Page 72 of Unveiled Wounds

Opening her car door, I bent over, kissing the baby’s forehead while she made baby noises.

I’d fed her before we left Aunt E’s, but I was hoping she’d make it back to the clubhouse. I didn’t have anywhere to warm a bottle, and I hadn’t thought about making one ahead of time and getting a thermal insulator. Grabbing the changing mat, a clean diaper, and wipes, I was ready to tackle this mission. “You ready, Pumpkin?” I asked her, unclipping the belts of her car seat.

Stella had done me a solid, leaving several bags of stuff and a new car seat on Aunt E’s back patio. I’d given How money to hand her, but he’d come back, saying she wouldn’t take it. He’d tried to sneak it into her purse, but she had taken off before he had the opportunity. There had been enough to get me through the weekend, and I’d packed the rest for Meredith to use until we could buy whatever we needed. Stella had left a pink gift bag with sparkly tissue paper poking out of the top. The card hadsaid “to my favorite new parents”, and I hadn’t wanted to open it without my wife.

“Here. Give me that stuff.” Sabre popped up at my elbow.

“I’m good,” I told him, not really wanting his help.

“Don’t. You won’t be able to juggle it all holding her. Trust me, I know from experience.”

I relinquished the mat, and he walked around the back of the car to the other side. “Come on, stink face.” I made a face at the baby, and she drooled. Picking her up from the car seat, I went the same direction Sabre had.

He backed away from the door when he saw me, and I laid the baby on the mat. Taking a step back, I bumped into Sabre. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Protecting your ass. You can’t see from inside the car, so I’m your wingman.”

I said nothing, unbuttoning the one-piece pajamas on the baby. “Aww, shit.” Literally. There was a streak a mile long up her back.

“That brings new meaning to shit stain, Pumpkin.”

I turned my head. Pretty was leaning over my back, his chin laying almost on my shoulder. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I asked.

“Nope, I already went pee pee in the potty and got a snack.” He smiled, all of his teeth showing.

“Make yourself useful and see if there’s a change of clothes in one of those bags.” If he didn’t get away from me, I’d shove my elbow into his stomach. Pretty had done nothing to deserve it, but I was almost at my breaking point with the brothers.

“Ay, ay, captain.” I heard the other door open, but I didn’t bother to look until I heard manic laughing. My head popped up, and Pretty was holding a new pair of pajamas. He must have found them in a bag. “Oh, fuck! You’re a daddy now, Grizz.”

“What the fuck are you on about?” I held my hand out for the pajamas, but he was staring at them.

“They’re so small. You claimed a baby, which makes you her daddy.”

I ignored him, not wanting to address what he had just said. “Pumpkin, if you pick him as your favorite uncle, I’m disowning you.” I waited a beat, trying to clean up the mess. “Nah, that’s not true, but we’ll have a talk about your shitty taste in men.”

***

Meredith

“How much longer?” I asked Grace, kicking my feet as I sat at the kitchen island.

She shook her head at me. “I’ve already told you what I know. Sabre said they stopped to change the baby about an hour ago. Have some patience.”

“I can’t.”

She laughed at me, turning her back to pull out serving utensils from the cabinet drawer.

“You sure?” I asked her again, in case the answer had changed in the last two seconds.

Grace had decided that it was a good day for a family dinner, so Chef was outside grilling steaks and burgers while she was working on the sides. I was supposed to be helping her, but I’d plopped down on the barstool and never moved. Grace handed me a bowl and a pair of tongs. “Positive. Mix the salad.”

“They won’t eat it,” I whined with a half-ass attempt at using the tongs.

She ignored me, moving about the kitchen.

A loud commotion floated through the doorway from the main room, and it could only mean one thing. The men were back. Grizz was more important than a salad, and I needed to lay myeyes on him. Jumping from my stool, I ran towards the door, but I felt a tug on the back of my t-shirt. Grace pushed past me, but when we squeezed through the doorway together, it was a no-go. We were stuck.

“Move,” I told her, pushing forward but not getting anywhere.

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