Chapter 43

Noah

“So Noah…”

The women were inside, doing the dishes. I’d wanted to take over, not liking that the people that made the meal were doing the cleaning up, but Millie’s dad made clear that his offer for us to come outside was more an order than a request.

“Knox, Charlie.” Angus nodded at each one of us as his sons came to stand beside him. “Now that the ladies are busy in the kitchen, maybe we can have a real talk.”

“Anything you’ve got to say needs to be said in front of Millie.” My words came out before I could even think about it. I literally had no idea what I was doing. This was my first time dealing with any girl’s parents, but I knew what I said was true. “I’m not going behind her back about anything.”

“OK, he passed the first test,” Hunter said with a slow nod.

“Maybe so.” Angus’ brows drew down and he gave each one of us a hard look. It was like standing in front of Brent, waiting for a dressing down when we’d screwed up. I’d gotten through disciplinary sessions in one piece, so I could survive a disapproving father, because it wasn’t his good opinion I needed, but hers. My eyes strayed back to the glass door, watching Millie work with Jamie and Heather to clear away the mess, but a loud harrumph had me focussing back on Angus. “But you’ve gotta see what a difficult situation this is. Jamie and the boys, they’ve got this whole poly thing going, but that only works because there’s no kids involved.”

“Ouch…” Hayden muttered, then took a sip of his beer.

“This whole situation is messy,” Angus continued, his words picking up speed. “Three possible fathers? We need to get testing done ASAP to work out who’s going to marry my daughter.”

“Shotgun wedding?” Brock rolled his eyes. “Really, Dad?”

“This is your sister this is happening to, boys,” Angus huffed.

“Fairly sure that all women deserve to be treated with respect.” Knox stepped forward, staring the other man down. “And you can be assured that is how we’ll treat your daughter.”

“All three of you?” Angus spluttered. “And how’s that going to work? You’ll get all cosy with her, go to antenatal appointments, and then what? Find out one of you is the father and the others aren’t. Seems to me a good way to get everyone hurt.”

He let out a long sigh.

“I assume none of you have got any other kids?” We all shook our heads. “Well, that changes things. A lot.” Angus scanned the group of us, but it appeared he was the only one with relevant experience in that regard. “Fatherhood forces you to stop thinking about yourself for once and start thinking about them.”

We followed his gaze as it quested towards the house, and I wondered then about how it felt, to have an adult daughter walking around the world, vulnerable to all the shit that life could throw at her, along with a wife he loved more than anyone else. Would this be me one day? Would I be grilling some poor, unsuspecting bloke?

Or blokes?

I shook my head, straightening up, because I was pretty sure I knew what to do. I might not have any experience with meeting the parents of girlfriends, but I’d talked to state and federal ministers at work events. I could do this.

“You want to make sure Millie is looked after,” I said. That got his attention. Angus eyed me warily, the twins with amused interest. “You want a guarantee she will come out of this unhurt.”

“If we could give you that, we would,” Charlie told him.

“There are no guarantees.” Knox looked bone tired, and I felt the same then. Today had been shit from the start, but it didn’t have to finish that way. “In our line of work, we see that all the time. People build homes, build lives, only for it all to go up in flames.” If he thought he was reassuring Angus, he was failing, but Knox forged on. “The only thing you can do is try.”

“They’ve got you there, Dad,” Brock said.

Angus didn’t look like he was about to concede defeat, but Hayden plucked his father’s beer bottle from his grip and then passed him a fresh one.

“We were all worried Millie would be on her own in this.” Hayden continued, “Instead, she’s got three blokes willing to step up.”

“If one dad is a good thing,” Hunter smiled slowly. “Then, surely three is better?”

“And when the little tacker is in school and other kids find out who their ‘dads’ are?” Angus spluttered. “What then?”

“Three big firefighters to call dad?” Hunter snickered. “Our niece or nephew would be the coolest kid in school.”

“There are worse things than having three fathers.” The harsh note of vulnerability in Knox’s voice had everyone going quiet. “No father, for one, or a dad that hurts their kids.” A low growl went around the group and I blinked, realising it started with me. “Neglects them and their mother. Is only around for the fun stuff and leaves his missus drowning in domestic duties.”

“No man is doing that to my daughter,” Angus snapped.

“No.” I nodded in agreement, feeling bolder by the second. Maybe I wasn’t being deferential enough, respectful enough, but he had to see. “No, none of us would do that to Millie. I’m a bloody good cook.”

“Well, at least the kid won’t get food poisoning,” Brock muttered, “because Millie sucks at cooking.”

“I know the right end of a mop and broom.” Charlie looked at Knox. “I’ve been put on clean up duty more times than I can remember.”

“And I’ve got a four bedroom house.” Charlie and I blinked as Knox spoke. “I’ve cleared out a room for the nursery.” He shook his head, his cheeks flushing red as he made this admission, but he pushed on. “Already started doing some prep on it.” Knox was always in control, so it was shocking to see him stare at the ground as he spoke. “It’s the only way I’ve been able to cope. Y’see, my dad was everything you wouldn’t want as a father to your grandchild, but not me.”

He met Angus’ eyes head on right then, ready to stare the other man down.

“Not us. We’ll provide your daughter with everything she needs. She can leave that damn job and move into the spare room tonight if she wants. I’ll make sure she has the best antenatal care, gets in to see a good obstetrician, whatever it takes to make this pregnancy as easy for her as possible.”

“We will.” Everyone looked Charlie’s way right then and he smiled. “I dunno if Knoxy wants me moving in with him.” He copped an elbow to the ribs when he went to ruffle the other man’s hair. “But we’re all one hundred percent on board. I know it’s hard, but you’re going to have to trust us on that.”

Angus sucked in a breath, but Brock cut him off.

“C’mon, Dad, you’re gonna have to give them that.” He stared back at his father when he gave him a mulish look. “I know you want a notarised contract outlining exactly how they’ll look after Millie, but you’re just gonna have to take them at their word for now, just like Jamie’s dad did us.”

Angus seemed to deflate then.

“Alright.” He nodded to himself, then thrust his hand out. “Welcome to the family.” I took his hand and shook it, and so did the others. “We do dinners on Thursday night, each week.” He put special emphasis on the last bit. “You want to be a part of this process, you turn up for my daughter.”

It took me until now to realise what happened back in high school. I admit I’d bloody hated Hunter and Hayden for some time, but now it made sense. Millie was loved and her family would do anything to ensure she was protected, including stepping in between me and her.

“Done,” I replied, knowing I spoke for all of us. “Now, I need to have a quick chat with the twins.”

Brock looked at me, then his brothers, and snorted.

“Don’t mess their faces up too much. My girlfriend likes them looking pretty.”

“And he walks off.” Hunter shook his head. “Thanks for having my back, Bro. Dad as well?”

“You got yourselves into this mess,” Angus said. “You can get yourselves out of it. Just no fighting in the garden. Your mother doesn’t like it.”

“You got this?” Charlie came to stand beside me. “I’m pretty sure you can take them on your own, but I’ve got your back.”

“We are literally about to become your brothers-in-law,” Hunter spluttered. “And we could totally take you, right, Haybale?”

“No.” Hayden looked me up and down. “I mean maybe, if we were prepared to fight dirty enough, but?—”

“You won’t.” I crossed my arms, loving that I was looking down at them now, as everyone else cleared off. “You’d do just about anything to avoid hurting your sister.”

Hunter went quiet as Hayden stared at me.

“You too.” He shook his head slightly as he spoke. “The others, they’re seeing Millie and the baby, and it's all shiny and new for them, but not you.”

“Not me,” I confirmed. “I would never have hurt your sister, not then and not now. She’s…” My voice cracked but I forged on. “She’s all I’ve ever wanted. If you’d gotten out of our way at high school, things would’ve flamed out, we would’ve moved on, putting it down to a school yard crush.” I thrust out my hand. “So thanks.” The two of them stared at it like my fingers were made of spider’s legs or something. “By getting in the way, you helped us to get here. I’m an adult and so’s Millie, old enough to know what we really want. Loving your sister, your niece or nephew, I couldn’t think of what I could want more.”

“Right…”

Hunter darted in, shaking my hand quickly before pulling back, but Hayden moved in more slowly.

“So do it right.” Hayden stared into my eyes, his grip growing punishingly tight. “Look after her, because she won’t let us do the job. Wake up every morning and make that your priority and any time you knock at the front door, we’ll let you in.”

“You’ve got a deal.”

I walked back inside and saw everyone was making their goodbyes. I don’t know what made me do it. Perhaps it was because I felt free of the past, of all my bullshit, for the first time in forever. My finger slid up Millie’s spine and I loved the way she stopped speaking mid-sentence and turned my way.

“You look like you could do with some rest,” I told her. “Let me drive you home.”

Her keys were in her hand in seconds, then pressed into mine.

“Lovely to meet you all,” I said, nodding to her family. “And dinner was amazing, Heather.”

“I’ve got plenty of leftovers if you want to take some home?” she asked hopefully, but I shook my head.

“I’ve got everything I need right here,” I told her, putting my arm around Millie’s shoulders and then steering her towards the door.