Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
GAbrIEL
It was time to call in reinforcements.
And I wasn’t about to ask for clearance.
Instead, I called my mom while in the McDonald’s drive-through line and explained the situation. She let me know she’d be there within the hour.
We’d just finished eating breakfast when my mom knocked on the front door. To my surprise, she hadn’t come alone. She had my daughter, father, brothers and their significant others trailing behind her like a mismatched parade.
Dominic carried an enormous box under his arm that looked suspiciously like a kiddie pool, and my dad carried in groceries. My mother swept into Charlotte’s kitchen like she owned the place, immediately setting down grocery bags on the counter.
“What’s with the food?” I asked, wondering what Charlotte would think of it all once she came downstairs with the baby.
She shrugged. “You said you had the day, and with guests arriving, I figured we’d make everyone some pasta dishes.”
Dominic swung one of the toddlers up on his hip, while Kelsey lifted the other one up. “Figured with the nice weather, we’d let the kids swim around in this inflatable pool.”
The twins clapped their hands, excited for the entertainment.
Addison took out some tennis balls. “Come on, dogs, let’s go see how well you play fetch.”
Reinforcements had arrived, indeed.
Charlotte came down the stairs, with a freshly bathed, wide-awake baby girl. She froze at the sight of my family invading her kitchen, her eyes widening.
My mom gave her a side hug and drew her toward the far counter. Her voice dropped, soft but firm, carrying just enough for me to catch the edges. “What you’re doing for those little ones? For your ex and his wife, and for your son? It’s incredible. And we’re here to help.”
Out of habit, Charlotte braced against the offer, but then she let out a long exhale. “Thank you.”
“Now, then,” my mother crooned, arms outstretched, “will this beautiful little girl come to me?”
I half expected Laura to cling to Charlotte like she had the entire time, but shockingly, the little one launched herself into my mother’s arms like she’d been waiting her whole life for her. My mom caught her with the ease of someone who wasn’t afraid of handling a baby.
Relief washed over Charlotte’s face, softening the exhaustion carved into her features, and for a moment she looked so heartbreakingly beautiful I had to curl my fists to keep from reaching for her.
Christ, I was gone. Madly, stupidly gone.
It wasn’t just attraction anymore; it was bone-deep, undeniable need.
She didn’t have a clue what she did to me, standing there with her sweater slipping off one shoulder, her body slack with relief, her lips parting in a smile.
This woman, with her messy bun and tired eyes, fit into my family like she was meant to be there.
Through the sliding glass window, I could see organized chaos had already bloomed across the backyard.
Dominic and Leo were in the middle of what looked like a prize fight with a six-foot inflatable pool.
Dominic was wrestling the plastic like it was a wild animal, Leo was swearing under his breath while the pump sputtered.
My father, taking the management role, actually set out to read the directions.
A few yards away, Kelsey and Addison had armed themselves with two slobber-slick tennis balls and were playing keep-away with the dogs, who bounded across the lawn like maniacs, ears flapping in the breeze.
And there, in the middle of it all, was Samantha, her laughter carrying across the yard as she crouched down to help the toddlers with the hose and get them ready for a swim.
Austin went outside with a stack of towels so high he could barely see over it, already shaking his head at the crowd but taking it all in stride. It was as though a circus had moved into Charlotte’s carefully landscaped backyard, but everyone was smiling.
Charlotte glanced around her kitchen, eyes heavy with fatigue. “What can I do?”
Mom and I exchanged a look, and before I could think better of it, I reached for Charlotte’s hand. “Come on.”
I led her upstairs to her bedroom, memories of every other time we’d been alone in this room threatening to take over. She paused at the doorway, stifling a yawn, clearly trying to mask exactly how drained she was.
Reluctantly, I let her hand slip from mine to pull back her comforter.
She blinked at me, and her voice was soft and frayed around the edges. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you get a nap. And a shower.” I patted the mattress. “In whichever order you want. We’ve got everything handled downstairs.”
“Are you joining me?”
Every instinct screamed to crawl in beside her, to feel her body warm against mine until the world stopped spinning. I forced down the ache in my chest and managed, “Maybe later. Get some rest.”
She slid off her slippers and eased onto the bed with a weary sigh. “I’ll just grab a couple hours. But wake me if anyone needs anything.”
“Will do.” There wasn’t a chance I’d wake her before she got a long, well-deserved rest.