What did I get myself into?
Chapter 7
Marshall
I hear the UTV pull up, and I turn to wave, and I’m taken aback when I see Wren and baby Madeline in the back seat. Setting my water bottle down on the table, I head toward them to see if they need any help.
“Fancy meeting you here.” I smile at Wren and hold my hand out for the car seat. “I can take her.”
“You don’t have to,” she counters.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Besides, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen my friend Maddie.” I give her what my momma calls my charming smile.
“You might as well hand her over. He’s just going to pout until you do,” Conrad jokes.
“You heard the man. Hand me the baby.” I hold out my hands again, and this time she hands me the infant car seat, baby Madeline and all. “Hey, cutie pie.” I smile down at her. “You ready for a day in the sun?” She gurgles up at me, blowing bubbles, and that’s as close to a yes as I’m going to get and the only reply I need.
“We need to see if she’ll let me hold her,” Conrad says with the diaper bag slung over his shoulder, with me trailing behind him.
“What just happened?” I hear Wren ask Aspen.
“They stole your daughter. I wouldn’t plan on getting her back anytime soon.” She laughs.
“I’m her favorite,” I inform Conrad. It’s not like I’m making it up. We all saw it.
“That was luck,” Conrad counters. “I get first dibs this time.”
“Is this normal?” Wren asks. Her voice is close so I’m assuming she and Aspen followed us.
She laughs. “Afraid so. All five of them are competitive.”
I glance over my shoulder at Wren. “Tell him she likes me better.”
A hint of a smile graces her lips as she shakes her head at our antics. “It might have been a fluke.” She shrugs.
“See,” Conrad jests.
“Fine, but I’m telling you that she likes me best.” I sway Madeline in her car seat from side to side. It’s a way to rub it in that I’m the one that has her now. She likes me best, they just won’t admit it.
“You hope that when your children reach adulthood that they will act their age, but somehow when all five of my adult children get together, this never happens,” Mom says with humor lacing her voice.
“I’m Lena,” she introduces herself to Wren.
“Wren, and my daughter, Madeline. Thank you for having us. Your place is beautiful.”
“We’re happy to have you. And from the looks of it, my boys are happy to see your daughter.”
“She’s a cutie,” Aspen chimes in.
“There are not enough babies to go around, and Maddie likes me better,” I tell my mom.
“So I’ve heard,” she reminds me.
“They told you?” I ask Mom.
“They did. The older four were pouting and swore it had to be because you held her first. Hence the reason Conrad is on a mission to prove their point.”
“He’s wrong,” I tell them. “You’ll see,” I say with confidence when really, I have no idea. Madeline seemed to like me well enough the first time so that’s what I’m banking on.
“Come here, cutie,” Conrad says softly, lifting Madeline from her seat. He rests her on his shoulder, and she seems to be doing okay. “Told you so,” he says.
“Are you cheating on me, Maddie?” I lean around to look at the baby, and her lip puckers up when she sees me. “I know he’s scary-looking, but he’s a good guy,” I tell her. Instead of soothing her, she starts to cry.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wren step closer, ready to rescue her daughter, but I beat her to it. “Come to Marsh, Maddie,” I coo. Conrad accepts defeat and hands her over to me. “I’ve got you,” I whisper to her, and she stops crying. Something happens when she smiles up at me. Her gummy smile with her eyes wet from tears grips my heart as it bounces wildly in my chest.
“Well, I wouldn’t have believed it had I not witnessed it,” Mom says.
“I told you she likes me better,” I boast. “Isn’t that right, Maddie?”
“I don’t understand it,” Wren speaks up. “She’s never taken to someone like that, and definitely not a man.”
“What can I say? I have a way with the ladies. I’ve been telling my family this for years, and they refuse to believe it. The proof is with the baby.”
“Perfect. Now we’re going to have to hear him gloat,” Conrad grumbles.
“Hey, Wren, glad you could make it,” Grant greets her. “I see you’re being a baby hog again,” he says to me.
“Hey, Con got the first try, and she wanted me.”
“Bullshit,” Grant says.
“Grant Riggins, you watch your mouth around these babies. And he’s telling you the truth. Conrad held her first. When she saw your brother, she began to cry.”
“Marsh is scary.” Grant laughs.
“No. She wanted me. We’re buds.” I rub my hand up her little back, and she snuggles into my neck. It’s as if she’s tied a string around my heart and attached it to her little fist.
“I can take her,” Wren interrupts us.
“Nope. I’ve got her. You go grab something to eat.”
“I can take her. I’m used to multitasking,” Wren offers.
“Well, today, you don’t have to. Go grab something to eat. You too, sis,” I tell Aspen.
“Come on, ladies. Let’s get you a plate. Marshall, you stay close.” Mom points her finger at me.
I’m a grown man with my momma pointing a finger at me while holding a baby, like I’m going to leave her on the table all alone or something. I get it. She’s trying to reassure Wren. “I’ll stay close. Go make a plate. Maddie and I are going to make our rounds and say hello.” I capture Wren’s gaze. “I’ll keep her safe. I promise.”
She hesitates, but when Aspen links her arm through Wren’s, she lets Aspen and my mother lead her away. “All right, cutie pie, it’s time to say hi to my other brothers, and then there are a few new people for you to meet.” My first stop is Dad.
“Who do we have here?” he asks.
“This is Madeline.”
“Ah.” He nods. “This is the little one who likes you the best.”
“It’s been confirmed a second time. Con held her first this time, and she, of course, wanted me.”
“Where’s Wren?” Royce asks.
“She went with Mom and Aspen to grab something to eat.”
“And she left Madeline with you?” he asks.
“She did. You know I’m her favorite,” I remind him.
“I think we need to test your theory,” Royce suggests.
“We already did. She cried for me when Con had her.” I stand a little taller. I don’t know why this pleases me as much as it does. It’s not like she’s my niece. Usually, it's because I have one-up on my brothers. It’s that, but it’s something else too. Maybe it’s because I know her momma is struggling to give her the best life that she can. Maybe it's because I know her daddy is no longer here. Then again, maybe it’s just the little girl in my arms and that string she’s apparently attached to my heart.