33. Peyton

PEYTON

" T here they are." Peyton's father stood and motioned for her and Brodie to sit on the sofa. "As you can see, the party has grown."

Between the time her boys woke them and now, Brodie's mother, father, and Naughton had arrived.

"Our daughter Skye is on the way with her family too, but if it gets to be too much, Peyton, let us know, and we'll return to the ranch," Laird told her.

"She's pregnant too," Brodie whispered to Peyton. "They're having a boy." He rubbed his chest, near his heart. "And we're having a girl."

Peyton rested her head against his shoulder and put her arm around Brodie's waist.

"I've prayed for this, lass," Sorcha said through her tears. "I knew my Kade would bring you two together."

"Ma—"

Peyton stopped him. "It's okay, Brodie. I believe there's some truth to what she's saying."

"I do too, only I'm not sure how much you like to talk about him."

There was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Maddox offered.

"It's probably my mom. I'll get it." Both Alex and Maddox walked toward the door. Peyton saw the look that passed between them and noticed they stood close enough to each other for their arms to touch. Soon, she'd corner Alex and force her to tell her what was going on between her and Brodie's brother.

"We didn't expect to see you, little sister." Maddox wrapped someone Peyton didn't recognize in a hug.

Brodie jumped off the sofa and hurried to the entryway. He held the woman, who was crying, tight in his arms.

"That's Ainsley, lass," Sorcha told Peyton. "Have you met my youngest?"

"I haven't. She's beautiful."

The woman walking toward her with her arm wrapped around Brodie's waist was stunning. She was tall and thin, like Peyton was, with the same fiery red hair as Sorcha's. It was wavy and long, reaching all the way down to the curve of her back. She had the same deep blue eyes as her siblings, and her face was covered in freckles. She wore a knee-length, deep-emerald-green dress with long sleeves, over black tights, and funky patterned socks were peeking over her caramel-colored boots.

"I'm Ainsley." She leaned down and hugged Peyton. "High time we met. Ma's told me so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you, too."

Ainsley sat down on one side of Peyton, and Brodie sat on the other.

"Where's Skye?"

"On her way. I didn't know you were coming too. I've missed you, kiddo," Brodie said to his sister.

Ainsley leaned into Peyton. "I'm twenty-seven years old, and he still calls me kiddo."

"You'll always be my baby sister, Ains. Doesn't matter if I'm seventy-five and you're seventy."

When they heard another knock, Peyton's father got up. "I'll get it, and we can leave it open. Who knows who else might show up today?"

Peyton's mother stood when she saw it was Lucia Avila.

"Welcome, dear friend." She leaned forward, and the two women hugged.

"Quite a gathering you have here today, August."

When Peyton shifted to stand, Brodie did instead. "Mrs. Avila, it's good to see you."

"And you, Brodie." Lucia smiled and leaned down to hug Peyton. "If I were thirty years younger, I'd hook one of these Butler boys myself."

"Mama!" Alex shook her finger.

"Now, now. I'm not, so Maddox is all yours." She winked.

Peyton couldn't have predicted she'd ever see Maddox Butler blush, but Alex's conversation with her mother had him turning almost red.

"Is this getting to be too much?" Brodie whispered to Peyton when he sat on the sofa.

"I'm tired."

He leaned in closer. "Let me know when you want to go upstairs. Don't feel as though you need to stay down here if you don't want to."

"I want to go home, Brodie."

"Today?"

"If you don't mind. If you do, I can stay here a few more days."

Alex put her hands on her hips. "What's going on over there? August, didn't you tell your daughter it isn't polite to whisper?"

"She's a grown woman, as you are, Alex."

"We're discussing Brodie taking me home." Peyton glanced at her mother to gauge her reaction.

Her mom smiled. "I think that's a wonderful idea, don't you, boys?" When August addressed Jamison and Finn, they both stood.

"Should we pack our stuff?" Jamie asked.

"We're not leaving yet, but if Brodie doesn't mind, maybe we can get him to take us home after dinner." Peyton squeezed Brodie's hand.

"Whenever you're ready, sweetheart."

Brodie's sister Skye arrived less than half an hour later with the most beautiful little girl Peyton'd ever seen.

"This is Spencer," Skye said. "Spencer, can you say hello to Miss Peyton?"

Spencer hid behind her mother's legs, but her blue eyes met Peyton's. Skye looked like a slightly older version of Ainsley, but her hair was lighter, not fiery red like Sorcha's and her little girl's. Peyton imagined Spencer had looked a lot like her grandmother might've as a child.

"What's on your mind?" Brodie caught her staring.

Peyton rested her hands on her tummy. "What this one will look like. Will she look more like me or someone from your family?"

"She'll be beautiful like her mama, with blonde hair and green eyes. That's my prediction."

Alex scowled. "Seriously? You should leave. You're so annoyingly happy."

"Jealous much?" When Naughton nudged her, Maddox shot him a look both Peyton and Brodie caught.

"What is up with those two?" he whispered.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out tomorrow," Peyton whispered like he had. "When are you due?" Peyton asked Skye when she approached.

"Another month. You?"

"December."

"You're out of the first trimester. Have you been sick much?"

"Not as much as with my boys."

"You're glowing. I felt wonderful when I was pregnant with Spence, but this little guy is kicking my butt. I feel as though he's aged me twenty years."

"Nonsense. You're as beautiful today as when I met you ten years ago. More beautiful, in fact," said a man with the same accent as Sorcha.

Skye smiled. "Peyton, this is my husband, MacLayne Campbell. Mac, meet Peyton."

Mac shook her hand, but his eyes barely left his wife's.

Lang had been wretched when she was eight months along, with both Jamison and Finn. He'd never failed to mention she looked haggard. When he asked her how long she thought it would take to lose weight after Finn was born, she'd wanted to slug him. To think a man who cared so little about his then-wife wanted custody of the two boys he'd abandoned when one was a toddler and the other a baby, made her blood boil.

Brodie's hand rested on her nape, his fingers softly stroked her skin. "Everything okay?"

"Sorry, I was comparing your brother-in-law's behavior with Lang's when I was pregnant."

"Something else we need to discuss, Peyton."

"You know?"

"My parents and my brothers do too."

"I can't believe he would do this." She shook her head. "Can we change the subject?"

Skye leaned over and put her hand on Peyton's arm. "Is there a place you and I could speak privately?"

"She isn't supposed to be on her feet," Brodie responded.

Peyton smiled, but stood. "Of course. Follow me. I need some fresh air."

The two went out to the porch.

"Spencer was two weeks early," Skye began after they sat in two wicker chairs. "I've wanted to discuss this with you, but I wasn't sure how to handle it."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Mac and I want to name the baby Kade. Since everyone is here, the timing would be good to ask. However, I told Mac I needed to talk to you about it first."

"Skye, you and your husband do not need to discuss your child's name with me. You should name your son whatever you want to. But since you asked, I think it would be a wonderful tribute, not only to your brother, but to your whole family."

"Mac said you wouldn't mind, but I feel better asking."

"I appreciate it."

After a few minutes of silence, Skye asked, "Should we go inside?"

"I'd like to stay out here a while longer if you don't mind."

"Would you like to be alone?"

"No, there's something I'd like to talk to you about, too."