When it was his turn to cook, he made frittatas, omelets, muffins, crepes…it’s like living in a five-star restaurant where you get the best breakfast in town. The days he didn’t have to cook, he’d still make Arden whatever he chose.
“As I said the other day, if we set up a childcare facility in the factory, we could hire people.” I remind him of the brilliant idea I had a few months ago that everyone keeps shutting down.
“Listen, Sparky, as much as that sounds great for the employees, it doesn’t help me. It’d be ridiculous to drive my son to Happy Springs every morning when I work here. Leyla and I need someone to watch him for a few hours.”
“Ah, this is about you, isn’t it?”
He glares at me. “I’m not in the mood to deal with you. Just keep looking for someone who might need this job.”
For the sake of my kid, I don’t continue the conversation.
A few seconds later, Blaire is running down the stairs. “I need someone to drive me to Oregon.” She touches her swollen belly and winces.
“Vance can fly you,” I offer, looking at her hospital bag. “Why? Are you having the baby?”
She nods. “I am. Hayes is not here and I need a doctor.”
Pierce shakes his head and pulls out his phone. “I’ll take care of the doctor on call.” He points at me. “You call him.”
I do as he says, and call Hayes right away.
“Yeah?” My brother answers.
“Your wife is in labor.”
“Don’t call Hayes. He’s busy with Beacon,” Blaire scolds me.
I give her an oops-I-forgot shrug. It’s better than, ‘your husband told us to call him when this happened.’ He knew she’d demand to go to Portland.
“I’ll make a few calls. You guys know what to do, right?”
“Yes, we do. Safe travels,” I say, hanging up.
“Why did you do that?”
“We’re taking you to your practice. Everything is ready there. He’ll be home in just a couple of hours.”
“What if something happens and he’s not here?” She’s almost choking with tears.
Blaire is a strong woman, but she’s been going through hell. Even when we’ve been trying our best to be there for her, she misses Hayes a lot. I take her into my arms and say, “Everything is going to be okay.”
She places a hand on her back and winces. “I’m trying not to be scared.”
“Nothing is going to happen, and he’ll be here before the baby arrives,” I promise her.
Pierce calls everyone, and the house is not only awake but full of chaos.
I might complain about how crazy things are in this house, but I like knowing that my son is growing to have a somewhat normal childhood because of them. It’s no longer just me and the occasional visit from my mother or Beacon. I’m trying to give my son what I didn’t have, an average family life.
Chapter Three
Mills
A week after Machlan Carter Aldridge is born, I’m already itching to leave the house. My new nephew is adorable, but just like all newborn babies, he is demanding. Arden is having trouble falling asleep and I’m not sure if it’s because he’s missing Beacon or because Carter and Machlan wake up every two seconds. Living with two newborns is probably the closest thing to hell. I’m not looking forward to having Henry’s twins around.
I wonder if his wife, Sophia, can stay pregnant for another six months.
At least with Hayes back in the house, the chaos diminishes slightly. Still, the weight of everything that’s happened makes it hard to breathe sometimes.
There are too many uncertainties. Even though Hayes believes that Beacon will walk again, he can’t guarantee that one-hundred percent. After the explosion, almost losing Beacon, and killing his ex-boyfriend, our brother Vance is a mess. He’s always kept to himself, but now he doesn’t talk to us at all. We only know he lives in the house because we have to share all our meals. If Beacon were here, he’d be following him around and making him talk.
None of us are like Beacon.
Since today is my day off, I decided to drive to Portland. Arden and I need some alone time, and I need to skate. Pierce lets me borrow his SUV. Arden and I are walking toward the garage, when a man wearing an Orcas cap walks toward us.
Did someone let a fan know I live here?
I try not to panic. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a stalker, but a stalker who has the code for the iron gate? That’s impossible. I look toward the lake to see if there are any security guards left. Beacon’s boss left a couple of men to keep an eye on the property until he knew we were safe. There’s no one there.
The beauty of this land is that we’re surrounded by trees, the lake, and the barn. Unfortunately, we also discovered that all of these acres leave many places for a bunch of mercenaries to hide for days without being seen.
“Good morning, Mills and Arden,” he greets us.
Arden waves back at him. I narrow my gaze and realize it’s Darren Russel, one of the doctors who treated Beacon and the new neurosurgeon that’ll work with Hayes. I’m still skeptical about his presence. Who needs a neurosurgeon in a small town?
He stares at my duffle bag. “Where are we going?”
“Arden and I are heading to Portland.”
He smirks. “Goody. I love Portland, and I need to go there. I was hoping that one of you would lend me a car. But if you are going, we could go together and save on fuel. What do you think, Arden?”
My son looks at him, and then at me, and smiles.
“I love this kid. He’s always smiling.” He looks around and whispers. “And he doesn’t cry, unlike the other two.”
“You didn’t have to deal with Arden’s infant years. They weren’t easy.” I hate to be brusque, but I need to leave and he’s blocking my escape., “Sorry, but we’re heading out.”
He looks at me confused. “And here I thought the grouchy one was the military guy.” He gives me a playful look. “Or do you have a problem because I am…hot?”
I ignore him. He doesn’t know us at all. If he lived here, he’d understand or would want some solitude as well. I need to be far away from my family and anyone who has anything to do with this town. Is that too much to ask?
“It’s not you. I’m trying to have a day away from my brothers and this mess,” I explain, making sure that he knows I’m not interested in his advances.
He nods as if he understands my conundrum. “What if I promise to be quiet?”
I laugh and that’s the moment when Vance steps outside the house. “I heard you’re going to Portland. Do you need me to fly you?”
I look at the neurosurgeon and say, “You should be flying with him. He’ll appreciate that you’re hot.”
“He can’t handle me,” Darren answers, taking off his sunglasses and winking at Vance. “Wanna give it a go?”
Vance rolls his eyes and focuses his attention on me. “I can fly you. I don’t have anything to do today.”
He wants to get away too, but I’m not his get-out-of-jail-free card.