Chapter 25
“I’m so sorry about this,” Carolina said as tears slid down her cheeks. The roar of the chopper engine made it hard to hear her. “I’ve made such a mess of everything.”
“Stop that, love.” Seamus brushed away her tears. “We’ll fix you up, and you’ll be back to bossing us all around in no time.”
“The boys are so upset. This is the last thing they needed right when they seem to be doing much better.”
“They’ll be fine. They’re resilient lads who’ve endured worse than a broken leg. We’ll get them through it.”
“What if they decide they like their young, cool, tattooed daddy better than us?”
Her comment struck at the heart of one of his greatest insecurities since Jace had appeared on the scene.
“Aw, love, don’t go there. They know how much we love them, and they love us, too.
The four of us and that mangy dog are a family.
” He brushed the hair back from her forehead and kissed her there. “Nothing can change that.”
“I keep thinking how your family is coming later this month for the wedding and how much we need to do. The house is a mess and—”
“Stop. We’ll hire someone to clean and cook.
We’ll make it happen.” His cousin Shannon was marrying Victoria Stevens in three weeks, and Caro was right.
They did have a lot to do before hosting the wedding in their backyard, not to mention the influx of houseguests.
But he’d get it done. Somehow. “Don’t worry about anything.
I’m right here with you, and I’ll take care of everything. ”
She squeezed the hand he’d wrapped around hers. “Remember when I thought I didn’t need a much younger crazy Irishman in my life?”
“Aye, love,” he said with a grimace and a laugh. “I remember all too well the merry chase you led me on.”
“I was so wrong. I need you more than anything.”
No one in his life had ever been able to reduce him to a puddle of unguarded emotion the way his Carolina could. He blinked back tears as he kissed her. “I need you just as much. That’s what I was trying to tell you all those months I chased you around like a pathetic fool.”
“I’m glad every day that I let you catch me.”
“I thank the Lord for that all the time. I love this life, this family, and most of all, I love my sexy wife.”
She rolled her eyes, and he was relieved to see some of her feistiness reemerging after the shock of her injury. “I’m going to be really sexy for the next few months.”
He flashed a grin. “Don’t worry, love. We can work around a little plaster.”
When he opened his eyes the next morning, he had no idea where he was for a full ten seconds before the events of the previous night came rushing back to remind him that he needed to get his sons up for school.
I’m getting my sons up for school.
Such a simple thing that meant so much to him because it was the first time he’d ever done it. He refused to allow himself to dwell in the place of shame he’d felt over everything he’d missed with them. Rather, he intended to take Cindy’s advice and be the best friend and role model to them now.
She was right. The only control he had was over the present, and he planned to make that count.
He went to wake the boys and stopped short at the sight of them asleep with the early-morning light sneaking in through the closed blinds.
Good God, they were so cute and innocent and perfect, everything he and his brother had once been before it all went so bad.
If he ever saw them heading in the wrong direction, he’d throw himself in front of that with everything he had.
He went to Jackson first, giving his shoulder a gentle shake. “Hey, buddy, time to wake up.”
The little guy groaned and buried his face in the pillow.
Kyle popped up in the other bed. “Is Carolina okay?”
“I haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m going to text Seamus as soon as I get you guys up and moving.” He tickled the back of Jackson’s neck. “Anyone in there?”
“No.”
“Up and at ’em, boys. Seamus said you can get yourselves dressed.
Whoever is dressed and ready first gets a surprise.
” He had vivid memories of his own mother making a contest out of everything, knowing how competitive he and Jess were with each other.
These boys were the same, and the challenge sparked some movement from Jackson.
Jace left them to get dressed and tried to think of something he could use as a reward for the winner that would also benefit the winner’s brother.
An after-school treat of the winner’s choice.
That’d do it. He was quite pleased with his performance thus far as he located cereal boxes and put them on the table along with a jug of milk.
Then he dashed off a text to Seamus. The boys are asking about Carolina. Any update?
He replied a few minutes later, as Jace pressed start on the coffeemaker.
She came through the surgery well. They said it was a bad break that’ll take eight to ten weeks to heal completely, but she should make a full recovery and have no lingering issues other than some occasional aches and pains from the break site, thank the Lord.
That’s good news. Happy to hear it, and the boys will be, too.
How are they?
They seem fine, rolling with everything.
Glad to hear it. They said she could be here four days. I can come home before then.
Four days with the boys sounded wonderful to Jace, even though he’d have to find someone to watch them when he worked. No need. I’ve got things covered. Stay with Carolina and take care of her. Do you need me to send anything over on the boats?
That’s good of you, mate. We might need some more clothes and stuff. I’ll let you know.
Anything you need.
Tell the boys we’ll call them tonight and to have a good day at school. I called the school, and they have your number if anything comes up. You’ve been added to the approved pickup list.
Jace had never felt more honored by anything than to be on the approved pickup list at his sons’ school. I’m on it. No worries.
We’re very thankful to you for stepping up for us this way.
And I’m thankful that you asked me. We got this.
He had just put down the phone when Kyle came bursting into the kitchen, fully dressed, his hair combed into submission, his face washed and his backpack on his shoulders. “I win!”
“Wow, my man. Very good job.”
“What’s my prize?”
“I’ll tell you when Jackson comes out.”
Kyle turned around and went after his brother.
“Damn, I’m good at this,” Jace said.
“Are you giving yourself a high five already?” Cindy asked when she came into the kitchen, looking sleepy and pretty.
“I’m killing it over here. I’ve got one completely ready to go and incentivized to get the other moving. Seamus reports that Carolina came through the surgery well, but they’re going to be in the hospital at least four days.”
Cindy came to him, put her hands on his hips and went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “Fatherhood looks good on you.”
“I’m digging it. But, you know, it’s only temporary. Can’t get too carried away.”
“Maybe you can offer to cover for them so they can get away every now and then.”
The idea sent a thrill through him. “Yeah, I could do that.”
Kyle returned with a much less enthusiastic Jackson in tow. He was dressed, but his hair was still standing on end, and he was clearly not the morning person of the duo.
Jace got them fed and sent them off to brush their teeth with orders for Jackson to do something about his hair, too. He got out their lunches, took an inventory of what was in them and wrote it down so he wouldn’t forget.
“Jackson doesn’t like mayo,” Kyle said. “I love it.”
“That’s good to know. What else?”
In a scandalized whisper, Kyle added, “He never eats the carrots that Carolina packs for us.”
Jace gave him a playful bop on the head. “Don’t be a tattletale.”
“It’s true! He doesn’t. But I do because Seamus says they’re good for your eyes, and I mean, we need our eyes, right?”
“We sure do,” Jace said, laughing as he glanced at the clock. Had forty-five minutes ever gone by so fast? “We need to get going.”
“Jackson!” Kyle screamed. “Let’s go!” Rolling his eyes, he said, “He’s like this every day. Seamus says he’s the weak link in the morning.”
“Go let Burpy out before he pees himself.”
“He’s like Jackson—not a morning person,” Kyle said. “We have to wake him up every day.”
He reminded Jace so much of Lisa with his morning cheerfulness. Jace had been exactly like Jackson as a kid. School mornings had been torturous for him.
“Make sure you feed him and check his water,” Jace said to Kyle.
“Already did. That’s my job every day ’cause Jackson can’t get himself together. Seamus says poor Burpy would starve if he was relying on Jackson.”
Jace absolutely loved knowing these little details about the boys.
Kyle looked up at him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“What are we supposed to call you?”
Jace knew he meant now that they were aware of his true identity. “What do you want to call me?”
Kyle shrugged.
“Mr. Jace was working pretty good before, but if you come up with something else, I’ll answer to whatever you want to call me, except for Poopy Head. I won’t answer to that.”
Kyle cracked up laughing and took off, screaming for his brother to hurry up before they got in trouble for being late. “Mr. Jace says we should call him Poopy Head!”
Jace watched him go, amazed at how the boys could touch him so deeply. “I did not say that!”
Somehow, he got them all out the door with ten minutes to spare. As he drove to the school that housed grades K-12, the boys gave him directions because he had no idea where the school was located.
“How can you not know where the school is?” Jackson asked, laughing at him as if he was the silliest person the child had ever met. He probably was, but that was fine. After what they’d learned about him yesterday, he was thankful to have them teasing him.
“Because I didn’t need to know until I had to bring you two monkeys,” Jace retorted.
“Will you be able to find your way back for pickup?” Kyle asked with a tinge of concern in his voice.