Chapter 27 #3
On Dare Nights, the dining tables are moved to the perimeter of the large room to create a makeshift dance floor. The lights go down, and half the clientele sit at tables eating ultra-hot pepper salsa while the other half are out in the center dirty dancing.
I don’t feel like dancing. My chest is heavy, and I want my baby. I want Melody.
Turning for the door, I notice Gina, Haddy, and Kim are bunched up near the entrance around something I can’t see.
They’re all standing, and when Haddy sees me, she cries out, “There he is—Knox, get over here! Look what’s happened!”
My eyes land on the beautiful face of the person I’ve been dreaming about all fucking week, and the air squeezes my lungs. I’m moving quickly when I realize she’s holding a squirmy bundle. A little dark head turns, and I almost break down.
“Cricket?” My voice cracks with disbelief.
Melody’s smile lights her whole face, and her pretty blue eyes sparkle with tears. “Surprise! I had to bring her straight to you.”
“What…?” My hands are on my baby girl’s torso, and I lift her onto my chest.
She squeals, patting me with both hands, chanting “Ba-ba-ba!”
Austin strolls up beside me, reaching out to pat her little back. “That’s what Callie said before she could say Dada.”
My chest swells, and I realize she wasn’t asking for her mom or a bottle or a ball. She wanted me. She knew I was her dada from the first time we met.
I smile, kissing her little baby head. We’re so fucking happy. She puts both of her little chubby hands on my mouth, and I pull one of her little fingers between my lips before holding her up and shaking her little body side to side.
It’s our old trick, and she breaks into her baby belly laugh. The family surrounding us breaks into awws, and I lower her to my chest again, hugging my arms around her and closing my eyes.
“Cricket,” I exhale with relief. “Daddy’s here.”
I notice someone touching my arm, and I reach out to pull Melody tight to my side. “Come here.”
I’ve got both my girls right where they’re supposed to be. Right here in my arms, and I never plan to let them go. Kissing her head, I inhale deeply the scent of vanilla.
“I’ve been waiting on you all fucking day.” I groan. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”
“I missed you,” Melody says, lifting her chin to speak in my ear. “I couldn’t wait to bring her to you.”
“I don’t deserve you, Mel.” I look down to meet her beautiful eyes. “How can I ever make this up to you?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Just keep being the good guy you’ve been so far, and I’ll be happy.”
Reaching down, I slide my thumb across the top of her cheek. “I plan to be a helluva lot more than that.”
Her lips press into a smile, and her expression warms. She reaches up to hold the side of my face, and I lean down to capture her mouth, pulling her to me and sliding my tongue against hers.
Of course, my cousins cheer and a few diners cat-call. The Dare Night service must’ve ended, because my mom jogs up to my side, holding out her hands.
“Give me this beautiful baby!” she cries.
Cricket doesn’t even hesitate, lunging out of my arms and straight into Mom’s. My mom squeezes her little body close, doing that same bounce she did from that very first day she was at my house, holding her granddaughter.
“I knew you could do it, honey.” Mom reaches out to squeeze my arm. “I never doubted you for a minute.”
My eyes narrow, and I still want to give her shit for ditching me when I needed her most. At the same time, if she’d stayed, things might not have played out the way they did.
And she sent Edward.
“Thanks, Mom.” I lean down to kiss the top of her head. “I was pretty pissed at you.”
“I know.” She continues hugging her granddaughter to her chest. “But that’s how you learn and grow. I knew you could do it.”
“Up next is a special dedication for one of my favorite nephews.” Craig is back on the mic, and this time, he’s pointing at me. “Knox and Melody, this one’s for you.”
Somebody hits the spotlight that shines on the disco ball, and the music changes to an old, old song I only remember from my parents playing it when we were kids.
It’s a one-hit wonder by the artist Elvin Bishop, and I reach for Melody, pulling her into my arms and swaying side to side.
She feels so good against my body, but it’s not until the chorus hits, “I fooled around and fell in love,” that she falls back with a laugh.
“Perfect,” she says, and I lean down to kiss the side of her cheek.
“My family has an encyclopedic knowledge of music…” Then I remember Haddy’s mom, Aunt Raven. “And movies.”
Melody lifts her chin. “Looks like we’ll fit right in.”
I hold her around the waist, bending down and lifting her up. I can’t seem to get her as close to me as I want… which is basically fused.
“Damn, I missed you,” I groan in her ear.
Her hand spreads across my shoulder, and her fingers tighten against my skin. “Does this mean we’re declaring peace?” A little tease is in her voice.
“Pretty sure that happened the day you showed up at my apartment and stayed to help me with Cricket.”
“It seems to be holding.”
The song continues, and we sway side to side. It’s kind of the perfect love song for us, but I can tell her mind is still preoccupied. As opposed to me. I have every single fucking thing I could ever want in my life right here in this place right now.
“Aunt Liv said a judge wouldn’t see us until next month. How’d you manage it?”
“Jada did it,” she says quietly. “Stacia showed her the text from Bonnie, and she gave Cricket to us.”
“You took Stacia all the way to Little Rock to get my daughter back?”
“Uncle Spencer did.” She looks up at me. “He has a strong sense of justice. And a private jet.”
I kiss the side of Melody’s head, wrapping her in my arms. “Thank you.”
“No need.” Her head tilts, and her pretty smile curls her lips. “I have a strong sense of justice, too. I saw firsthand how much you love her, and she loves you. It was only right.”
The song starts to end, and I look around to see my mom with Cricket in her arms. All of my cousins, even Cricket’s little cousins are crowded around, doting on her and showering her with affection.
Then Aunt Dylan dashes up to them, grabbing my mom and speaking in her ear. Their faces light with happiness, and Uncle Craig is back on the mic.
“Big announcement, friends and family, a new addition has emerged… Maverick and Dove just welcomed Kellan Rhodes Murphy. Mom and baby are doing great.”
A cheer goes up from the crowd, and my hand slides down Melody’s arm, threading our fingers as I walk over to the group. Everybody’s hugging. Aunt Dylan has Maverick on her phone, and the cousins are all waving to him and Dove and the new baby.
Mom walks up to my side holding Cricket, and I lean down to kiss my daughter’s head.
“I know you want to spend time with your daughter, but we’ll take care of her tonight.” Mom pats Cricket’s back, giving her a bounce. “Take Melody, and y’all sleep out at Grammy Gina’s guest cottage tonight.”
“You sure?” I lift Cricket out of her arms, hugging her, and she pats my face, saying Bababa. “That’s me. I’m your Baba.”
“You’ll be seeing her all the time. I only have her for one more day.”
I glance over to where Gina is holding Melody’s hands, talking her ear off. They’re both smiling, and I can only imagine what my cousin is telling her.
“I guess that’d be okay.” I rub my hand up and down Cricket’s back.
“Of course it will.” Mom reaches out to take her again, and Cricket dives into her arms. “Now get going. I’ll text you the code for the lock.”
“Shove me out the door next time,” I tease, walking over to where Gina’s still going.
“He was dancing around in his Spider-Man underwear, playing air guitar and singing ‘I love a rainy night.’” My cousin laughs.
“I see… Eddie Rabbitt.” Melody cuts her eyes up at me, and I almost groan. “So no Ross Lynch or Miley Cyrus?”
“Oh, his Teen Beach Movie is unparalleled.” Gina laughs. “Probably because we were raised on the Grease soundtrack.”
“Don’t stop, stop the music?” Melody’s blue eyes dance.
“Okay, okay, that’s enough embarrassing stories for one night.” I give Gina a playful nudge. “We’re taking off.”
“We are?” Melody’s brow crinkles.
“Mom wants to keep Cricket, and she’s offered us the guesthouse.”
“Oh man, it’s so nice, and Grammy Gina’s visiting her sister this weekend.” Gina’s eyes are wide, and she waves her hands at us. “Get out of here and have fun. Make more babies!”
“Ahh…” I wave her away, pointing at her. “It’s your turn.”
I grab Melody’s hand, leading her to the screen door off the side of the dining hall. It leads to a path that goes all the way down to the bay. The soft sand is cool from the day without sun. Small waves lap at the surface, and I thread our fingers as we walk.
A blue heron stands in the water, his slate blue wings tucked into his sides. As we approach, he lifts spindly legs, slowly moving away from our progress.
I’m practically bouncing as I walk. It’s all coming together now. She’s here, like I imagined her being weeks ago, and she brought my daughter home.
Stopping mid-walk, I turn, taking her face in my hands. She starts to speak, but I lean down to cover her lips with mine.