Page 80 of Talk About… Trouble

Picking the movie was even more difficult. There was an argument about everything, and no one could agree. Everything here was new and exciting, and I think they knew they weren’t going to get in trouble for voicing their opinions, so they were taking advantage of that.

“Okay, guys,” Devon said, standing up and snatching a big bag of Cheetos off the counter. “Anyone that wants to watch something funny, come with me.”

He looked pointedly at the rest of us, and we didn’t need him to spell it out.

I took a bag of Doritos, holding it over my head. “I’m thinking superheroes!”

Wren grabbed a bag of candy instead, looking at the girls. “Anybody up for a good princess movie? I can think of one in particular that I love, with a little snowman.”

“I need to go set up all the game systems Mama Whitaker brought by. Carter, you want to help me? You know more about it than I do,” Braxton said.

Just like that, the room quieted down as they separated into groups. Devon’s room had been set up pretty much like a theaterroom since he didn’t use it for anything else, so he led his group there while I stayed in the living room. Wren took the younger girls up to her room as well. We’d have to do a little finagling if this was going to keep going, but for now, it worked.

“I’ve got the pizza,” Shepherd said, but I noticed he sat at the door, watching the movie right along with us after he ordered.

Movies were paused another forty-five minutes later to pass out dinner. By then, everybody had settled in. We’d only had two arguments and one scuffed knee because Henry was a daredevil and thought sliding down the banister would be a good idea.

But overall, I was confident that this was something we could handle. It was once a month, and having the kids here breathed new life into the packhouse. I’d grown up with a bunch of siblings, maybe not quite this many, but it felt like home.

As everybody was grabbing their plates, I called out, wanting to get the kids’ opinions. “So, I come from a pretty big family, too, and my mom, the one who brought over the game systems and the stuff for the girls to have spa night this weekend, wants to do a big cookout. How do you guys feel about meeting more kids? Having some family time? It’ll be out here, too, so we don’t even have to leave. But if you don’t want to do it, we don’t have to.”

I expected over half of them to protest, but for once, they all agreed on something, nodding their heads excitedly, except for the older ones, who simply shrugged.

I didn’t miss the look of hope in everybody’s eyes. These kids were more than ready to have real family around them.

When the kids got bored, Wren brought out a bunch of her coloring books and markers since she had plenty to go around.

It was cute the way Trinity stuck to her side, asking questions and getting to know her like she finally had a big sister.

Braxton joined Shepherd and me at the island. He didn’t look as happy now as he did before.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Carter had a conversation with me,” he admitted, his voice low. “He said it’s been even worse at home since I threatened them. I guess they didn’t take me seriously, except for letting me bring them here. He said it’s been non-stop yelling and tense. They’re sent to bed without dinner almost every night. What do I do?”

“If we need to, we can take them in,” Shepherd said, his voice even lower because this was a conversation these kids did not need to overhear.

“I would absolutely consider that if there were no other options,” Braxton said just as quietly. “But we also need time to be a pack before we do anything life-altering.”

He tossed a look back at the others before turning his attention to us. There was definitely something going on, I could see the gears turning in his head.

“Actually, I might have an idea.”

Wren

Braxton was pacing back and forth in front of us. The kids were all settled in bed, and he had finally explained what his solution was.

His phone was on speaker so I could hear it ringing as he held it in front of him.

I hadn’t realized that I was shaking my legs until Devon put a stack of coloring books in front of me, Shepherd bringing the markers.

My attention was half on my beta, listening to the conversation as it unfolded, the other half on my coloring project. It kept the anxiety at bay enough that I didn’t freak out.

“Braxton Lancaster! I thought you forgot about your dear old grandma,” a voice called out as she answered the phone.

This Grandma sounded sassy, and I hoped that she’d be the solution he needed her to be.

“No, Nona, I would never. I haven’t been able to call because I found an omega, two of them in fact, and a pack.”

---