Page 4 of Mine to Hold
1
Emmerson Kirby lifted the family’s newest addition and pressed his lips against her chubby cheeks. He blew a big fat raspberry. God, he loved babies. They smelled like innocence and looked at you like you had all the answers.
Six-month-old Siggy laughed. And laughed. This wild belly laugh filled his heart and soul with more love than he knew what to do with.
Damn, his brother’s little girl had stolen his heart.
All his nieces and nephews had done that.
And he didn’t play favorites, but Siggy was his goddaughter and he’d developed a special bond with her.
“You’re too stinking cute.” He kissed her nose. “And you are stinky. But Uncle Emmerson doesn’t do dirty diapers. Not even for you.” He handed Siggy back to Rhett. “She’s all yours, man.”
“You know, her uncle Chris does diaper duty.” Rhett waved to Shelby, pointing to the little girl in his lap, who chewed on his thumb. “And I seem to remember you changing all of Seth and Nathan’s kids when they were little.”
“I was young and stupid. Now I’m old and have learned to give them back to their parents.” Emmerson smiled.
Shelby stood by the deep end of his mother and stepfather’s pool. It was still strange to call Steve his stepfather, but it made his mother insanely happy, so he went with it.
But what was weirder was the fact that Steve was his little brother’s biological father. Jameson didn’t call SteveDad. At least not most of the time. The few times it slipped out, no one said a word about it. Not even his mother. But everyone caught the emotion laced in her tearful eyes.
Jameson had no idea Steve was his father until a few years ago and it rocked the very foundation of the Kirby family. Jameson still refused his mother’s wish to take Steve’s name and he never would.
Steve had told Jameson that while he’d love nothing more, he respected and valued the man who had raised him and preferred Jameson to keep the family name. The ones his brothers had.
And that was the name he’d given his children.
Today, things were steady as she goes.
“Besides, you’re pawning her off on your wife.” Emmerson laughed.
“She has the diaper bag and the breasts that feed this kid. In about ten minutes, she’ll be screaming bloody murder, and my boobs don’t produce milk.”
“You do have nice breasts.” Emmerson reached out and massaged his brother’s pec. “You filled out that dress real nice.”
“You’re an asshole.” Rhett batted his hand away.
“How’s my little princess?” Shelby lifted Siggy out of Rhett’s lap, before leaning over and kissing her husband. “Why the sourpuss face?”
“I’m never going to live down putting on that damn dress for you. Why did you have to go and show my family? That was just mean.”
Shelby hiked the little girl on her hip. “Not mean. Funny as hell and I swear, you looked better in that bridesmaid dress than I did.”
“That’s the last time I do a favor like that. Besides, it was a joke and only meant for you and me.” Rhett shook his head. “Next time, I’ll lay the dress on the bed with the jewelry and shoes to see how they look.”
“I still can’t believe you put it on.” Shelby ran her fingers through Rhett’s long hair. “Can’t wait to see you play dress-up with this one.”
“This next one better be a boy,” Rhett muttered. “I need some testosterone in my home.”
“Next one?” Emmerson arched a brow. “Why, Shelby, are you pregnant already?”
“I’m not getting any younger, and my brother’s still butt hurt over you being this one’s godfather. We had to have another one.” Shelby laughed. “Besides, your brother has it in his head he wants four kids.” She wiggled her fingers. “But that ain’t happening. I’m too old for that shit. Depending on how this pregnancy goes, I might give him a third, but that’s a big might.”
“Congratulations. I’m really happy for both of you. Now with the woman carrying Trinity and Emmett’s little one, it will have a cousin about the same age to play with. I love that.” Emmerson was one of seven boys. Of the seven, five were married with kids and the pressure of him and Miles to settle down and get married was astronomical.
And not just from his mother, who was relentless.
But his father, his stepfather, his siblings, and their wives had all joined in. Even his fourteen- and eleven-year-old nephews had tried setting him up. He could find his own dates. Although, at forty-two, he was stuck in his ways and finding a woman to put up with his quirks was becoming a chore he didn’t enjoy.
