Chapter 23
The Birds And The Bees
“Uncle Heath, where do babies come from?”
The beer I’m drinking goes down the wrong pipe, and I start coughing.
I glance over at Caleb, who’s standing beside the couch wearing an inquisitive expression, hugging a Captain Underpants book to his chest. Reading is his favorite hobby, and Walker has made it his mission to bring him the most ridiculously named children’s books he can find.
“What do you mean, kiddo?” I rasp, my voice hoarse as I fight off another cough.
“Aunt Charlie’s having a baby.” Caleb points to where she’s sitting next to me, covering her mouth to hide her laughter. “How did it get in her tummy?”
“Jesus,” I mutter, taking a long pull from my beer. “You wanna take this one?” I nod toward Briar, who’s lounging on the loveseat across from us with Jensen.
She folds her arms, looking far too smug for my liking. “Oh, no. This is all you, big brother. You could use the practice.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Next time Ma has family dinner, I’m using this as my excuse for why Charlie and I can’t make it. I’m clearly the only sibling who doesn’t find joy in tormenting the others. It’s a damn good thing Walker and Birdie are running late, or he’d be egging Briar on.
When I realize Jensen and Charlie aren’t coming to my rescue, I lean forward so I’m eye level with Caleb and rest my hands on my knees. “It’s similar to how calves are born. The bull and cow spend special time together, and then a baby calf grows in the cow’s belly.”
Caleb scrunches his brows. “Do you and Aunt Charlie wrestle during your special time like Dad and Mama Briar?”
Briar’s face turns beet red as Jensen clears his throat.
I stifle a laugh. “Something like that.”
“Does that mean I’m gonna get a baby sister or brother soon?” Caleb’s voice rises with excitement.
“Caleb,” Jensen jumps in, saving me. “Why don’t you go out back and see if Gramps needs help with the burgers?”
Caleb bounces on his toes. “Think he’ll let me flip one?”
“Absolutely,” Jensen replies.
“Awesome.” Caleb spins around and sprints out of the living room.
Charlie places a hand over her heart, smiling. “It’s so great to see him this chatty.”
She’s one to talk. He wasn’t peppering her with questions no uncle should ever have to answer. I blame it on all the potty humor books Walker keeps giving him.
“It’s been a remarkable transformation since he and Jensen came to Bluebell,” Briar says, beaming.
Jensen used to live in New York, where he was the CEO of a major cybersecurity firm. When he found out Caleb was his son who had lost his mom to cancer, Jensen stepped up to raise him. Caleb had stopped speaking after his mom passed, so Ma and I suggested that Jensen bring him here.
Jensen grew up in Bluebell, and we’ve been friends since we were kids. He spent most of his childhood at the ranch, and we figured a change of pace would be good for them both. Not long after moving back, he fell madly in love with Briar, and the rest is history.
I lean back in my seat, smirking at Briar, who’s shooting me a murderous glare.
“What’s so funny?” she snaps.
“You gotta admit, it’s pretty funny that Caleb knows about special time,” I say, using air quotes.
She exhales sharply as Jensen draws her against his side. “We forgot to lock the door one time, but it was dark, and we were under the covers, so it’s not like he saw anything.”
Charlie plugs her ears and starts humming a Dolly Parton tune.
“Uh, hellcat. What are you doing?” I ask, amused.
“Briar likes to give Birdie and me shit about making sexual comments involving you and Walker, so I’ve decided I’m implementing the same policy for her and Jensen,” Charlie answers.
“It’s not the same. He’s not your brother,” Briar counters.
Charlie holds out her left hand, flashing her ring. “He’s my brother-in-law now, remember?”
Fuck, it’s so hot when she shows it off—the ultimate proof she’s mine.
“Yeah, but you didn’t grow up with him,” Briar retorts, wrinkling her nose playfully.
“As thrilled as I am to have you and Birdie as sisters, I’ll never get used to hearing about my brothers’ bedroom escapades with my best friends.
Or the fact that you and Heath are married with a baby on the way and aren’t constantly bickering like you used to. ”
“It’s weird, right?” Jensen agrees, gazing down at her. “Feels like an alternate universe where they went from frenemies to happily married.”
“Briar has made you watch one too many rom-coms,” I mutter.
“Don’t be fooled,” Charlie pipes up. “Heath and I still spar all the time. It’s all part of our foreplay. Isn’t it, honey bear?” There’s a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she gives my leg a squeeze.
Briar pretends to gag. “Great. I’m doomed to witness this sappy nonsense for the rest of my life. It’s tragic, really.”
Jensen chuckles, kissing her temple. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll make sure you survive.”
“This is why I keep you around, cowboy,” she murmurs, tilting her head to kiss him.
“Please tell me we’re not this cheesy,” Charlie mumbles softly.
I nuzzle my mouth against her ear. “Hate to break it to you, hellcat, but we’ve hit peak ‘get a room’ territory.”
“Ugh,” she groans dramatically. “Quick. Say something annoying so I remember how good it feels to argue with you.”
A low whistle comes from the living room doorway, interrupting us and making everyone turn in that direction.
“Well, isn’t this adorable.” Walker muses to Birdie as he slings an arm around her. “Looks like we missed the memo that this was an exclusive couples’ retreat.”
“You missed Heath’s brilliant attempt at explaining the birds and the bees to Caleb earlier that somehow turned it into a cattle-breeding metaphor that confused the poor kid,” Jensen drawls.
“Or the part where Briar and Jensen apparently don’t know how to lock their door,” I add, sending Briar a taunting look that earns me another glare.
“Damn. Next time, we’ll have to get here earlier so we don’t miss the action. We would’ve been on time, but someone got a little distracted,” he says with a grin, pointing at himself. “Birdie knows I have a weakness for lace,” he adds with a wink at her.
Briar shakes her head, groaning. “Can we please ban all sexual innuendos around family?”
“What’s this about sexual innuendo?” Ma asks as she enters the room carrying a casserole dish. “I certainly hope Caleb isn’t listening to whatever it is.”
“Doesn’t look like it, but apparently, he did get an unsolicited sex-ed course from Heath,” Walker tells her, never one to shy away from stirring up trouble.
“Jensen and Briar are thinking about having another baby,” I blurt.
Okay, technically they never actually said that, but I’m all for deflecting the attention. If there’s one thing Ma can’t resist, it’s more grandbabies.
She nearly drops the casserole dish as she squeals with delight. “Really? Please say it’s true. Nothing would make me happier than another grandbaby on the way.”
“Jensen and I have talked about it, but we’re not expecting yet.” Briar quickly clarifies. “But don’t worry. When we have news, you’ll be the first to know. I would never keep that from you.” Her jab is obviously aimed at me.
Charlie leans over to whisper in my ear. “Where’s the popcorn when I need it?”
“You do realize that was a dig at me, right?” I whisper back.
She shrugs. “This is still the most entertaining dinner I’ve been to at the ranch house, and we haven’t even gotten to the main course yet.”
I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face.
I love seeing her so happy, and coming to my parents’ always brightens her mood.
She was over the moon when she finally got her nausea under control thanks to Ma’s box full of remedies, and we were able to start joining weekly family dinners again.
Before our wedding, she used to come all the time as Briar’s friend, but it’s so much better now that she’s here with me—and there’s no more hiding how I feel about her.
“Dinner is ready on the deck, so let’s not keep your father waiting,” Mama announces before spinning on her heel and starting down the hall.
Everyone is quick to follow, no one wanting to be blamed for letting the food get cold.
I’m halfway out the door when I glance back to find Charlie standing beside the mantel in the living room, holding a picture frame in her hand.
“Everything okay? I ask.
She turns the photo toward me. It’s a picture of my dad with his parents, taken before they passed.
Charlie holds up her left hand. “Heath, did you give me your grandma’s wedding ring?”
Oh shit.
“Yeah, I did.” I hedge, moving to join her by the mantel.
There’s no use in hiding the truth. It was bound to come out eventually.
She worries her lip while studying the photo. “It’s stunning, truly. But why give me an heirloom that clearly means so much to your family?”
“Because choosing you was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.” I take her hand in mine and bring it to my chest. “And I wanted you to have a ring that reflects how much you mean to me.”
Charlie lifts her gaze to meet mine. “But you gave it to me on our wedding day, when our marriage was meant to be nothing more than a convenience.”
“That’s right,” I state with conviction.
She stares at me, her brows furrowed as though she’s waiting for the punchline.
She still doesn’t believe that I meant it when I told her I was all in from day one.
Someday soon, when we’re alone and I’m convinced she’s finally ready to accept it, I’ll tell her the full truth—how I’ve wanted her for years, and that she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted a future with.
“Heath, Charlie, don’t make us wait too long or the food will go cold,” Ma hollers from down the hall.
“Coming,” we call back in unison.
Charlie puts the frame back on the mantel, and I intertwine our fingers together as we leave the living room.
“I really do love the ring,” she murmurs. “It means so much more now that I know it belonged to your grandma.”
I smile, looking over at her. “I’m glad, because it was always meant to be yours.”
She may not grasp the full weight of those words yet, but all that matters is that she’s here with me, wearing my grandmother’s ring, and giving me a chance to be the husband and father that she and our baby deserves.