She nodded, a lump in her throat.
He stepped around the table, ruffled Kian’s curls, and headed out into the yard.
She watched them. Father and son, laughing and playing together, had her pressing a hand to her chest.
Her breath was shallow as Vic ran around with Kian. This might have been the biggest risk of her entire life.
And now, all she could do was wait.
The Cleveland Monsters had won in overtime, and Kian was slumped against Vic’s shoulder before they even hit the parking lot. The kid had been filled with excitement the entire night. He’d screamed, jumped, and eaten his way through too much cotton candy, and now he was completely passed out. He was dead weight and drooling on Vic’s jacket.
“Out like a light.” Logan snorted as he unlocked the SUV.
“Your nephew knows how to playhard,” Vic said. He hoisted Kian carefully into his booster seat. He buckled the little guy in and closed the door. He headed around and got into the driver’s seat.
“I wonder where he gets it from.” Logan chuckled and slid into the passenger seat.
“He’s definitely your nephew.” Vic smiled.
The Maxwell boys had plenty of energy and were always getting in trouble. Their parents had put them in every sport they could. They had even hired nannies just to run them around to all of their practices and games.
The ride home was quiet except for the rumble of the heater and the occasional murmur from Kian. Logon scrolled on his phone while Vic drove. He was actually happy his brother wasn’t wanting to have a chat. Vic’s mind was elsewhere. He kept replaying his conversation with Tachina in his mind. Each rerun was more surreal than the last.
I want another baby. I want the father to be you.
He still didn’t know how she’d just said it so plainly. But it was just like Tachina. Once she knew what she wanted, she just went for it. No manipulation. Just truth with a straight face.
And God help him, he respected her for it.
When they arrived at his house, Vic unbuckled Kian and carried him inside. The kid was limp as a noodle with his head on Vic’s shoulder, his thumb smushed against his lower lip. Even in his sleep he looked happy.
Vic’s chest tightened.
He carried his son up the stairs to his bedroom. He pushed open the door and left the light out. The hallway light provided what he needed to see. He set Kian down on the bed and swapped his jeans for his pajama pants and his Monster sweatshirt for a plain t-shirt. He wiped a streak of the cotton candy from his cheek and tucked Kian underneath the blankets. Kian rolled over and reached for Mr. Blankie and brought it to his chest automatically.
“Goodnight, buddy,” he whispered. Vic placed a kiss on the top of Kian’s curly head.
Kian didn’t stir.
He pulled the door up and went back downstairs. He found Logan in the den flipping through the channels like he owned the place. He’d helped himself to a couple of beers. He tossed one to Vic.
“You look beat,” Logan said.
“You could say that.” Vic kicked off his shoes and sat on his plush leather recliner. He opened the beer and took a long drag from it.
“So, she really asked you?” Logan said.
Vic had shared with his brother what Tachina had asked of him. He and Logan were extremely close, and he’d felt he needed to talk to someone about her request.
“Yep.” He took another sip and rested back in his chair.
Logan finally settled on a basketball game that was on. It wasn’t the Cavs, but it would have to do. He and Vic werehuge Cleveland sports fans. It didn’t matter the sport, if it was a Cleveland team, they supported them one hundred percent.
“And you didn’t immediately suggest she go see a therapist?” Logan asked.
“No. Why would I do that?”
“Are you serious? She asked you for another baby.” Logan gave him a look. He shook his head. “Of all the things she could ask for, another baby?”