To his surprise, Doc was the one who sat next to him and patted his knee. “Son, it’s a big day. Nothing wrong with a little emotion.”
“Best day of your life, until you have grandkids,” Dax said, gruffly.
Son.
He looked up and into Doc’s eyes. Jon Waller. Doc. He was the father of his best friend; a husband to Brody’s mother; Kara’s father figure. Before their marriage, Brody had adored Jackson’s father. Doc was steady as they came and a man’s man. He loved football and wine and books, just like Brody. They’d always had an easy rapport. Until the moment Brody found out his mother was sleeping with the guy. Sickened by the whole idea, Brody’s feelings of admiration shriveled.
Doc had pursued a deeper relationship with him. Brody had been polite, yet distant. Anyone who married his mother after his father’s death would be tolerated, accepted even. But loved? No. If he loved Doc, it was a betrayal to his father.
Now something shifted in him. It was as if his father had suddenly walked into the room. Brody sensed his presence. Not hovering like a ghost but embedded deeply inside the chambers of his own heart. His father’s blood coursed through his veins and spoke to him. Let go. It’s okay to love him. Nothing changes between us. You’ll always be my son. There’s room to love another father. He’ll be your son’s grandfather. He’s there when I can’t be.
Yes, Jon Waller was here. He loved Brody’s mother. That much was obvious. Doc wanted to be close to him and Lance. Truth be told, Brody needed him. Embarking into parenthood terrified him. Before the baby came, he’d been so sure of himself, so excited. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” Brody said. “Is Jackson really going to send him home with us?”
“You’ll figure it out, dear,” his mom said. “All new parents feel that way.”
“I know I did,” Doc said.
“Doc, do you think you could come out to the house and look at the crib? I want to make sure I put it together correctly.” Brody had insisted he put it together himself. “Part of my dad rite of passage,” he’d said to Kara. Now, however, he wondered if all the screws were in properly.
“I’d be happy to,” Doc said.
Brody’s chest ached from the eagerness in Doc’s voice. “Also, could you check to make sure the car seat is buckled in right?”
“It’s the law. We can’t let you out of here without one of us giving the go-ahead. I’d be happy to do the honor,” Doc said with a chuckle.
“Mom, can you call everyone?” Brody asked.
“Of course. Just be with Kara and the baby.”
“Do you have a name yet?” Flora asked. “Don’t wait too long or everyone ends up calling the baby Peanut or Lambie.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got it covered.” He and Kara had already decided on Simon for the first name, after his father. They’d been stuck on a middle name. Brody suddenly had a suggestion, but he would wait and run it by his wife.
BRODY PLACED A SANDWICH and the juice on the hospital bed tray. Kara had combed her hair and put it into a braid while he was gone. Jackson had left them to go home and sleep before the town’s Christmas Eve festivities. The Dogs were footing the bill so that Zane could open the brewery to the public that afternoon for free tastings and food. Santa would be there for the kids. Maggie would be singing Christmas carols. Kyle had managed to find a couple of old horses and a carriage for the California version of a sleigh ride. Violet had organized a group of interested townspeople to make dozens and dozens of cookies. A new tradition, they’d all agreed. Another way to give back to the community that had blessed the Dogs and Wags with so much.
Lucy set his son into his arms and told him to sit in the rocking chair. “He’s already latched on to his mama and had his supper, so he’s ready for a little nap.”
Lucy had swaddled him in a blue blanket and put a cap on his head. As he rocked, Brody gazed down at his baby boy. He could swear he saw his father’s features in the little scrunched-up face. The miracle of it all overwhelmed him. His wife had made this baby inside her body. An entire person. His son. Please God, bless him, keep him safe.
He looked over at Kara. She’d eaten the entire sandwich and was now asleep. Twelve hours of labor was enough to tire out even the strongest of women.
Brody wasn’t certain how long he sat staring at his son, but at some point, Lucy encouraged him to get some sleep in the chair that folded into a makeshift bed. Exhausted, he agreed, and handed the baby over to the nurse. Brody was asleep before Lucy could even cover him with a blanket.
Daylight filtered through the blinds when he opened his eyes. He looked at his watch. It was almost 10:00 a.m. Christmas Eve. They would miss the festivities. Kara would be disappointed, but there was nothing to be done. There was next year. For now, he had to get his little family home and settled.
Kara stirred in the bed and opened her eyes. “Hey.” She gave him a sleepy smile. “How’s he doing?”
“Sleeping.”
She winced as she tried to sit up. “When can we go home?”
“Jackson said he’ll be here by noon to check on you and if all looks good, we can go.”
“Ironically, since I work here—I can’t wait to get out of here.”
“Mom and Doc went out to the house to make sure everything’s ready for you and the baby,” Brody said. “Flora made some casseroles and is dropping those into the freezer.”
“What about Lance and Mary?”
“They’re going to come by later,” Brody said. “Once we get home.”
“So that just leaves one more decision. We need a name.”
“We’re set on Simon, right?”
She nodded. “But what about a middle?”
“I had an idea. What do you think about Simon Jon? For Doc?”
Kara smiled. “Not to channel Honor and her superlatives, but that’s the best name ever.”
Simon Jon Mullen.
The best name ever.
Kara
BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED home that afternoon, Rafael had fixed a box with clean blankets for Minnie and her kittens in the laundry room. Kara left Simon with Brody and tiptoed into the laundry room to see her first baby’s babies. Minnie looked up at her as she slowly knelt to the floor. Thanks to her child’s large head, things were tender down there and would be for a while. Jackson had sent her home with one of those doughnut pillows. She felt certain it would be used.
All that was forgotten when she saw the kittens. No bigger than the palm of her hand, they all slept in a pile next to their mother. Two gray and two tuxedo varieties, just as Rafael had said. She was careful not to touch them. She didn’t want to interrupt their bonding.
“Hi, Minnie.”
Minnie gave a half meow as a return greeting.
“You sure had me fooled. I thought you were just getting chubby.”
Minnie rested her chin on her white paws and yawned.
“I’m tired too, but we can do this. I’ll have Brody bring you some wet food later. You scared me, naughty girl, but I understand now. Having just one baby was hard, let alone four.” A lump in her throat forced her to pause for a moment. “You’re the only thing I have left from my old life.” She scratched Minnie’s head and was rewarded with a purr. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
Meow.
By the time she returned to the kitchen, Lance had arrived. The brothers stood near the kitchen island, gazing down at Simon, who was asleep in his car seat. Kara stopped at the doorway. Brody was taller and bulkier than Lance and fairer than his dark-haired brother. She’d never thought they looked anything alike. Until now. They had the same expression of pure love on their faces.
“He looks like Dad, right?” Lance asked.
“I thought so, too.”
“I wish he could see him.”
“Maybe he can. Last night, after Simon was born, it felt like Dad was there. He told me it was okay to feel close to Doc. That it wasn’t a betrayal.”
Kara fought tears as she continued to watch.
“You’re not the only one in the course of history who’s had issues with their parent remarrying. Mary struggled like crazy when her dad married Flora,” Lance said.
“You didn’t blink when Mom told us she was marrying Doc. Why was that?” Brody asked.
“I don’t know. When we lost Dad, Mom took it so hard. I didn’t think she’d ever get over it. I felt nothing but relief when she found Doc. And, you know, we knew him. We knew the kind of man he is. I was happy for them.”
“Why do you have to be the perfect son?” Brody asked.
Lance nudged him in the ribs. “I’m not. We’re just different, that’s all.” He wrapped an arm around his brother’s neck and hugged him, quickly, as men did.
Kara knocked on the doorframe to let them know she was there. They both turned to her. Lance held out his arms. “Ah, Kara, you’re looking beautiful. Motherhood suits you.”
Kara smacked him on the arm. “It’s not nice to fib. I feel like a truck ran over me.”
Her sister-in-law, Mary, came in then with Faith on her hip. Six months old, Faith was the perfect mixture of her father and mother. No one could tell who she favored, other than her thick brown curls, which she got from her father. According to Flora and Janet, she was just like Lance when he was a baby, easygoing and charming. She slept through the night at two weeks, which was just like Lance. She smiled at everyone, just like Lance.
Mary rushed over to see Simon and burst into tears the moment she saw him. “Oh, isn’t he beautiful?” She gave Faith over to Lance and knelt closer to him. “Kara, he’s so big. How in the world did you get him out of you?”
“It wasn’t easy,” Brody said. “The kid takes after his brawny old man.”
“Big head and all,” Lance said.
Mary embraced her, holding her tightly for a moment. “I’m so glad for you. I paced the floor half the night waiting for news.”
Kara gave her another quick hug. “Everyone’s just fine.” Before she was married to Lance, Mary had lost a baby. It had been impossible for her not to worry over Kara’s and Sophie’s pregnancies.
“Did you hear the news about Zane and Honor?” Kara asked.
“We did. We just dropped over to see them and take them some premade dinners,” Mary said.
“You cooked?” Kara asked.
“No, Lance made them,” Mary said. “He’s becoming quite the chef.”
“Don’t tell Flora,” Lance said.
They all laughed. Flora was appalled at any woman who didn’t know her way around a kitchen.
“How was Sebastian?” Kara asked.
“He’s great. Looks just like his dad,” Lance said. “Same stubborn look in his eyes, too.”
“He doesn’t,” Mary said. “His eyes are the newborn blue and aren’t stubborn.”
“Well, something reminds me of his father,” Lance said as he bounced Faith in his arms and made faces to make her laugh. “Not that I’m worried. Honor can handle any obstinate male that comes her way.”
“She’s put up with me all these years,” Brody said.
The four of them sat around the table and ate lasagna, the way they had the day after Faith was born. As tired as Kara was, the beauty of this simple moment was not wasted on her. All her life she’d wanted a family. She’d had no idea one like this existed until a turn of fate sent her across the country to a little town by the ocean and her life began again.
Sophie
SOPHIE HELD ON TO ZANE’S arm as they climbed the stairs to her apartment above their restaurant. He opened the door for her, and she slipped by him.
An enormous bouquet of roses decorated the coffee table. Her favorite, red and pink roses.
“The flowers are from Violet and Kyle,” Zane said. “She said she knew those were your favorite. The cookies are from Mary. She and Janet made them.”
“That’s so sweet,” Sophie said.
She gasped as she turned to see the Christmas tree in the corner. “What’s up with the tree?”
“Your mom and dad brought that and decorated it yesterday when we were at the hospital,” Zane said. “They’re out now getting groceries for Christmas dinner, but they’ll be back soon. And your brother sent a package from Paris. It’s under the tree.”
Her little brother was spending his junior year of college in Paris. He’d decided not to come home for the holidays, choosing to spend time with his girlfriend’s family in the South of France. She couldn’t say she blamed him.
For her, though, she wanted nothing more than to be with her family. Both the family who’d raised her and the sister and brother she never knew she had. And now there was Jubie and Sebastian.
Zane took a long look at her, then led her over to the sofa.
She sat, wincing at the dull pain between her legs.
He sat next to her. “You okay?” The question was such a loaded one. There was so much between them now.
She smiled. “I am. Truly. Hormones are a bitch, though.”
Zane looked down at his lap. “Soph, I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“You don’t need to. I know.”
“When I saw him for the first time, the enormity of what you did for us hit me hard.”
“I’m so glad to be able to do this for you.”
“Anything you ever need, please don’t hesitate to ask,” he said.
“There is something.”
“Anything.” He looked into his eyes. “Anything you want.”
“It’s going to sound a little crazy,” she said. “But I’ve been thinking about my career and where I want to go from here. I’d like to open a wine bar at the brewery.”
“A wine bar?”
“You know how you have those enclosed meeting spaces at the brewery? I wondered if we could turn one into a wine area. People could still order food from the restaurant, but this way we could attract wine lovers.”
He peered at her with his head cocked to the side. “I’m open to it, but you already have your hands full with the grill.”
She nodded. “I know, but I need a new challenge. Something...”
“More exciting?”
She cast her eye downward, flushing. “I want to grow, that’s all. I was thinking maybe I could take a month or so and visit some wineries.”
“Sure. As far as The Oar goes, we can hire someone new or promote one of the servers to assistant manager. You can take some time off and come back refreshed.”
She patted her stomach. “Maybe I can get my body back. I’d like to meet someone, Zane. I’m lonely.”
“You are? But I thought you were only interested in work.”
“I was. But these last few months, seeing you and the rest of the gang so happy, I realize I’m ready. I want to get married and have a family.”
“You’re young, Soph. You have so much time,” he said.
She smiled. “Don’t go all big brother on me.”
“But I am your big brother. I’m kind of responsible for you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of caring for myself, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“We missed so much time,” Zane said. “I still feel that keenly.”
“But we have so much time left and so much to look forward to.”
“Yes, we do. So, what’s your plan? How do you want to do this?”
“When I’m all healed up, I’d like to take a trip up to Walla Walla in Washington. Their wine industry has exploded. They have some amazing red wines coming out of there. It’s a chance to offer something besides California wine.”
“Blasphemy.”
“Not to mention the Oregon Pinots. I could head down there, too. Do some tasting and bring some stuff home.”
He laughed. “Okay, fine. Go for it.”
“I’ve been thinking of all the ways we could supplement our business with more female customers. We could do fun stuff like offer wine tasting courses and maybe even work with Mary to do a book club night.”
“You’ve real
ly thought about this?”
“I have.”
“Then let’s do it. The rooms haven’t been rented out much. It would be easy to put a little wine bar in there. I’ll get Kyle’s brother Stone to take on the project. Trey could help you with the interior design.”
She hugged him. “Thanks, big brother.”
“I want you to be happy,” he said.
“I am. I promise.” Saying the words made her know how true they were. She had her family. They were everything she needed.
THAT AFTERNOON, SOPHIE tried to convince her mother and father she was feeling well enough to go to the festival at the brewery. Zane had turned the supervision of the festivities over to his assistant manager, since he and Honor would be home with the baby, but she felt a need to at least attend for a short time to see that all went as planned.
Her mom, the earth mother. Petite with bouncy brown curls, she wore a red dress made of hemp and knee-high black boots. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. You should rest. Your body’s been through a lot.”
From the couch, her father looked up from the music magazine he’d been reading. As a music producer, he lived and breathed the industry. “It might be good for her to get out. Plus, we have to take Jubie to see Santa.”
“We’ll go, but only for a few minutes,” her mother said. “I want my baby home and in bed by nine.”
“Otherwise Santa might not come,” her dad said. This was their long-standing joke. Her dad talked as if she still believed in Santa, and she played right along with him.
“I’ve been good this year,” Sophie said. “He better come.”
Her father sobered and tossed his magazine on the coffee table. “The very best.”
Her mother was moving about the apartment, dusting and tidying up. The walls and decor mimicked the hues of the seaside, which on a sunny day showed dust. This time of year, her mom was the only one who could see it.
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