Page 37 of His Relentless Angel

Dad breaks out into a huge smile. “Glad to hear it. Best news I’ve heard all”—he looks at Shayla, then Clara, who are safe and healthy and finally home—“well, second best news I’ve heard recently. We can start up our regular game nights again. And I gotta say, I’ve been missing you out in the parks. Been playing disc golf with a bunch of old fogies.”

“You are an old fogey,” Autumn says with a laugh.

Dad puts his hand over his heart like he’s wounded. “Don’t remind me.” To Isaiah, he asks, “Are you planning to buy another condo?”

“Actually, I was thinking it might be time to look into buying another house. There’s a few in the neighborhood I’d like to check out.”

“Really?” Dad and I ask at the same time, and Dad gives me a funny look. I had no idea Isaiah had already started looking at what’s for sale, especially so close to my family.

“Jinx,” Autumn and Lainey say simultaneously, to which Autumn rushes to say, “Double jinx,” before Lainey can, making a gimme gesture for Lainey to get her a Coke.

“I’ve got a realtor I can recommend,” James adds, settling into Dad’s vacated seat next to Shayla to tickle Mirabel’s cheek. “Remind me to give you his contact info.”

“So, until then…the couch? Or were you thinking of getting a hotel or Airbnb for the time being?” Dad backs away toward the front door, ready to get this sorted and head to bed, even though it’s only seven o’clock.

“You can always have the couch in the office upstairs if you’d like to stay here,” James offers, almost pleading. “Or this one.” He pats the armrest. “Comfiest couch to ever exist. You should see for yourself.”

Shayla snorts. “I’m sure he’s ready for a vacation as much as Autumn.”

And with her name being mentioned, Autumn suggests, “You could stay with Bailey. She’s got a free couch.”

Dad raises his gray brow, and I want to smack the humor right off Autumn’s face.

“A hotel. I’m getting a hotel,” Isaiah says, swaying side to side with Clara, who is starting to fuss. Isaiah brings Clara to his nose to inhale her newborn scent, making me bite my lip before he passes her to Shayla, who immediately whips her boob out to nurse her.

“I’ll never get used to you doing that,” Isaiah says, immediately looking away.

“You will once B—” Shayla clamps her mouth shut and starts humming a lullaby, locking her gaze on Clara.

That gets Dad’s attention, and he stops with his hand in the air, reaching for the doorknob. “Once what? What you were going to say.”

“Once…he has his own baby,” she says nervously.

Dad doesn’t look like he believes her, but he lets it drop when Autumn tugs on his arm, opens the door, and says, “Ok, bye!”

As soon as the door closes, I yell, “Terrible! All of you are terrible liars.”

“That’s a good thing, Bailey,” Shayla says softly.

“Ugh, I know.” I stand, and Isaiah curls me into his chest. I drop my chin against him and look up.

Isaiah kisses my forehead, and just before I tip my head back further so he can kiss me for real, Lainey says from behind, “Ew, why are Uncle Isaiah and Aunt BeeBee kissing?”

“That’s so gross,” Grayson says, sounding like his Auntie A.

“You’re gross,” Lainey lobs at him, then sticks her tongue out.

“You sure you still want to stay and help?” Shayla asks me, shaking her head at her kids’ antics.

“You know what…I just remembered…I’ve got that, um, that thing I’m supposed to take care of? So I think I’ll just get going.”

“See, you’re just as terrible at lying as the rest of us.” Shayla chuckles, startling Clara, who had started drifting off to sleep.

Isaiah grabs my duffel bag by the front door, and just as we’re about to leave after hugging all the kids goodbye, James asks Isaiah, “So, which hotel are you staying at?”

“Oh my god, James.” I blink at him, wondering if this is a joke. When it’s clear it’s not, I ask, “How are you one of the smartest men I know, yet still so clueless?”

He throws his arms up in the air. “I don’t get it. Why’s everyone always saying that?”

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