Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I don’t know how that works, and I don’t want to know—” He holds up a hand as if he’s expecting someone to volunteer graphic details of our sex life. “But it doesn’t seem right to me. It seems like you’d just be using Rose.”
Zipper speaks up before anyone else has a chance. “Absolutely not.”
“The four of us are like brothers,” Christian says. “We all fell for her, and we weren’t going to fight each other about it.”
“We’re in love with her,” Hutch says. “There’s nothing casual or temporary about this. We intend to take good care of her, always.”
Patrick nods again, and I think he’s softening. This seems to be going very well so far, but my stomach is still in a knot about what else we have to tell him.
“Ideally, I’d want Rose to get married to a man she loved and who was committed to her. How’s that going to work, since you can’t all marry her?”
“We’re completely committed to her,” Hutch says, “and we don’t need a piece of paper to prove that, though if legal marriage became an option, we’d gladly marry her.”
Christian takes my hand. “We’re bound to her. We always will be.”
Patrick nods, and when he doesn’t respond, I say, “There’s something more I need to tell you.” I take a deep breath and rest my other hand on my belly. “I’m having their baby.”
My brother stares for an uncomfortably long several seconds, then he gets up, and immediately sits back down, perching on the edge of his seat. “Whose baby?”
Nancy reaches an arm across to set a soothing hand on him. “I don’t think that’s the point, Pat.”
“It’s not important for us to know,” Hutch says. “We may find out someday who the father is, but we’re all going to be a father to the baby.”
“Rose, you’re so young,” Patrick says.
“I’ll be the age Mom was when she had you.”
Patrick’s brows lift at the realization, and he lets out a breath. “Times have changed, though. Why are you having a child so soon?”
“It wasn’t planned,” Hutch says. “In fact, we were careful to take measures to prevent it, but we’re very happy that it happened anyway.”
I offer my brother a smile, the first I’ve managed since we arrived. “You’re going to be an uncle, Patrick, and I hope that you’ll be a big part of our baby’s life.”
He goes quiet again, and during the silence, I tell myself that everything will be okay, regardless. A weight has lifted just getting this out in the open, and I know that I have all the support I need, whether or not Patrick is accepting of my plans.
But then he gets up and comes over to hug me. “Of course, Rose. I love you.”
Nancy comes over next, hugging me, too. “I’m so excited for you. When are you due? How have you been feeling?”
“That brings up something else we’d like to talk about,” Hutch says.
I know where he’s headed, so I quickly interject, “The baby’s due in February,” to answer her first question.
“We’d like Rose to reduce her hours at the coffee shop,” Hutch continues.
“We’d like her to stop working altogether,” Zipper says, “but as long as she’s healthy, that’s up to her.”
Patrick nods. “I’ll hire someone to start filling in, so Rose can cut back. Are you feeling okay, Rose?”
“Just tired, but I expect that to pass soon. I’d like to keep working until my arms can’t reach the counter over my belly. I’d be bored not working.”
“We can accommodate whatever works for you,” Patrick says. “Maybe I can train you on some of the office work so you’re not on your feet as much.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“We’d like to have you both over for dinner sometime soon,” Christian tells them. “I’m sure you’d like to see where your sister is living, and we’re looking forward to getting to know you better.”
His congenial tone makes me think back to the first time I walked into Brothers in Ink, when Christian’s behavior verged on rude. He barely spoke to me that day, and here he is being all polite and friendly.
It’s not an act for my brother’s benefit, though. I can already see impending fatherhood softening the men in subtle ways, though they still have plenty of hard, rough edges, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Dinner sounds good,” Patrick says as Hutch stands, offering me a hand.
As he walks us to the door, my brother says, “I had no idea things were so serious when I came to your shop that day.”
“We understand,” Mace says, shaking his hand before all of the other men do the same.
“As long as you’re true to your word and treat my sister well, everything will be okay.”
“Everything’s going to be great,” Hutch says, squeezing my hand and giving me a grin before I hug my brother and Nancy and say goodbye.