Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Wyatt chuckled, taking a sip of the braggot. “Oh, that’s strong. Is that honey, though? That’s pretty damn good. Fiona’s is still my favorite, but you could definitely bring home more of this.”
Thoreau grabbed the bottle from him and took a drink for himself. “I think I might.”
“What about you?” Wyatt asked. “I mean, Finns roll with shit like this but your family might have a problem. I hope not. I love your mother.”
Fiona appeared in the kitchen doorway in nothing but his sheet and a smile, watching them fondly. “We’ll have to start researching now. Find all the books we can by authors who had multiple partners. They won’t stand a chance.”
Wyatt laughed and pulled her into his lap for a smacking kiss of approval. “I’m surrounded by evil geniuses.”
“But you love it.”
“But I love it.”
So did Thoreau.
Epilogue
Wyatt
“Are you happy now? I look like an idiot.”
Wyatt glanced down at the phone from his position at the front door and chuckled. “I’m not the one who told you to wear a mask, man. Come on, take it off, you look like an idiot.”
As his brother grumbled at someone off screen and took off the half mask that really did make him look like an old movie villain, Wyatt felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Hey Younger. Glad you could make it.”
The police chief leaned over and squinted at the phone. “Noah. Zoom out, I can’t see you.”
“You zoom out, I’m looking right up your nose. Maybe we should try this again some other time.”
“Go inside.” Wyatt elbowed his older brother and held up his cell phone. “No way. Shelley and Jake put this app on our phones so you could come to our party. Zach and Jae are already here. You don’t want to miss out, do you?”
Noah adjusted his camera so only the unscarred portion of his face was showing and sighed. “No. I don’t want to miss that.”
Thank God. Getting his brother to stop hiding at the neighbor’s and socialize with his family on any level had taken months of poking and prodding. There were still bad days. Weeks that would go by when no one could get through to him. When he’d barely leave his room.
Especially after the last doctor’s visit, when she told Noah that she couldn’t do more to his face without making things worse, and that his shoulder would need more surgery.
That wasn’t the kind of news any of them wanted to hear. Especially since they were still waiting for the other shoe to drop with Zachary’s mother. She’d stopped asking questions once she realized people were shutting her down, and Wyatt knew Tanaka was working on it, but the waiting was torture.
“So this is a housewarming party,” Noah nudged. “Are you going to show me around or what?”
Wyatt whistled at Thoreau, who was standing in the kitchen. “Take over greeting duty for me while I show Noah around?”
“On it, firecracker.”
Everyone within hearing distance whistled and laughed, and Wyatt narrowed his eyes as the man walked by. “Causing trouble?”
“Trouble is my—Ow. Shit.” Thoreau jumped and grabbed his ass, looking back at Wyatt in shock.
“Don’t say marmalade.”
Thoreau chuckled and Wyatt grinned as he walked into the house.
“Did you just smack his ass? Man, this whole family is crazy, isn’t it?”
Noah had been unusually understanding when Wyatt started talking to him about his new situation. He still had a hard time defining it, but he wasn’t in a hurry to. He had two people in his life, and they always made him feel special. They needed him, almost as much as he needed them. That was all he needed to know right now.
He made it into the living room and turned the phone in a slow circle as he described how— with cousin Owen’s guidance and a lot of family assistance—they’d knocked down walls and added an addition to turn the Wayne-plex into a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a bigger kitchen and a large backyard perfect for growing boys. Or girls.
They needed the space, since Fiona was seven months along now. With twins. She’d been shocked when she found out, and so had her doctor. Apparently, one of his babies was shy.
Twins.
Seamus and Tasha, the other members of the family who’d been doubly blessed, had been sharing stories that Fiona said would give them all nightmares for years. But she was over the moon about it, and for Wyatt, it felt perfect. His kids would have each other along with three adults to love them.
They’d never be alone.
“Are you talking to Noah?” Wyatt looked up and saw a very pregnant Fiona, along with Tasha and Bronte, all headed in his direction.
“You’re not even here and the women are still making a beeline for you, buddy,” Wyatt said with a laugh.
“Whatever. Where’s Zach?”
Wyatt looked around, instinctively pulling Fiona in with his free arm as soon as she reached him. “I don’t know.”