Chapter 20

I didn't know what would happen next.

The conversation we'd had had seemed significant to me, but still, we were new to each other's lives. So, playing things by ear seemed to make the most sense.

Even families had to do normal things like take naps and vacuum and straighten up the playroom I'd just learned of the existence of today. Tonight was for fireworks in the village. A fitting family event for our debut as a couple with his son.

We absolutely were a couple now. Even without the assigned label. Family seemed like more than just dating, but if it was soon for us to be a couple, to be a family now was even sooner. But it felt good. Right. It didn't feel unnerving in any way.

You're just in the glow period. Right now, of course it feels good. Because everything is new and exciting.

Other people in the Cove had fallen quickly. Even in my very own family. Christian and Honey had made their baby without even benefit of a single date, for goodness sake. Honey had admitted that to me some time ago, accidentally in passing. And if she could, then well, it was possible for anyone since my brother wasn't usually an impulsive man.

I was organizing the playroom shelves with all Owen's new books and toys while he took a nap. I'd moved several of them into his for our bedtime reading. I looked forward to our little time together every night

The entire time we'd shopped today, we'd held hands along with holding Owen's. Like a family might, if they got along well, in any case.

Maybe this wasn't so weird, after all.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I placed a quick call to my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Honey. I already thought of her that way, but their wedding was still a couple of weeks away, so she wasn't officially that yet.

She answered breathlessly as a baby cried in the background. "I'm calling at a bad time," I said apologetically.

"No, no, it's fine. I want to talk to you, Maddie." She lowered her voice and then she seemed to go in another room because instantly, the sound of the crying baby disappeared. "Are you okay? I wanted to call you, but I'm sure you're swamped with concerned family."

Even without seeing her, I imagined her doing air quotes around concerned, so I couldn't help laughing. "Um, yes. Definitely. Gotta say it's odd for me because I've always been the good girl who never got in trouble. Now people seem to think I've gone rogue."

"I hear that, sister. That was me last fall. And you know what? I do not regret the way a single thing happened. Yes, we moved quickly, but what else are you going to do when you know what you want? What sense does it make to take tiny steps when you're ready for bigger ones?"

"Oh my God, thank you. You're exactly who I needed to talk to, and I didn't even realize how much. Oh, and you're gorgeous just as you are, so stop worrying about baby weight."

"Thanks." She let out a baffled laugh. "Truthfully, I wish I'd had me to talk to last fall. I did not. So whatever you want to talk about I'm here. And I will not tell your brother, so you're safe to tell all."

"Thank you. Thank you. Oh, God, thank you."

"I understand. Trust me. So you're hot for this guy?"

"Yeah." I glanced at the closed playroom door one more time. "He's sexy as hell. And also good at the act itself and all the parts of it. That's not easy to come by, I'm sure you know."

"Um, yes, far too well. And I do know how a slow period in that department might cloud your vision a bit. People say good sex isn't all that matters, but it matters a hell of a lot more than people who aren't having it claim."

I laughed. Hard. "Yes. As my best friend lives in your house, and I'm not going to make this weird for you, but yes. Just yes."

"I love Rea like my own daughter, but I know she worries. Part and parcel of her future career, I think. She watches many murder documentaries and gory podcasts, so I think she fears danger is around every corner." Honey released a long sigh. "Not even saying she's wrong. One look at the news, and you know she's not. But that also doesn't mean that every man you meet is destined to chop you up. Even the hot, financially set ones with secluded homes. If it did, I'd currently be dead, because your brother's home could not be any more secluded, and I did not know much about him before he brought me here the first time."

"At least you'd known him from town for years. And he's a cop."

Honey made a sound of agreement. "That wouldn't be enough with Rea, because she was watching a story called killer cop some months ago."

I giggled. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Because you know her far too well. She's very worried about you because she loves you so much. The ones who drive you craziest usually do. Doesn't mean it's any easier to take."

"Yeah. I know. I love her right back. I'm so glad she came into my life, and I hate we lost so many years because of Christian's situation with her mom." I bit my lip as my eyes filled, thinking about Jude's situation with his brothers. "Jude has more anchors in town than I even knew."

"What do you mean?"

Without sharing too many details, I briefly told her about Jude realizing he had relatives in town and how we were going to go see them. At some point. I also touched on how he wanted Owen to get to know his cousins, as well. "Not sure when, since that's obviously up to him. But I want to be there for him, and he seems like he wants that just as much."

"He's in love with you," Honey said softly. "He has to be. No guy would just invite you to be privy to a sensitive part of his life without having hardcore feelings for you, Maddie. You also wouldn't offer to be there if your own feelings weren't pretty intense."

I rubbed my forehead to try to dispel the ache that was taking root. "Yeah."

"And you love his son too already, don't you?"

"How can you tell?"

"Just mentioning him, your voice grew warmer. You have so much love to give, Maddie. Your family is so very important to you, no wonder Jude latched on to you so quickly. Obviously, he could tell you were exactly who he was looking for. And clearly, who he needed."

"It doesn't seem crazy to you?"

"God, no. I fell in love with your brother within a couple hours. Did I know it then? No. But looking back, I absolutely did. And we had sex before we knew anything about each other. You'd be surprised how that helps you get to know someone." She laughed as I coughed delicately. "So, right, you already know. Go, us."

"Go, us," I echoed softly, biting my lip to hold back more babble. Then I relented and said just a bit more. "I mean, he said some odd things at first, but I honestly think he doesn't even know how to just be in a relationship without putting rules on it because he doesn't trust much. Partially due to his parents, I'm guessing. And considering his family situation, who can blame him?"

"We're all just trying our best. And we all fuck shit up. But if he's still trying and you like being with him, seems to me that's more than half the battle. Follow your gut, Maddie. It won't lead you wrong."

"Yeah." I wanted to tell Honey everything spinning in my head and get her thoughts on all of it. But maybe what she'd already said was more than enough.

Could be that my opinion and Jude's—and Owen's, come to that—were the most important ones.

We talked for a few minutes more, catching up on things with the baby, and wedding stuff, and various other family stuff before she said she had to go start dinner, which meant I should too. Though I wasn't even sure what to make.

Maybe I'd try a quick casserole like the tater tot one I'd put together at my parents' house a couple months ago. At least I'd remembered to get ground beef today. What kid didn't like tater tots? None that I'd ever known.

"Are you going to be at the fireworks tonight?"

"Yeah, the three of us are going. So, you can meet Jude and Owen, if you want."

"Duh, is the Pope Catholic? You know I want. I'll find you later, Rea probably in tow. I'm sure she won't want to miss a minute."

I laughed. "Sounds good. Thank you, Honey. You're a literal lifesaver."

"No problem. Your brother told me to leave you a plus one with no name for now, so works for me. No rush, okay?"

"Okay. I love you. I'm so glad you're going to be my sister-in-love. I mean, in-law. But in-love too."

"Aww, don't make me cry. I love you too. Sister-in-love is perfect." She took a long breath. "See you tonight. Oh, and Maddie? Try to enjoy the ride. Worrying doesn't make anything better, and it just gives you premature wrinkles. Not that you need to worry there, you bitch," she said, clicking off with a laugh.

After ending the call, I immediately looked up the tater tot casserole recipe and tagged it to access to make for dinner. And then I took a moment to look at the site my other sister-in-love, Vee, had started some years ago for prospective parents to be matched with people who were looking for someone to be their baby daddy—or even baby mama.

The site had immediately taken off matching people and their success with it had led to Moose getting involved in programming a local app a friend of his had started for, of all things, mail order brides with a modern twist. That had been the start, although I'd heard it was now functioning more like a regular dating app focusing on local happily-ever-afters. But I wasn't looking for a dating app at the moment.

I wanted to read Vee and Moose's love story, written by Vee. Just now, I was paying much more attention to such things.

I skimmed the part about Vee accidentally putting up the baby daddy posted want ad in a local Facebook group. How embarrassing, and she definitely was put through her paces from her neighbors who saw the post.

What I focused on was how quickly she'd fallen for my brother, though she hadn't been brave enough to tell him. He'd fallen just as fast for Vee. Through a comedic series of events, they'd hooked up and eventually tried to make a baby, although it had taken a bit for Vee to get pregnant. But they'd had no problems expanding the family. She just kept repeating that they'd fallen in love so very swiftly and fell even more in love as they added to their brood.

Falling in love practically overnight was a thing, even in my own family. So, no, this wasn't crazy, dammit. It was just kismet.

And now I was going downstairs to start making dinner. Hopefully, both my men—the little one and his dad—would enjoy it before we went to see the fireworks.

As a freaking found family.