13. Baxter

CHAPTER 13

BAXTER

“The goalie jerked left, sticking out his foot to stop the puck,” I read to Kai. He’s really getting into chapter books, and any story about hockey is king. Tammy’s been working overtime to find books that fit his age and stage. He’s actually a good little reader, but he prefers us to read to him, and I’m not complaining. It’s one of my favorite times of the day.

Kai’s snuggled up against my right side while Nova sits on my lap. She’s sleepy, so she’s in a cuddly mood. It’s about the only time of day she sits still, and I always cherish these moments. Brushing my lips across her soft forehead, I keep reading to my kids while Tammy potters around in the kitchen. She’s had a hectic week, but we’re nearly at the finish line. Kai has one week left at school, and Tammy is taking a big chunk of time off this year. She’s saved up vacation days so we can take a week off for our honeymoon and then spend another three full weeks with the kids after that. It’s going to be the best summer. Asher’s helped me find another handyman to plug the gaps while I’m away, and he’s going to take over the admin side of my business for that month. I’ve got it all planned out.

We just have to make it through to the wedding and we’ll be set.

I’m relieved that everything has gone so smoothly there. We’re now just in that holding stage before all of the last-minute details need to get organized. The timing is going to be perfect, and I get a kick of excitement in my stomach every time I think about standing at the end of the aisle, watching Tammy walk toward me in whatever dress she’s chosen. I still haven’t seen it. Lani insisted that it was stored at her place, because the girls want it to be a surprise.

Fine. Whatever. I’m cool with that. For all I care, Tammy could walk down the aisle in a potato sack. She’d look good either way. I just want to stand there, watching her come toward me, knowing I’m about to make her officially mine.

We’ve got one month to go, and I’m tempted to start counting sleeps the way Kai always does.

Nova sniffs and rubs her nose against my shirt. I need to get her into bed soon. There’s that perfect time window, and if you hit it just right, she’ll sleep through until the morning, but if we leave it too late, she gets this second wind, but it’s a grumpy, heinous one. More like a tornado that sweeps through the house, wreaking havoc.

“I need to get your sister to bed,” I murmur to Kai.

“Not sweepy,” she whines, rubbing her eyes.

I know better than to argue with her, so I simply kiss her head and go to stand.

“Not sweepy, Dada!” She fists my shirt. “Storwee! Storwee!”

“It’s okay, Nova.” Kai stands, rubbing her leg. “I’ll read it to you in the morning, okay?” He goes on his tiptoes, giving her pudgy cheek a kiss before tickling her under the chin. She giggles, forgetting all her complaints. I give Kai a grateful wink.

Seriously. He’s the best big brother in the world. Nova will do things for him that she’ll never do for us.

I dance her into the kitchen, making her giggle some more as we waltz over the tiles.

“Bedtime?” Tammy grins, drying her hands and reaching up to give Nova a kiss. “Night, baby girl. I love you.”

“Wuv you,” Nova murmurs in her sweet little voice.

I kiss the top of her head and walk her down to her room. She’s turning into a limp noodle, unable to fight her sleepy eyes. She keeps rubbing them and starts to grizzle against my shirt.

“Sleepy time,” I whisper and start to hum the nighttime song Tammy always sings to her. My voice isn’t half as good as Mommy’s, but Nova can feel the vibration in my chest as she snuggles into me.

We reach her bed, and she gives “staying up” one more shot, but she can barely finish her sentence, the words fading away when her head hits the pillow.

“Love you, sweetheart,” I whisper against her cheek, giving her a kiss and smiling down at her as she gives me a sleepy grin.

“Pancakes?” she mumbles.

“You want pancakes for breakfast?”

She nods, her blinks getting slower.

“Okay. You close your eyes and dream about pancakes, and we’ll make some in the morning.”

“’Kay, Dada.”

“Love you,” I whisper again, sure I will never get over how amazing the word Dada sounds coming out of her mouth.

I nearly cried the first time she said it. Yep, turns out I am the world’s biggest softy when it comes to my daughter. Tammy can’t help teasing me about it, but Nova’s made me cry more than anyone. They’re always happy, sentimental tears, but watching my own flesh and blood grow up is the most rewarding thing in my life. Kai feels like my own flesh and blood now, too, and I love that kid as much as I love his sister.

I’m a family man. Who would have guessed it? I had no idea how fulfilling it would be.

Now to make it all official.

I grin, padding back through to the living room. Kai’s kept reading the book without me, and Tammy is on the phone, pacing and looking worried.

My protective instincts jump into high alert, and I move toward her with a questioning frown.

She shakes her head, closing her eyes with a sad sigh. “Yeah… no, I understand. Thanks for letting us know.”

Hanging up, she passes my phone back to me, and I raise my eyebrows. “Who was that?” I glance at the screen.

“That was our reception venue.”

I wince at the expression on her face. It matches her deflated tone perfectly.

“Uh-oh,” I whisper.

“Yep.” She nods, putting on a brave smile that turns into a trembling chin situation.

I pull her into my arms before she can start crying. “How bad is it?”

Her hands come around my waist, fisting my shirt at the back. “They had an electrical fire this morning.”

“What?” I ping back to gape down at her.

“They’re having to shut the place down while they renovate, and there’s no way the repairs will be finished in time for our wedding.” Her forehead crinkles, and a few tears splash out of her eyes. “It’s happening again.” She snivels. “The universe doesn’t want us getting married, Bax. We should just?—”

“Don’t you dare say quit.” I smile down at her. “I am making you my wife if it’s the last thing I do.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I’ve loved you since I was a kid. I dreamed about marrying you in high school. This is happening, TT.”

Her laugh is watery, her smile barely there. “I just don’t know if I can do this again, you know? Deal with more problems around this wedding. Maybe we should just get married at a courthouse.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I know you want this wedding. I want this wedding, and we’re going to make it happen. The church is still good to go; now we just have to find a new venue for the reception.”

“And a caterer, and waitstaff, and?—”

“Hey, slow down,” I murmur softly. “One thing at a time.”

She shakes her head, more tears spilling from her eyes. “My plate already feels so full leading up to this. The idea of having to spend hours sorting it all out…”

Kai gets up from the couch with a worried frown, nestling against her side. “It’s okay, Mom. We’ll find another venue. Let Dad and me figure it out.”

“Sweet boy,” she whispers, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and kissing his head.

The way he’s been sprouting up over the past couple months, he’s going to be taller than her in a year or two. He’s grown so much since I first met him… and he’s still the kindest kid I know.

Plus, he just called me Dad, and it doesn’t matter how many times he says it, my heart fills to overflowing whenever he does. It’s either Bax or Dad. I never know when the D-word will pop out, although it’s happened a lot more since Nova was born… and I love it every time.

I’m feeling just a touch choked up as I wrap my arms around both of them. “Kai’s right. We’re going to have this wedding. It’s going to be amazing. We’ll figure something out.”

“How? The wedding is less than a month away. This is a small town. Everything will be booked.” Tammy’s voice pitches.

“We’re going to make something work. There’s bound to be somewhere that’s available. Let Kai and me take this on. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”

Tammy closes her eyes, resting her forehead against my chest.

I share a sad smile with Kai, but I can see the determination in his eyes. We’re not going to let his mama down.

Which is why, once everyone’s asleep, I creep back out of bed and decide to make a late-night phone call.