Page 126 of Missing Marcus

“Me, too. Leo asked when I wanted to start officially with the team. I’ve held off because of your condition. What if I started in four weeks?”

“I’m fine. Between Miss Edie, your sister, Saint, Patch and Claire, my son rarely sleeps in a bassinet. We need to decide where we want to settle down. We can’t stay in Kassie’s cabin forever.” Gabby held little Marcus up to burp him.

“I want to support you. You went through something traumatic and you have a newborn.” He watched Gabby switch breasts and fed their son.

She leaned against him, and he kissed her while gazing over her shoulder. Their relationship felt more relaxed, but he still met with Claire and attended meetings with Patch. Life became bearable and a blessing as he healed on the mountain.

“Speaking of support, Kassie and her godfather, Joe, visited me yesterday while you went with the team.” Gabby sent him a worried glance. “Joe’s retired. He still watches over the hospital and Kassie’s investments. They asked if I might want to handle accounting for the hospital. I can work from home or keep an office beside Kassie and Catherine. They have a nursery there for their kids.”

“Do you want to do it?” he asked as he played with his son’s hand.

“I do. It comes with an excellent benefits package. I still need a car. We can use the funds you gave me from the house and find a decent used one. I don’t want another bill with a new baby.”

Knight pulled a folder from the side table and opened it for her to read. Her eyes widened as she read the numbers, listing his pay, bonuses, and vacation. On the other side, he placed the new bank documents with their names on the account.

“It’s important to me we start on equal footing. I don’t want us to experience what I did in California again. From now on, I want us to stay partners in everything. No more lists and more communication.”

Gabrielle smiled. “I can transfer my funds into the account, too.”

“Why don’t you wait? I have another idea.”

She removed Marcus from her breast and turned to burp him.

“Let me do it. Go shower and dress. Saint and Bryanna will be here soon.”

When she left the room, he texted Patch.

She’s taking a shower. Bring it over.

Did you have to choose pink? Really? Out of all colors, you buy her a pink SUV and make me drive it.

Patch replied.

You live in a pink house.

You’re an asshole.

Patch texted back.

You know what they say.

He smiled. Patch grew into his support system and he didn’t go a day without feeling thankful for him. The two hit it off and Leo dubbed them ‘team asshole’ during meetings. Knight recalled their last swim day at the facility.

He laughed out loud at Leo yelling for team asshole to join them in the pool with the kids. Leo’s wife gave him the stink eye and his cute redheaded daughter reprimanded him and held out her hand. Leo took out his wallet and pulled out a twenty. “I don’t have a ten-dollar bill.”

Melody mimicked her mom, placing her hands on her hips and staring her Daddy down. “If you aren’t prepared for the consequences, then you should think before you say bad words, Daddy. I still didn’t tell Mama about Grace yelling shit all through the grocery store.”

Leo dug into his wallet and handed her forty. “Thanks for the reminder, June Bug. Remember, we’re keeping it between us until we teach Grace better manners.”

Melody smiled sweetly as she tucked the money into her gym shoe.

Doc frowned. “You’re gonna regret paying her every time you swear. She’ll be able to afford a new car by sixteen at this rate.”

“I’m working on it. I managed to convince her to forget Grace’s outburst at the community social when Mrs. Henry asked to hold her.

“What happened?” Doc asked.

Leo rolled his eyes. “When she picked up Grace, she grabbed the wig off of Mrs. Henry’s head and waved in the air yelling ‘fuck, fuck, fuck.’”

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