8. Everett

EVERETT

I t's a little after seven as the morning sun struggles to break through the bed of clouds. I doubt we'll be seeing that fiery globe today. We haven't seen it for weeks. I'm not too sorry about it either, considering I didn't sleep a wink last night. The darker the sky, the better as far as I'm concerned.

Here's hoping my headache doesn't bloom any more than it already has. I can't remember the last time I had to call into the courthouse and tell them I wasn't coming in and I'm not starting now either.

Noah texted about twenty minutes ago and asked if it was too early to drop by with the news. He mentioned he was just running home to shower and change before heading back to his desk. He said he can bring by the intel that he's gathered and we can take it from there.

I let Lemon know and she let Evie and Carlotta know. The entire house has been buzzing ever since.

I trot down to the living room. Lemon is already in the kitchen, as evidenced by the thick scent of coffee in the air.

The Christmas tree stands tall and proud to my right, its branches laden with ornaments collected over the years of every color and size—each one a memory, each one cherished. Twinkle lights are strewn through the evergreen garland that skirts around the living room. Stockings, including a tiny one for Lyla Nell, are neatly lined up in front of the fireplace and are just waiting for Santa's visit. The cats are lying over the tops of the sofas with their eyes sealed tight as if it were too darn early for them.

Pancake and Waffles are a couple of white fluffy Himalayan brothers who are just as much family as anyone who lives in this house. I give them both a quick pat before adjusting my tie.

I've already showered and put on my suit. I'm one hundred percent ready to walk out the door but far less than ready for what the day will bring. Ironic, considering the fact I've waited for weeks to find out any details that Noah could give me.

For once, I'm more than glad to have Noah in my life. Without his investigative prowess—I might have had my answers weeks ago. But nevertheless, I'm grateful.

Footfalls rumble down the stairs from behind as Evie passes me up and dives onto the sofa nearest to the stairs.

"Is he here yet?" she calls out.

Her hair is rumpled and she's still clad in her pink PJ's, a look she's perfected now that she's on break from school. I'll admit, it's been harder than I thought having her live down at the dorm. But that just makes me cherish the moments when we have her back, like now.

"Not yet," I say, and before I can add another word, Carlotta streams down the stairs right after Evie.

" Cannonball ," she shouts as she jumps, grabs her knees, and lands right on the couch next to Evie.

A brisk knock erupts over the door, and even though I head in that direction, Lemon zooms past me and beats me to it.

"Noah," she says, pulling him inside as if there were a maniac running around in the neighborhood, and seeing that this is Honey Hollow, there just might be. Noah's golden retriever, Toby, trots in as well and the cats are quick to yowl at him. "You have to tell us everything."

"Morning, everyone," he calls out as he steps in and Lemon shuts the door to keep the chill out. "I was prepared to tell you everything last night, but since you were headed to dinner, I opted to wait." He offers her a forlorn smile. He's still wearing the same clothes we last saw him in and overall looks a little worse for wear. Coffee is his primary fuel at times like these. "And then the murder happened," he adds, frowning at Lemon as if that were her doing.

"Another murder?" Evie squawks. Evie and I share the same dark hair, same blue eyes.

She's a stunner, though, and that makes me worry for an entire litany of reasons. And even though she has a steady boyfriend, she's still having to fight the boys off with a stick. I told her if that doesn't work, I'll be happy to fight them off for her.

"That's right," Carlotta says with a touch of pride. "Lot found another body! But don't get a big head about it. Your mama wasn't the one standing in for the Grim Reaper this time. The honor went to good ol' Suzie Q Fox."

Evie sucks in a breath. "Uncle Noah! Your mother is a killer? That's, like, so freaking cool."

"No, it's not," he's quick to tell her. "I can assure you my mother had nothing to do with it."

Carlotta shrugs. "Other than the fact she was holding the knitting needles that she did the deed with."

" Eww ," Evie says, still managing to look impressed.

"I'll get the coffee." Lemon sighs as she disappears then reappears before I can offer to help. I take the tray from her, laden with mugs, a carafe and creamers, and set it on the coffee table.

There's also a plate of chocolate muffins, which Evie and Carlotta quickly attack. Typically, I'd join them, but I can't seem to find my appetite at the moment.

"Lyla Nell is still asleep," I tell him. Noah is very much present in Lyla Nell's life, and seeing that he lives in a cabin across the street, he doesn't miss a minute of it.

"All right," Noah says as we settle into the sofa with Lemon between us, holding her belly.

I wrap an arm around her and land a hand over her stomach as well. I need my family now more than ever before. And as fate would have it, I'm about to have a whole lot more family.

"I have a friend who works for the FBI at the academy in Quantico," Noah starts. "He was nice enough to hook me up with the database, and from there I was off and running." He pulls a folder from under his arm and plucks out a few pages he's printed out. His eyes dart to mine. "Are you ready for this?"

"Sexy was born ready for this," Carlotta is quick to tell him. "With a face like that, it's practically his duty to the universe to propagate his seed."

" Eww ." Evie swats Carlotta with a pillow. "Can we not say the word seed ever again?"

"All right, fine," Carlotta grunts, stealing the pillow from her. "With a mug like that, it's practically his duty to spread his good looks far and wide. Why do you think you've got all the boys lining up around the block, Evie Stevie?" She sniffs. "You should thank your lucky stars your daddy doesn't know how to keep his pants on. Speaking of which…" She nods to Noah. "Who else on this planet should be thanking their lucky stars?"

"Yeah." Evie bounces over the sofa and snags a cat. "Do I have any brothers? Another sister?"

"Well?" Lemon nods at Noah, urging him to cut to the genetic chase. I, on the other hand, wish I could slow time down and maybe rewind it a bit.

"Okay." Noah takes a deep breath before settling his gaze on me once again. "Congratulations, Everett, you've got four brand new daughters."

Evie and Carlotta break out into wild cheers.

" All girls?" Lemon gasps at the thought. "That's incredible."

Carlotta belts out a spontaneous applause and sends both cats darting around the room in a tizzy. "Not only does Sexy specialize in bedding women, but he specializes in making them, too."

" Stop ," Evie says, swatting her with a pillow again.

"Hey, maybe these sweet things are girls, too," Lemon says, patting her belly.

We've opted not to find out the gender of the twins until birth.

"If my track record holds, then there's a good chance," I say. "What else did you find?" I lean toward that stack of papers in his hand and he rattles them a moment.

"What didn't I find? I'll go from oldest to youngest." He pauses a moment to glance in Evie and Carlotta's direction. "This is completely confidential. I'm going to reveal the names of minors and what we say stays in this room."

"Aye aye, sir," Evie salutes him.

Carlotta, however, looks as if she's taken umbrage to Noah's words.

"Aw, come on, Foxy," she grouses. "Since when have I ever let a secret fly?"

There's a moment of silence as we all shoot her a look.

Carlotta isn't just a cog in the gossip wheel that rolls through Honey Hollow, she is the wheel.

Why is she in the room again?

"I have an idea," Lemon says as she holds up her right hand. "Let's all form a pact, that we solemnly swear not to tell a living soul until we are granted permission."

Every hand in the room goes up, including mine, as we all agree to her terms.

"Go on," I tell Noah. "What are their names and their ages? Did you find out where they live? What about their mothers?"

The endless stream of women I bedded flits through my mind, and I bedded women as if it were my mission on this planet.

What was I thinking?

I wasn't thinking.

And I certainly didn't believe in any sort of romantic love until I met Lemon.

But I can't erase my past. I can only face it. And that's what I'm doing now, on my day of reckoning.

Noah offers a mournful smile my way. "I'm about to tell you everything."