Robert, David, Jillian, and Colleen came in. April watched as the little girl’s eyes lit up at the sight of her uncles. She practically leapt into Marc’s arms.
“Unca Marc!”
“Cutie pie!”
“These Jessop men have a way with the women,” Jillian said. She was laughing, and of course, her husbands just shrugged as if they were used to the adulation.
Jeremy walked over to Marc so he could be closer to the little one, and Colleen began to flirt with him, too.
“Welcome to the family,” Robert said. He gave her a sweet hug then stepped back. “If our little brothers here don’t treat you right, you just let us know.”
“We’ll straighten them out,” David said as he hugged her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” April grinned at her new brothers then rolled her eyes at Jillian, who was trying very hard not to laugh. What would that be like, a battle of the Doms? Feeling it was probably better to change the topic, she put her attention on Colleen. “She’s absolutely certain of her welcome, isn’t she? I think it’s because she’s so well loved,” April said to Jillian.
“We have our moments,” Jillian said. “But she adores her daddies, and that’s a big help because they’re both so hands-on with her.”
“Did Marc tell me that your older son will be visiting in a couple of weeks?”
“Yes! Brandon will be coming to stay for a few days. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him. He’s back Stateside now, back from his last deployment last month. We went to El Paso to visit him when he got back. He’s been assigned to Fort Bliss there for now.”
Colleen spotted some of her cousins playing at the back of the restaurant, and nothing would do but that one of her daddies—she reached for David—should take her there.
With a promise to chat later, they moved off to keep their daughter happy and occupied.
Damion Quest and Chance Carter came in. They’d brought a guest, a fragile-looking woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and an almost pixie-like face.
“Thanks for coming,” Marc said, shaking hands with both men. Jeremy did the same.
“You’re welcome.” Then Damion turned to April. “You remember my partner, Chance. This is Mercy Duncan.”
There was something about Mercy that drew April’s protective nature. “I’m so pleased you came, Mercy.”
“Thank you. Damion said that you—the three of you—are like us.” She looked from April to Marc and Jeremy. She looked around the restaurant and then up at the brightly colored banner Kelsey had hung that read, “Congratulations, Marc, Jeremy, and April!”
If April had to characterize the young woman, she’d say Mercy was serious. There’s a story here. Go with your instincts. “Yes, I think we are. There are a couple of other families like ours here, too.”
“We’re going to be moving to Lusty shortly. I’ve never lived in a small town before. I’d really like to give that a try. The guys assure me it’s safe here.”
“That’s good news. And yes, Lusty is a safe place to live. And a good place, too. We’ll be able to visit and get to know each other.”
“I knew I could count on you to welcome Mercy to Lusty!”
“Grandma Kate! I’m glad you’re here.”
It continually awed April whenever she hugged the nonagenarian. Kate Benedict looked delicate, but her hugs were strong—as was her heart.
Mercy smiled at Grandma Kate, and it was clear to her the two women were friends.
“Grandma.” Marc hugged Kate, lifting her off her feet in the process and making her laugh. Jeremy also got his Grandma Kate hug. Then she stepped back, ran a hand down Mercy’s arm, and looked about as pleased as a person could look. Then she turned her attention on Jeremy.
“You look happy,” she said to him. “I’m so glad to see that.”
“I am happy,” Jeremy said. “I thought I’d spend my life alone. Then I met Marc, and we moved here. And now, with April, life has finally turned good.”
“We all have to go through things that are hard. I’ve had my share, of course, over the many years I’ve lived. I’ve lost a daughter and a granddaughter in an airplane crash and then stood by my grandson as he laid his first wife to rest after she passed so unexpectedly.
“I’ve thought about it a lot, and I’ve come to a conclusion. The secret, you see, is family. Family can get you through anything and everything, if hearts are open and spirits are good.”
“We’ve become a family, the three of us, even before our ceremony in a few weeks. And it’s this family that helped me finally deal with all that had come before.” Jeremy beamed at her then took April’s hand in his and kissed it. And then he slipped his arm around Marc and hugged him.
Kate met her gaze and nodded. April knew the older woman could see how moved she was that Jeremy would make so open a gesture.
Then Kate took a moment to look around the dining room. There were so many people there this night that the bookstore had been opened and extra chairs set out. “I’ve seen this family go through those hard times I spoke of and come out stronger on the other side. There’s peace and fulfillment, purpose and, yes, happiness, all here for the taking. All you have to do is open your heart, trust, and love.”
Comfortable words. Wise words. April knew that Kate Benedict had found the fountain of youth and the answer to every conundrum known to humankind.
As Kate had just said, all you had to do was open your heart.
THE END
WWW.MORGANASHBURY.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Love Under Two Bad Boys Page 22