Page 98 of Missing Marcus

“Surprise!” the group called, making Gabby jump and hold her belly.

“Oh!” she exclaimed as she read the decorated jungle themed banner. Gabby gripped his arm as Bryanna hugged her. Still in shock, she uttered, “We came to celebrate you.”

“No, silly. We planned it for you and Marcus,” his sister laughed as she pulled Gabby along and introduced her to the women she didn’t already know.

He caught her glancing back at him, completely overwhelmed. He smiled encouragingly and nodded for her to enjoy herself.

Kassie announced lunch. Marcus held onto Gabby’s plate. As the guest of honor, she went first, followed by the other expecting women. He watched as the men helped the kids first before taking their turn. Lizzy, the pediatrician’s wife, passed drinks to the women as Claire helped the kids. They stood while the women took over the living room and the barstools.

Gabby sought him out and he approached her and knelt before her.

“Did you need something?”

“Why didn’t you tell me? They’re Bryanna’s friends,” she whispered to avoid being overheard.

“If you let them, they can be yours, too,” he encouraged her before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and lightly kissing her.

She nodded jerkily and smiled as the women began discussing baby names. “Did you decide on a name, Gabby?”

She smiled and shook her head.

With a big mouth, Patch said, “Awww, come on, don’t be shy. Knight told me you named it Tiger.”

She laughed along with the others. “Marcus came up with it. I’m not taking the blame for this one.”

“Does it mean you’re expecting a boy?” Lizzy asked.

“We honestly don’t know. Girls can be tigers, too. Gabby’s already proved how ferocious she can be when it comes to protecting herself and the baby,” Marcus said as he stared at her, making her smile and glance at her feet.

The men finished before the others and corralled the kids into getting their swim bags together. Each husband kissed their wife as they started loading kids and babies into the trucks.

Knight approached her. “I’m only a short drive away.”

Gabby nodded, leaned in and kissed him sweetly. “Thank you.”

The men drove away,leaving him riding with Patch. “My neighbor gave us an hour and a half to check out the house. It’ll go on the market on Monday if you don’t submit an offer. No pressure.”

Patch drove down the mountain and entered the town. He pulled into the driveway. Knight’s attention was drawn to the ugliest pink house he had ever seen.

A punch to his arm made him hold his bicep. “Ow, asshole. Who the hell owns that monstrosity? For a minute, I thought you planned to turn in there.” Knight laughed out loud.

When Patch scowled and stared at the pink abysmal, it occurred to him he stuck his foot in it. “Oh, man. I’m sorry.” Knight laughed even harder. “You live in a pink house? That shit’s funny.”

Patch pinched his nose. “All right, all right. Get it out of your system.”

He laughed even harder at Patch’s expression. “You’ve called me asshole this entire time. Dude, I’m gonna be a total asshole and tell you that’s the ugliest house I’ve ever seen.”

His friend punched him again and opened the door to his vehicle. “You wait, buddy. Your turn’s coming.”

Knight slid out of the truck and focused on the home before them. A white Victorian house with a swing in the front greeted him. His laughter died as he pictured Gabby swinging their child on the porch and greeting him when he returned home.

Using the key, Patch stepped aside to let him in. Hardwood floors shined as they entered the living room with a beautiful fireplace. The spacious cream-colored kitchen showed off newer appliances. The multicolored tile decorated the floor and made the forest green cabinets stand out. He walked down the hall, coming to a large master bedroom. The painted light cream made the room cheerful with the white wainscoting on the bottom. On the opposite side, two French doors opened to a private screened-in patio, highlighting the mountains.

“This isn’t bad,” Knight said as he opened the closet doors.

A smaller room across the hall offered a den or a second bedroom. For him, he imagined the jungle animals decorating the walls in a sky blue with clouds. Gabby rocking in a padded chair in the corner by a bookshelf loaded with books.

“It’s the perfect size for a nursery. Later on, when the kid grows bigger, you can move it upstairs,” Patch suggested as he checked the sturdiness of the rails. “The guys pitched in and painted Claire’s in a couple of days. I imagine we can knock this one out in a few days.”

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