Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Ajax

Pride flows through me. Lulu had won every game except the last. Mary’s grin rivals my own. Lulu was right—like father, like daughter.

“Good job, baby. You showed her,” I call over, winking at Mary.

“Hey!” Lulu protests.

“You did good too, wifey. We’ll make a Whitler out of you yet.”

Lulu blushes, and Mary’s head snaps around, her wide eyes finding me at my words. I expected her to be giddy, her excitement palpable, but instead, her little chin wobbles, and her eyes fill with tears.

“Piglet,” I start, my words a whisper, but before I can get any further, Mary turns and launches herself at Lulu for the second time this evening, jumping into open arms ready to catch her.

I hate that I missed it. How could I not see how much Mary Lou needed a mother? Placing the spaghetti down, I walk over and join my girls.

Wrapping them in my arms, I pull them both close.

Mary clings to Lulu. Low tones of her whisper reach out, but the words are lost in Lulu’s neck, a secret between my two girls. Lulu’s finds me, her gaze beyond sad, and I know it’s one I’ll let them keep.

“Yeah, Piglet. You’re my baby.”

Mary whispers something else, the almost silent words making Lulu sniffle.

“I love you too, Piglet,” Lulu cries.

I hate seeing them upset. I press a solid kiss to the back of Mary’s head, then turn my lips to Lulu’s.

“And I love both of you.”

Lulu frowns. “You don’t have to lie.”

Glancing down at our emotional girl, I shake my head. “I didn’t lie.” I hold her gaze, letting Lulu see the truth.

I do love her. Lulu is a part of this family now. Our missing piece. I’m just pissed that I didn’t see it, but even if I had, I wouldn’t have thought we’d find it in someone at least fifteen years my junior.

“You okay, baby?” I ask Mary, soothing her back.

She nods her little head, pulling away from Lulu just enough to wipe at her wet face .

“This is better than a piglet,” she whispers against her hands.

My heart soars, and by the look on my wife-to-be’s face, so does hers.

Lulu kisses her cheek. “I’ve been called a pig before, but I’ve never been told I’m better than one.” She grins.

She means it as a joke, I know that, but rage attacks me. I wish I could kill her parents all over again.

“You’re fucking better than them,” I growl against her lips.

Mary gasps. “That’s a bad word!”

“It is a bad word,” Lulu agrees. “Bad Daddy.”

My cock twitches at her words. God, I can’t wait for her to give me more children.

“Food and then a film, you two troublemakers.” I roll my eyes, reaching to take Mary.

Lulu shakes her head, holding our little girl closer, wanting to carry her.

“What film are we watching?” I ask like I don’t already know.

“ Babe !” Mary cheers, all sadness forgotten.