Page 19 of Daddy's Babies: Johnnie's Story

“Your father’s accounts are frozen so if that’s all you had access to, they won’t. I have you though, and I’m working to get your trust fund released to you.”

“I’m sure compared to some of the trusts that kids in my building or yours have, it might seem like much, barely a hundred thousand in it, but it’s definitely better than nothing, huh?”

“I’m talking about the one from your mother, Carly,” he says confusing me entirely.

I glanced at him and away from the road to him, that confusion in my eyes. “I have a small trust that was set up from my father’s parents. I don’t have anything from my mom.”

“You didn’t know about it? Your father really is a piece of shit, baby girl. Your mother’s family had more money than your father’s did, his was nearly broke but hiding it. She was in charge of the purse strings and her will left the bulk of the remaining estate to you. There was just enough set aside in another trust to maintain your father’s condo with a little extra except for you to use as you desired. That’s likely why he had you on all the credit cards so he could claim the expenses from the trust being as things for you. Your trust would have been enough for you to go to college, have your own place, and still have plenty left over to take care of a family of your own. You weren’t supposed to get access to it until you were twenty-five, except to pay for school.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“It’s okay, baby,” he promises, lifting my hand to his to kiss. “I’m trying to get them to open it to give you something of your own. You’ll have full access to my money once we go by the bank Monday, but I know after what your father did, you’ll likely want something of your own as well.”

“If my trust isn’t frozen and I can at least have access to it, that’s plenty for me. You’ve already spoiled me with all the new clothes and lingerie and bath stuff, Johnnie. I don’t need much more, and I know you’ll take care of any babies we have, so don’t worry about it,” I muse, giving him a grin when he kisses my hand again.

“Whatever you want, you get now, baby girl. Plus, after today, I’ll likely owe you something to say I’m sorry for all the insanity you’ll find,” he adds, making my brows furl a bit as he pulls into a drive. The house we stop outside of is huge and my jaw drops as I stare at him.

“Is this…”

“Yeah, my family wants to meet you, and I really want you to meet them. You ready for that?” he asks, and I nod, a bit too much it seems because he slides his hand behind my head and kisses me until I’m melting into his hold. “That’s better. Come on, sooner we get in there, the sooner I can get you home and underneath me again.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that,” I sigh, letting him pull me into the house with him.

Almost immediately we’re surrounded by his parents, but his mom…oh my word, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as sweet as Annie, and I don’t begin to complain one bit as the place fills up. It’s easy to see just how much everyone loves each other, and that’s what I want for any babies we might have. Not to mention seeing Johnnie playing around with the little ones here makes me want one of our own even more.

“Sorry we’re late,” a familiar voice calls out and I turn, my jaw dropping a bit seeing Jasmine and Jamison coming into the room.

“Oh my god, Carly?!” Jasmine shouts, laughing as she hurries over to us and I cover my face, laughing in return as it finally dawns on me why Johnnie’s last name was so familiar.

“You all know each other?” Julie asks following as Serenity hurries towards the newest arrivals for hugs.

“You okay, baby girl?” Johnnie adds against my ear, and I nod, lowering my hands before I glance back at him in shock. “What is it?”

“You didn’t tell me you were a freakingCartwright, like one ofthoseCartwrights,” I grumble as Jasmine reaches us handing Serenity over to Jamison for a hug.

“You look amazing,” Jasmine says, hugging me tightly despite Johnnie refusing to let me go as he has for most of the day. “He being good to you?”

“The best. I can’t believe I didn’t put it together though,” I say looking between them. There’s even some resemblance between them, but more so between Johnnie and Jamison.

“How do you two know each other?” Julie asks when Serenity reaches for her, her eyes growing tired, and god do I want that. A little baby—even if Serenity isn’tthatlittle any longer. She’s five going on six, but she’s still little.

“Carly and I were in the same English Lit class my senior year. Thanks to her I passed the stupid term papers,” Jasmine tells them, and I blush shaking my head at her.

“So, you already knew Jordan too?” Julie asks and I shake my head no, as Jamison laughed making Julie’s brow lift in silent question.

“Jordan cares about two things—basketball and cars. Unless he was in class or the gym, he was in the shop class, so I can guarantee he can’t tell you five girls he’s been in school with for years, let alone someone in a different grade than him,” Jamison explained before he reached over giving me a hug that made Johnnie grumble and Julie laugh.

“Yup, he’s definitely one of us,” Julie joked.

“She’s mine,” Johnnie huffed, and I couldn’t help but smile when he pressed a kiss to my temple, as I looked around the room in amazement.

This was going to be my life…I really don’t know how I got this lucky. I mean, it had to be luck that had me running into Johnnie everywhere, for him to find me, and love me, but to add on all of this…definitely pure luck and I’m not about to complain about any of it.

Epilogue

Johnnie

Idon’t have to go far to find them hiding. Our eldest are never far from each other, but they’re chocolate fiends and I knew when the cake I baked for Carly’s birthday surprise went missing, our boys would be behind it.

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