“She’s a Butler. All of ’em got it over me,” Alex quipped. “Let’s go, girlfriend. I gotta drive this Tesla. How much did you pay for this baby, anyway?”
Cris shook his head and smiled. “About three times what you paid for your car. Or more.”
When Alex got to the end of the driveway, she turned right instead of left on Adelaida Trail, and Ainsley laughed.
“You know he’s never gonna let me drive this again. I gotta get in as much playtime as I can.”
“It’ll be okay, you know,” Alex said once they were out on the highway and she had to slow the car down. “Like I said, no one is going to say a word, even your brothers. What can they say? Anything they try—well, you could just cut ’em off by tossin’ it over to Maddox.”
“I feel like it might be different.”
“How?”
“Maddox didn’t lie.”
“And you did?”
Ainsley thought about it for a minute. She hadn’t lied either, except by omission, which Maddox had done too. “You’re right. It was the same.”
“The only difference is that you and Cris were in Palo Alto, and Mad and I sowed our oats at home, where everyone could see us.”
Alex turned on Vineyard Road, and, once she was away from the traffic on the highway, opened up the car again. “Hey, uh, do I have to worry about juice? I mean, am I using all the battery?”
Ainsley shrugged. “I’ve never driven it.”
“What? We’ll remedy that right now.”
Ainsley was in the driver’s seat when the Tesla pulled up to her parents’ house. Maddox, Naughton, and Cris were sitting on the front steps. Each had a glass of wine and a cigar.
“What’s the occasion?”
“Brodie just called—”
“What?” Alex exclaimed. “Oh my God, she hasn’t had the baby yet, has she? I’m supposed to be there.”
Maddox walked over and put his arm around her. “He called less than two minutes ago and said he’d left you a voicemail.”
Alex pulled her phone out and looked at the screen. “Oh, thank God. Okay, I gotta run.” She looked at Ainsley. “You’re gonna be fine on your own; they know already.”
Alex was in her car and driving away before Ainsley could ask what she meant. She looked at Maddox, who had his arms folded but his usual shit-eating grin on his face.
“She texted us while you were talking to Lucia,” he explained.
“She did?” Ainsley shook her head. “I’m sorry—”
“Stop.” Maddox held up his hand, and then put his arm around her shoulder. “First of all, she threatened that anyone who gave you shit would answer to her. Second…” Maddox turned so he was facing her. “Ainsley, did you really think we’d be upset about this?”
Maddox wasn’t being playful; he was serious, and it almost broke Ainsley’s heart. Now that it was out in the open, she realized that she had been ridiculous, and more than being angry, her brothers were hurt—or at least this one was.
“I don’t know…”
“Least of all, me.”
“I’m sorry, Maddox. I just…I don’t know.”
“Okay, you’re sorry. It’s over. Let’s move on.” Maddox started to walk to the porch, but stopped. “At least you picked the one I actually like.”
“What about Gabe? You like him, don’t you? And Eli? And—”
“Kidding, Ains. Although—being serious for a minute—as far as you’re concerned, he’s the only one who comes close to measuring up.”
Ainsley looked out at the vineyards. “I’ve loved him practically my whole life,” she murmured.
Maddox winked. “I know the feeling, sweetheart.”
Naughton’s reaction to finding out Ainsley and Cris had been dating wasn’t much different than Maddox’s, although he didn’t say as much. That didn’t worry Ainsley, though; Naughton never said as much.
“What’s happening tonight?” she asked, and both Naughton and Cris shrugged.
“Don’t know what you’re doing,” Naughton said, “but we’re planning a guys’ night out.”
“Wait,” said Maddox. “We can’t go out tonight.”
“Why not?” asked Naught. “Oh. Never mind. Damn, Mad, Brodie’s gonna be a father. How long does it take anyway?”
“It can vary quite a bit.” Cris spoke for the first time since Ainsley and Alex arrived. She walked over and wove her hand with his.
“How’s it going?” she whispered.
“Everything’s fine,” he whispered back, but not quietly.
Maddox wrapped his arm around Ainsley’s neck and pulled her away from Cris. “You’re outta your league, sister, when it comes to keepin’ secrets. Ain’t nobody ever gonna break my record.”
“Thanks, Mad.” Ainsley looked over at Naughton who had a disconcerting look on his face. “Is he okay?” she asked Maddox.
“Nothin’ for you to worry about, Ains.”
If there was anything Maddox could’ve said to make her worry more, that was it.
“Oh, by the way, Alex asked me to give this to you.” Maddox handed something to Cris.
“What’s that?” asked Ainsley.
“Keys to her house,” Cris answered. “Told you it would work itself out.”
“You’re acting a little bit like we’re done here, but you’ve forgotten one very important detail,” said Ainsley.
Cris looked at her and shrugged. “You’ve got me. I have no idea.”
Naughton walked over and refilled Cris’ wine glass, and handed one to Ainsley. “Laird and Sorcha,” he said.
“Right.” Cris all but groaned. “Guess we’d better talk to them. You ready, sweetheart?”
“I was way more worried about them than our parents.” Ainsley nodded in the direction of her brothers.
Maddox took a drink of wine and lit his cigar. “Gotta warn ya, Cris. Sorcha’s gonna see this as the opportunity for more grandkids.”
“Don’t worry, we don’t have to—”
Cris silenced her with another kiss although this one wasn’t quite as steamy as the one Alex witnessed. When he rested his hand on Ainsley’s abdomen, Maddox put his hand on Cris’ shoulder.
“Is she…”
“Not yet.” Cris winked.
“Um…I’m right here,” Ainsley slugged Maddox. “If you want to know something, ask me.”
Maddox rubbed his arm. “Have you been taking boxing lessons from Alex? Damn, Ains, that hurt.”
Ainsley rolled her eyes and was about to lead Cris inside to talk to her parents, but Naughton got that look on his face again. She didn’t care what Maddox said; something was bothering him, and she wanted to know what it was.
“Give me a minute,” she said to Cris and dropped his hand. “I’ll be right back.”
Ainsley walked over to Naughton and wrapped her hand around his upper arm. “Got a minute?”
Before he answered, he looked at Maddox, who nodded.
“Let’s go,” said Naught, and she followed him into the winery.
“What’s going on with you?” Ainsley asked once the winery door closed behind her.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” Naughton pulled out a stool and motioned for her to sit.
“Is Bradley okay?” she asked.
“Bradley’s fine.”
“Whatever it is, Naughton, just tell me. You’re scaring me.”
Twenty minutes later, Ainsley’s head was reeling, but at least she understood the weird looks she’d been seeing her brothers shoot each other. She’d first noticed it when she was in town for Naughton’s wedding, and again over Thanksgiving, at Brodie’s wedding.
“Does Skye know all this?”
Naughton shook his head.
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “I guess it’s time.”
“So, when Maddox said that thing before, about nobody breaking his record when it came to keeping secrets, that look you gave him…”
Naughton put his hands in his pock
ets and paced behind the tasting room bar. “I think Kade’s got us all beat.”
“Is there proof?”
“Of?”
“That he was married? That this woman is his daughter?”
“Yes, that he was married; not yet, with the alleged daughter.”
“You met her. What did you think? Did she look like him? Or any of us?”
Naughton shook his head. “She looks like her mother, but I may not be the best judge. To me, she didn’t look like anyone in our family, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t his daughter.”
“I’d like to meet her. What did you say her name was?”
“Quinn.”
“Right. So, give me her number, and I’ll get in touch with her.”
Naughton shook his head.
“Why not?”
“I don’t have it. She said she’d get in touch with us.”
“Are you serious? And you left it at that?” Ainsley couldn’t believe it. What had her brothers been thinking? “What about Lena? Do you know how to get in touch with her?”
Naughton shook his head again. “Quinn actually said something about wanting to talk to us about her mother, but then…I guess she didn’t want to say anything in front of Bradley.”
“Bradley was there? What about Alex?”
“Bradley, yes. Alex, no.”
It made sense that Bradley hadn’t spoken up. Too bad it hadn’t been Alex; she would’ve made sure they had a way to reach this woman.
“What about Ma and Da? What do they know?”
“According to Da, Ma knows nothing about anything.”
“If you think Ma knows nothing about anything, you’ve been living in a cave, brother.”
Ainsley would lay money down that their mother knew a hell of a lot more than their father thought she did.
“We need to tell Skye. That’s for sure. Ma, well, I’ll think about that.”
“Ainsley, this isn’t entirely your decision.”
“You’re right, Naughton. It isn’t. But it isn’t entirely your decision either, or Mad’s, or Brodie’s. You guys have known about Kade’s marriage for how long, and you didn’t tell me or Skye?”
The more Ainsley thought about it, the more pissed off she got. “You know, it’s time this family stopped operating in secrets. And before you say anything, that includes me. I should’ve told you about Cris a long time ago. But you also should’ve told me about Kade. He’s my brother, too.”
“You’re right, Ains. And I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
“You are, too.”
When Ainsley and Naughton walked out of the tasting room, Cris and Maddox were nowhere to be found.
“Do you think they went in to talk to Ma and Da without me?” she asked Naughton.
“Lord, help ’em if they did.”
“Funny.”
“Come here.” Naughton hugged her. “I’ve been worried about you, Ains. Is this what’s been eatin’ at you? This thing with Cris?”
She nodded and buried her face in her brother’s shoulder. “We broke up because I didn’t want to tell anyone about us. That’s what you picked up on at Brodie’s wedding.”
“But now you’re back on.”
Ainsley nodded. “Yeah. I can’t believe I made such a big thing of not telling you guys.”
“Bradley and I promised not to have secrets.”
“It’s a good plan, Naught. I think we should have a family meeting and all agree not to have any more secrets.”
Ainsley heard a door open, and turned to see Cris walking out of Maddox’s house.
“What were you two doing?” she asked.
“You just never mind,” Maddox told her.
“Argh. Hey, Naught? Can you get that family meeting scheduled soon?”
Cris put his arm around Ainsley’s shoulders. “Ready?” he asked her, motioning toward the house.
They were about to go inside when Sorcha came out the front door. She stomped over to Maddox. “Why you dinnae tell me Peyton is having the baby?”
“I was just on my way to, Ma,” Maddox answered.
“Tá tú liar!” She shook her head and scowled at him.
Her mother was about to stomp off the porch, but she stopped in her tracks and spun around, looking directly at Ainsley and Cris’ hands.
“Tá áthas an domhain orm!” She kissed Cris’ cheek, and then pulled Ainsley away from him and hugged her.
“What did she say?” Cris asked Maddox.
“Ma approves. In a big way.” Maddox grinned. “I’m tellin’ ya, she’s gonna start pestering the both of you about grandbabies.”
“I’m on board,” Cris said and then winked at her. “How about you, Ainsley?”
She might’ve tried to think of a witty comeback, but judging by the look on Cris’ face, he wasn’t joking around. Rather than answer, she turned back to her mother. “Where’s Da?”
“Getting the car so we can go to the hospital.” Her mother walked to the side of the house and peered around the corner. “The baby will be in high school by the time he gets here. Whose is that?” Sorcha was pointing at Cris’ Tesla.
“Mine,” he answered.
“Good.” Sorcha pulled on his arm. “It looks fast. Take me to the hospital.” Then she shook her finger at Ainsley. “You ride with your da.”
Five minutes later, Ainsley was in Mad’s truck, along with Naughton and their father, who—Maddox decided—probably shouldn’t drive.
They’d been at the hospital a little over four hours when Alex met them in the obstetrics waiting room.
“Look!” she cried, holding up her phone. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
Everyone gathered around Alex’s screen, but Ainsley hung back. She pulled Cris around the corner and put her arms around him. She reached up and kissed him.
“Mmm, I like this,” he murmured, kissing her deeper, and pulling her body closer to his.
“Thank you,” she said through tears.
“It’s so much better together, Ains. Isn’t it?”
“Where did Cris and Ainsley go?” they heard Alex ask. “I’m waiting,” she added.
When they came around the corner, Alex had her hands on her hips. “Finally, the lovebirds show up. I’m not sure which is the bigger news. Is it Brodie and Peyton’s baby, or my brother, head over heels in love with Ainsley? I think it’s gotta be a tie.”
Ainsley really wasn’t sure she’d ever been as happy as she was in that moment.
“Okay, so I have an announcement.” She held up her phone again. “This baby, who is the most beautiful child on the face of the earth, by the way, weighs seven pounds, two ounces, and her name is…I just love this name so much.”
“Alex!” shouted Ainsley. “Just tell us.”
“Kismet Kadence Butler.”
“It’s beautiful,” murmured Ainsley. Kadence. Did her oldest brother have any idea how much he meant to his siblings when he was still alive? God, she hoped so.
12
Even though it hadn’t started yet and she’d never admit it to anyone, of her three brothers’ weddings, Mad and Alex’s was her favorite; and it had nothing to do with the fact that the bridesmaids’ dresses Alex picked were by far the most flattering.
The wedding was being held in the courtyard at Demetria, which was also Ainsley’s favorite of the three settings.
Cris, his brothers, and Naughton had helped her and Bradley decorate the space. Alex had left it to Peyton to make all the decisions about how the courtyard should look, and Peyton made sure she had everything ready just in case she went into labor, and it was a good thing she had.
There were hundreds of twinkle lights to hang on the wrought iron fencing and in the trees. Pots and pots of amaryllis, paperwhites, and poinsettias, were scattered around the courtyard and in the winery, where the reception would be held.
Ainsley was upstairs in Demetria’s villa, which was adjacent to the winery, getting ready with Bradley, Peyton, and Alex,
waiting impatiently for Alex to relinquish her hold on baby Kismet.
“My turn,” she said, taking her from Alex’s arms. “You need to get dressed.”
Alex pouted. “But once I do, Peyton told me I can’t hold her again until after the wedding.”
“She’ll spit up on your dress, Alex. As soon as you and Maddox are officially married, and all the photos have been taken, you can hold her again.”
“I can’t wait,” Alex said, rubbing her tummy.
Ainsley caught the look that passed between Alex, Peyton, and Bradley. “You’re not talking about holding Kismet later, are you?”
Alex shook her head and smiled.
“Oh my God,” shouted Ainsley, racing over to hug her soon-to-be sister-in-law with one arm while she held the baby with the other.
“You, too?” she asked Bradley, who smiled.
“Not yet, but we’re definitely working on it.”
“How do you look this good already?” Alex asked Peyton. “You had a baby five minutes ago, and you already look like you did before you got pregnant.”
“It’s been a couple days, Alex. Plus, this dress is very forgiving.” Peyton smoothed the folds of the sleeveless dress that Alex had chosen for them to wear. The design and color of Peyton’s were a little different than the ones she and Bradley wore. Instead of emerald green, Peyton’s was a shimmery gold; and instead of being fitted, the one she wore had a high waist.
“A couple days.” Alex rolled her eyes.
“You really went from the pan to the fire, or the fire to the pan, whatever that expression is,” Ainsley said to Bradley. “You get married, and then are in two more weddings in two months. Are you overwhelmed yet?”
Before she could answer, Alex put her arm around Bradley’s shoulders. “She’s part of the family.”
Ainsley’s cheeks flushed. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“I know what you meant,” said Bradley. “And so did Alex. I don’t have any sisters, and my mom died when I was twelve. I’ve always had Aunt Jean, but I’ve never had…” Bradley started to cry and couldn’t finish.
The Gift Page 9