, it was just her and Eloise.
Now, they are the Bennett family of five.
“I’ll make sure we work on their joint operations execution,” Walker says with a smile. He was a decorated sniper in the Army Rangers before joining the FBI, so if anyone is going to train my nephews on precision excellence, their own dad is more than qualified.
Teaming Walker up with my brother Liam’s skills could make these two extremely dangerous assets.
Hopefully, they take a calmer path in life with less chance of bullets flying by them.
Whatever they decide to do and whoever they turn out to be, they will always have our love and support.
After four nieces, I think my brothers and I were all looking forward to the idea of having little men around for once.
Our nieces are awesome—I would never say otherwise—nephews just bring a new level of fun to the uncle game.
“How are things going with you and Harlow?” Vivian asks me directly with a grin.
Walker raises an eyebrow at her. “Careful, Sugar. We need to have boundaries here. Harlow is like a sister.”
Vivian scrunches her face. “Ew, no, Walker. I don’t ever want those details about anyone with one of my brothers. We are close, but not that close.”
I shudder at the thought.
“Keeping it all appropriate for who is in the room, we are doing really well. She’s … well, she’s amazing, honestly,” I admit as Walker and Vivi share a look.
“She is amazing, and she deserves the best.” Walker tilts his head, assessing me—but if I was expecting him to imply that I wasn’t the best, I couldn’t be more wrong.
“And I think you’re really great for her, mutually, really, for both of you.
I think it’s also helpful that you have your sister to help navigate what it’s like to date someone with our job. ”
I huff a big exhale at that. “That’s probably my least favorite part.”
“Are you still pretending that she works in an office all day?” Vivian asks, but there isn’t a sense of teasing in her question. Walker looks from his wife to me with an eyebrow raised.
“Yeah, I uh…” I rub the back of my neck, slightly embarrassed to admit this.
“I just kind of pretend like she’s in the office all day every day and never faces any real danger.
It’s not that I doubt her—I know she’s a badass—it’s just hard to accept the type of people she may come face to face with and not want to somehow jump in front of her so they can’t get to her. ”
Walker’s face relaxes as he digests what I said. “So, it’s not an issue of thinking she’s not capable—”
“What? No. Never. I don’t doubt anything about Harlow’s abilities, skills, and training. It’s just the idea of someone I love being in a dangerous job.”
“So, like how you worry about me? That’s so nice, Ryan.
” Walker laughs at his own joke. “But honestly, I think it might be nice for Harlow to have someone worrying about her well-being for once. You know how her family is, and she’s so independent, but that’s in part because she didn’t have another option. ”
I let that sit for a second before responding, “Are you saying my worrying is nice for her?”
“I think it is.” He shrugs. “I think it reminds her that you see her—for her—and love all of the pieces that make Harlow who she is.” Walker shifts Davis and grabs the bottle, offering it to his son before he can even fully wake up and cry for it.
“And for the record, we both think you two are great for each other and are big fans of all things Ry-Low, or is it Har-an?”
I give Vivian a blank look. “No. Why do we need a couple name? You guys aren’t Walk-ian or Viv-alker.”
She scowls at me and gives up. “Fair, and those are all horrible.”
“Sugar, you started it.” Walker leans over and kisses her temple. “He just finished it.”
“But we are happy for you, Ry,” Vivi adds.
“I know, and I appreciate it. Plus, I think happiness looks really good on y’all, too.” I smile as they both look down on their newborn sons.
Walker looks up and nods. “I’ll take as much of this joy in my life that I can get.”
Sounds like a good idea to me, too.