Baby Daddies: Puck Buddies Series

by Tara Brown

  “Can we talk?” he asks.

  “Of course, come in.” I walk to the kitchen where Millie is. “Millie, this is my dad, Rick. Dad, this is Millie. She’s our everything,” I joke. Simon jumps on the counter and nuzzles against me, upset he hasn’t been introduced. “And this is Simon.”

  “Lovely to meet you,” Millie offers and walks out.

  I turn on the kettle to make tea, like my mom would, as he sits at the counter. “This is quite the place.”

  “Yeah, it’s crazy.”

  We naturally fall into small talk.

  But we don’t stay there.

  He swallows something, a lump maybe, and speaks with a broken voice, “When she was dying I couldn’t bear it. I avoided it. I avoided her and you kids. It was the wrong thing to do, and I’ve never forgiven myself for it. I moved on with Judith and told myself it was what your mom would have wanted. Me to be happy.”

  I have a thousand things to say to that. None of them are nice.

  “But I was wrong. She would have wanted me to make you kids happy.” He laughs bitterly but it’s more like he’s giving in to the emotions he’s facing. “She was the parent. I was the breadwinner. I didn’t know how to parent. I honestly thought you were fine.”

  I want to hit him or yell or something, but I wait, hoping this is going somewhere beyond him feeling sorry for himself.

  “I messed up, kid. I made a mistake and I kept on making it because it was easier than facing the truth of my actions.” He lifts his gaze to mine and I see it. He’s here to beg me for forgiveness. “I’m so sorry. There’s no excuse to offer. Just my honest to God apology.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “Are you okay?” he asks and tears flood my eyes.

  I shake my head and walk to him, letting him wrap me up in his arms.

  And I’m transported back, maybe twenty years. I’m a little girl. I’ve fallen off my bike and scraped myself up. He’s hugging me and kissing my head and lifting me up. He smells and feels the same as he did then. He even whispers the same words, “That’s my girl. So tough and strong.” He kisses my head again.

  “Do you wanna see them?” I ask into his polo shirt collar as the kettle boils and turns itself off.

  “I’d like nothing more than to see them.” His voice cracks again.

  I stand and wipe my face. “Come on.” I walk back to the hallway where the kids’ room is. Finding Lori in the same spot. Still staring at them.

  Dad walks in causing Lori to turn. His eyes narrow for a second before he sees me. He nods at my dad and holds out his hand. “Mr. Snowdon.”

  “Rick, please. Mr. Snowdon would be ninety if he were still alive. And sorry about the playoffs, son. You guys will get them next year,” Dad jokes because it’s what he does with people he doesn’t know.

  “Yeah.” Lori shrugs. He hasn’t wanted to talk about being out of the playoffs so early. I imagine eventually the newness of the babies will wear off, and he will have a drunken crying night of ranting and complaining. I’m almost looking forward to it so I can see he’s human.

  “So these are them?” Dad asks as he leans over the crib and stares.

  “Adeline and Alexzander. He’s bigger than she is.” Lori sighs.

  “Can I hold one of them?”

  “Of course, Grandpa.” Lori pats him on the back before lifting Alexzander from the crib and handing him to my dad.

  “Why, hello there,” Dad whispers and kisses his cheek. Alex makes a noise, a grunting sound that makes Dad and I smile. Lori lifts Adeline out and kisses her.

  “They’re perfect, Jenny,” he manages to get out before he cracks and a little sob slips from his lips. “Your mother would be overjoyed with these two.”

  The statement is the sort that rips open my heart.

  “I’m surprised they’re both brunettes though, thought for certain one would have red hair like you.”

  “I’m glad they don’t.” I walk to him and kiss my tiny son’s cheek. “No Kick a Ginger Day. Or people saying they have no soul. No carrot-top jokes.” It takes every ounce of humanity in me, but I manage to ask the one question I haven’t yet, “Where’s Judith?” I want this hatchet buried. I want calm.

  “Downstairs. I told her it would be best if she didn’t come up.”

  “I want her here,” I say flatly. “Every child needs a wicked step-grandma.” I say the joke Josh has been saying to my belly for months on end whenever he visits us.

  Dad laughs and sighs. “Fine. I’ll text her and tell her to come up. Try to be nice.”

  “I’ll go get her.” Lori hands me Adeline and kisses us both on the cheek before leaving.

  “How’s things, beyond the babies?” Dad asks after a minute.

  “Great. His brother is doing amazing in the rehab center. He’s asked for family to come see him. He wants it one at a time first. Lori’s going in two weeks to see him for the first time since he was admitted.” I crack a sarcastic grin. “Obviously, you saw how the playoffs went. They’re all bummed about that.”

  “And work?”

  “I worked until the day I went into labor and now I’m off for six months. Then I start back half-time and work from home. So we’ll see.” I shrug.

  “How was the labor? Josh mentioned you didn’t need drugs.”

  “No, I wanted them. I needed them. But it went quickly and as I was asking it was too late.” The pain is still fresh and real. It makes my toes curl.

  “Josh should be here any moment too.”

  “Yeah, he called earlier. He’s trying to get here. They’re on tour, so his time isn’t his own. He’s made me Facetime five times so far so they can hear his voice.” I kiss my daughter’s cheek and mutter, “Uncle Joshy is crazy.”

  “You and Lori planning to get married?”

  “No. He tries bringing it up and I shut him down. We haven’t been together a year, Dad.” I laugh at the ridiculousness of that statement.

  Judith’s voice perks up my ears. I turn to the door and prepare myself emotionally.

  She comes around the corner and smiles wide, as if not a minute has passed since the last time I saw her and everything is fine. “Jenny!” She rushes over and hugs me, but her eyes are wide with the grandbabies. “She is stunning. What a beautiful girl. Hello. I’m your granny Judith.” She reaches for Adeline and lifts her from my arms. She’s cooing and animated.

  I glance at Dad who shrugs, passively agreeing it’s weird but it’s Judith.

  Lori kisses my forehead, though his eyes never stray from Judith and our daughter.

  “Oh my, this is the sweetest baby I’ve ever seen.” Judith has found her happy place.

  Dad walks to her and holds Alexzander next to his sister. “Pretty adorable, huh? We’re grandparents.” He sounds proud and though I’ve been angry with him for a decade, the words warm my heart in its darkest corners. And maybe because of the insanity of giving birth to two babies, or maybe because I love him and I want him in my life, I forgive him. And her. Maybe Judith won’t accept me, but I can accept her.

  “Well done, you two.” Judith gives us a look. Tears well in her eyes. “They’re absolutely perfect.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Lori says and kisses my head, smelling me as he does it.

  They carry them out to the living room and we sit, all of us staring at the sleeping babies as if they might do something entertaining. But the most we get is a stretch or the odd grunt, though we all swoon as if it’s major.

  Lori leans in, wrapping himself around me and whispers, “You remember my parents will be here any minute too, right?”

  My stomach clenches.

  “That’s what I thought.” He chuckles but it’s sarcastic.

  “Just our luck.” I kiss him and hover there, needing him.

  “You know it,” he says and Millie comes into the room. She twitches her head toward the elevator as a noise fills the halls. “You’ve arrived in time to meet my parents and grandfather.”

&nbs
p; “Oh wonderful!” Judith stands, still holding Adeline to her chest.

  Dad gives me an uneasy stare but I smile as peacefully as I am capable of.

  Lori walks to the foyer and beams. I think it’s genuine but I don’t know. I’ve met his parents once and all I recall from it was his mother telling me repeatedly how good I looked for being pregnant with twins.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Rick and Judith, Jenny’s parents. Rick, Judith, these are my parents, Lorne and Verna. And this is my grandpa, Harlan Pigott.”

  “Lovely to meet you,” Lori’s father says kindly.

  “Yes, what a wonderful addition to the family.” Lori’s grandfather beams at his grandson. Lori winks at him. “And, Jenny, it’s nice to see you again.” He hugs me the same way he did the first time I met him at Christmas. “How’s Stan treating you?”

  “Oh, he’s super sweet as always.” I smile, certain Harlan had a conversation with Stan at some point in my career. I suspect there might have been threats and promises.

  “Of course he is.” Lori’s grandpa nods, satisfied.

  Lori’s mother almost looks like she might sniff at my parents, but she manages a half smile and a weird handshake where her hand is sort of flat like she expects them to kiss the back.

  “Guess we’re all grandparents together,” Judith says excitedly. “Very proud of these two.” She begrudgingly hands over Adeline to Lori’s mom. Lori, the helicopter parent, is there, ensuring the transition is smooth.

  “Lawrence, I have held a baby before.” She sniffs at him and glances down at her granddaughter. Her face loses all the snobbery as she gushes, “Oh my, she’s stunning.”

  “And this is the handsomest young man I’ve ever seen.” Lori’s dad is all charm and schmooze. Even so, I like him. He calls me Red and nudges me and stares at my boobs, and he’s still the easiest of our parents to be around.

  We’re lucky to have Josh and Harlan. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

  The evening progresses as his grandpa and I talk while Lori hovers over the parents who pass the twins, taking turns snuggling and smelling. It’s aggressive and handsy and even Millie sneaks a peek several times to ensure the kids are doing okay. She’s another helicopter. But I’m grateful for her.

  The parents go check into the hotel as we order in dinner from downstairs. When they return we eat, watching the sleeping babies.

  Judith tries to be fancy enough for Lorne and Verna, and Dad tries to ignore everything coming out of her mouth by talking to me and Harlan excessively.

  But it’s okay, we needed the catch up and he and Lori’s grandfather are cut from the same working-man cloth.

  By the time everyone leaves, I’m certain I’ve never been so tired, but the little savages are hungry and I’m the feed bag. We prop them up and nurse as a team effort.

  Everything is a team effort.

  Lori is the best teammate I’ve ever had.

  He’s burping and changing and snuggling and rocking until he wears a path in the floor. And instead of just falling more in love with the babies every day, I fall more in love with him too.

  The sun is gone, the babies are wiggling, and we’re lying in bed with them on the sheets. They’re touching each other as if they need to and I understand that feeling. “Thank you for being such an amazing person.”

  “What?” He laughs as if it’s ridiculous. “You’re the one making humans.”

  “And you’re the one making me sane and happy. And I don’t know how it’s possible you’re so friggin’ awesome, Lawrence Eckelston, but you are. You have insane parents and weird siblings. And somehow, you’re you. This perfect boyfriend and now baby daddy.”

  He cringes.

  “What? I’m being serious.” I sound drunk but it’s more delirious than anything else.

  “Baby daddy.” He pulls back. “That’s gotta go, Red. I can’t do it. I’m not a baby daddy.”

  “You totally are.”

  “We’ll see.” He’s smug and secretive and I roll my eyes at it.

  36

  The best family a guy could choose

  Saturday, July 21

  Matt

  Eli snuggles into my chest, his blond hair fluttering in the warm breeze coming off the Atlantic. He’s about to wake, which means he will be off and I’ll be running. But for now he’s peaceful.

  “Lori, buying this place is the best damned decision you ever did make.” Bev lowers her sunglasses and gives him a cheeky grin. “Apart from convincing Jenny to date you.”

  Jenny winks at her as she too is stuck in a chair holding Adeline who is protected from the sun by a shade.

  Lori glances around the beach and nods. “I don’t know, Bev. This place might beat dating Jenny.”

  I laugh at the size of the balls on this guy, knowing she could kill him with one finger. Fortunately for him, Jenny laughs too. She’s genuinely cool again now that their life has settled down.

  “Beast!” Sami shouts at me from inside the house. “Is he still dry or do you need a diaper?”

  I lift my thumb up gently, not shouting or moving him.

  The sun and sand and warm wind is what I needed this week. Between Sami finding out she’s pregnant again, my mom telling me she has cancer, and the company needing me more, the decision to leave the team has been made. The last two seasons have been garbage and I hate to go out on a low, but I’m spread thin as it is.

  I just haven’t told these guys.

  Brady walks over with a fresh bucket of beers on ice and starts handing them out.

  Rich holds his against his face, Carson cracks his and drinks right away, and Lori holds it and stares at the sea. Something he’s been doing all week. Cap takes the beer and tries not to look at Sukii who is sunbathing in a lounger. Something he has also been doing all week. She won’t give him the time of day.

  Nat follows with Kara in a snugly on her chest, holding a tray of snacks. “Hungry?” She holds it near me and I grab half a sandwich.

  “Thanks,” I say softly.

  “He’s so sweet.” She smiles at Eli.

  “When he’s sleeping,” I mutter.

  “Lori, this was a bomb-ass idea,” Brady says as he cracks a beer and sits in his chair with a deep and satisfying sigh.

  Sami comes clicking from the house with her flip-flops slapping the cement and sits; she’s busy now. Everything is busy. Her feet move faster and her mind never stops and she wants more and more and more.

  Another reason for me to quit.

  I’m about to say something to the guys when Lori glances at Sami. “Ready?”

  She smiles wide and nudges Geoff who lifts his camera and begins to shoot at the same time Jenny’s brother Josh lifts his phone and begins filming.

  Lori hands Alexzander to Bev and kneels in front of Jenny, lifting a small turquoise box we all recognize.

  Jenny presses her lips into a tight line, instantly not amused.

  “I’ve asked you all here this weekend for a special reason.” Lori gives us all a look.

  “Lori, come on,” Jenny pleads.

  “My title as baby daddy will die today, Jenny. And you are going to like it. That’s mandatory.” Lori’s grin widens and Jenny’s eyes flash something resembling fury but with a hint of humor.

  He opens the box to a dazzling ring. It sparkles in the sunlight and even Jenny can’t help but gasp. I’m pretty sure I did.

  “I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m not taking the chance you’ll say no. I’m telling you right now, this partnership has grown and developed and this is the next step.”

  Jenny laughs as Sukii inhales sharply.

  “This isn’t a proposal. You don’t even get this ring, Red. Not until you meet me at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort where a small and simple service has been planned in honor of solidifying the partnership we entered.” He snaps the box closed and stands. “You have one hour to make her stunning.” And walks away.

  I’m completely lost.

  Brady bursts ou
t laughing. “What? Did you know?” he asks Nat but she is mouth agape and totally stunned.

  Sami walks to Jenny and holds out her hand. “Let’s go, Cinderella.” She is aware of what’s going on.

  Jenny gives me a look, visibly seeking support. I shrug, uncertain how many of them are in on it. Nat’s shocked. Brady’s laughing ridiculously. Josh and Geoff visibly know but Bev is in the dark.

  “Sneaky fuckers,” Bev gasps. “Did you know?” she asks me.

  “No, no idea.” I lift my one hand.

  Carson pops his eyes open. “What’s happening?”

  Rich stands and offers his hand. “Lori and Jenny are getting married in an hour.”

  “Piss off.” Carson waves him off and closes his eyes again.

  “No, for real. Get up.” Rich grabs his arm.

  We all stand and stare at Jenny who knits her brow but lets Sami force her into the house.

  It’s a whirlwind of everyone hurrying inside to shower and change, but in true Sami fashion, we meet the staff in the foyer. They’re holding garment bags in one hand and weekender bags in the other.

  Nat offers a confused glance at me as she takes hers and walks away with Kara still sleeping.

  Holding my sleeping son, I manage to carefully grab mine and walk to our room but Sami isn’t there. I lay Eli down and arrange the pillows so he can’t fall off the bed.

  She comes in a minute later, hurrying. “You have ten minutes to shower and get ready. Eli’s clothes are in your bag.” She kisses me quickly and rushes back out.

  I shower and change, shaking my head at how perfectly the silvery gray suit with pale pink tie fits, considering I didn’t know I was being fitted for it at all. She is a magic maker.

  Eli is starting to stir as I change his clothes and add a bit of styling cream to his hair to give him the faux hawk for photos.

  “Daddy,” he grumbles as I lift him again and kiss his cheek.

  “You want a snack?” I ask.

  “Mmhmm,” he moans.

  “Okay, buddy. Let’s get you something to eat. Then we’re gonna watch Uncle Lori marry Princess Jenny, okay? You wanna watch that?

  “Okay,” he whispers but I don’t think he knows what I’m talking about.