by Anna Castor
“Thanks, Ro. You’re so kind.” She joked and poked his bicep with her fist.
Declan shoved Ro playfully. “Shut up, Ro.”
“I mean it, Dec. I took my own experiences and said some stuff that—”
“Alright, Ro. Bree and I are together now, so it’s all water under the bridge.”
“I love you, man.” Ro said as he pulled Dec in for a hug.
“Love you too.” Bree watched them hug it out and grinned.
Bree’s sisters speed walked across the backyard and surrounded her in their huddle. Fianna started jumping up and down, taking the rest of the Ryan sisters with her.
“Our sister is getting married!” Fianna said.
Gwenn and Kera simultaneously kissed a cheek of Bree. Cait took Bree’s hands in hers and said, “I’m so, so happy for you both! You two deserve each other.”
“Thank you, sis.” Bree looked around and felt the love from their family and friends. She grinned from ear to ear.
Pops clapped his calloused hands together and said, “Let’s eat!”
“Finally,” said Tommy as he ran past Bree, solely focused on getting to the tables of food inside.
“Tommy Aiden Mills, get yer butt over here!”
Tommy looked over his shoulder and gauged his father’s distance from him. Bree realized he was debating if he should risk it or should listen to his father.
“Hey Tommy, good to see you.” Bree said.
“Yes?” Tommy eyed Bree wearily as his father was on his way to him.
“First, you congratulate Miss Bree, then you can go inside.” Keenan said.
“What for?”
“Because she’s getting married and having twins?” Keenan said, exasperated.
“Not right now?” Tommy eyed Bree’s stomach like they could pop out any minute and could take out an eye from him.
Bree giggled and leaned in. “No, it’s still going to be a few months.”
“Is that why you’re not always at school?” Tommy pointed at Bree’s stomach.
She nodded. “Yes, I felt sick for a while.”
“Did the baby make your head hurt? My Dad’s head hurts a lot.”
Bree stood up straight and gave Keenan a reassuring smile. “I’m sorry to hear that, Keenan.”
“Can I go eat now?” Tommy shifted his weight from side to side.
Keenan nodded, and Tommy leaped through the back door.
“How are you holding up, Keenan? Is there anything I can do for you?”
“We’re not having this conversation now, Bree. This should be a fun day. You just got engaged!” Keenan patted her shoulder to dismiss the discussion.
“I know, but I’m your boy’s teacher and you are one of Dec’s best friends. Please, let me help.”
Keenan smiled. “My Cuz did good in tying you down. You are one special lady, you know that? Always looking out for others. The way you are with Tommy…”
Keenan put his hands in the pockets of his slacks and kicked a small rock. “I feel like I’m fuckin’ everything up, you know? Working overtime, helping Aiden and Dad to smooth out the takeover from Dad’s company.”
“I heard you had some problems with finding a good nanny… I’ll keep my eyes and ears open, okay? Maybe I can—”
Keenan leaned in and kissed Bree on her cheek. “It’s going to be alright. I’ve got an interview with someone in a few days.”
Bree placed his hand on his shoulder. “That’s good, Keen. I hope everything turns out all right.”
Joan stepped up and Keenan excused himself, leaving Bree alone with Joan. Before Bree could greet her mom, Joan tugged Bree in for a tight embrace.
“Congratulations, my sweet Bree. I know I haven’t been your biggest supporter but when Dec called me last night—”
Bree turned and beamed up at Declan, who had joined them. “You called my mom?”
Declan pulled her in to his side and put his arm around her shoulder. “Yeah. I had to ask your mom for your hand in marriage, didn’t I?”
He smirked at her confusion. She rubbed at her eyebrows that squished together.
She turned at her mother, who said, “Yes. It was the right thing to do. Giving you kids my blessing was the right thing to do. I only say this once: don’t mess it up. I know where to find you, Declan Mills.”
Bree giggled, but her mother seemed as serious as a heart attack with her lips pursed and narrowed eyes.
“I know Joan. But that will not be necessary.” Declan said with a smile in his voice.
“Good. Now. I’m going to see if I can get a plate to eat before Ronan devours everything.” Bree rolled her eyes before she watched her mom walk inside the Mills house.
“Let me see the ring!” Errin said from across the yard on her way over.
“Shit.” Declan said beside Bree. His arm around Bree’s shoulders stiffened.
Bree glanced at Dec and broke out in laughter.
An engagement ring. Declan hadn’t given her a ring. Declan let go of her shoulders and rummaged around in his pocket. Sweat trailed down the side of his face. He clenched his jaw.
“Shit,” he said again. His other hand went into his other pocket.
Bree bit on her bottom lip to keep from laughing.
“Yes!”
Declan pulled out a black velvet box and waved it in the air.
“Found it.”
Bree giggled at Declan, who pressed a palm to his heart. He shook his head smiling and said, “Am I allowed to have this one and final fuck-up?”
She stepped into his open arms and hugged him close. She leaned her head back and stared into his eyes.
“I don’t think this will be your final fuck-up, Dec.”
He cocked his head and waited for her to explain. She smiled up at him and said,
“Even if you are a putz, I will still love you forever.”
Declan
August
“Fuck. They’re here already?” he said.
“Who is?” Bree asked while stacking the second laundry basket full with folded clothes. Declan shot a glance at the array of white, pink, yellow and blue baby clothes.
“I asked you yesterday if it was okay for Jessie and Liv to come over for Sunday brunch so they could meet you and the twins, Bree.”
He chuckled while taking the laundry basket from her.
“It’s like I still have my pregnancy brain.” Bree shook her head while dumping the pile of unfolded clothes on top of the basket.
“I’m still in my pajamas! I hate to make a first impression like this. Can you open the door? I’m changing real quick.”
He kissed her nose.
“Sure.”
Declan had been in touch with Bree’s cousin via email and texts. They’d arranged this first meeting for Bree to meet Jessie and Liv.
Bree had expressed her hope to bond with Jessie and to see if she could perhaps meet some of her half siblings in the future.
Not every Ryan sister had been enthusiastic about this meeting. But Bree didn’t care. His wife simply followed her heart and did what felt right. He loved calling Bree his wife. It had been a shot-gun wedding at the courthouse.
But non of it all mattered. They would have their big celebration at Lucky in a few months. Bree didn’t want to get married while pregnant. So they compromised.
Luckily, the doorbell didn’t wake up the twins. He picked up the two baby monitors and spotted the two dark-haired babies still sound asleep.
He searched for the frizzy black hair to pick out the first-born, little miss Ava. Bree had said that she got her curls after she was eighteen months, and she was sure their daughter’s hair would turn out just like Bree’s.
Dean made a sudden move in his sleep like he had a bad dream. He hit himself with his tiny hand in the face and woke up crying. A cute little putz. A true son after his father.
He smiled at the monitor when he heard Bree’s soothing voice and saw her arms picking Dean up. Dean had also been born with thick, dark
hair. He was going to be a heartbreaker. Best to keep him far away from Ro.
Declan sat the monitors down on the table next to the front door and opened the door. Liv took a step back behind her mother and clung to Jessie’s leg.
“It’s okay, Liv. Do you remember that nice police officer? It’s all right. Come, sweetie.” Jessie gave Declan an apologetic smile as she tried to peel Liv from her leg.
“I’m sorry, it has been so long since we’ve seen you. And it wasn’t in the best of circumstances,” Jessie said to Declan.
He understood. The hell they have been through would have caused a lot of trust issues for Jessie’s daughter, Liv. Especially since he was a stranger to her.
Liv shook her almost white blonde head against her mother’s jeans, and Jessie sighed. She got on her haunches and took Liv’s shoulders in her hands.
“Please come inside, Liv. Just for a moment. We’re going to meet Mommy’s cousin and her two little babies. They’re just three months old. They must be so sweet and tiny.”
Liv peered from behind Jessie’s leg, but the moment she didn’t find a woman with babies but a six-foot tall man standing there, she whiffed her head.
Declan got on one knee. “Hi Liv. I don’t know if you remember me, but I am so glad to see you again. The twins are waking up from their naptime. We’re about to have pancakes. Do you like pancakes?”
Liv’s eyes widened for a second, but she still clung to Jessie’s shirt. She tugged her mother down. “Do they have syrup?”
“I don’t know, sweetie,” Jessie smiled. She looked over at Declan and cocked her head, “Do you have syrup?”
Declan opened his mouth to answer her, when he felt a warm hand on his bicep. Bree made her presence known so he wouldn’t accidentally knock her over by turning around.
“Hey! Did I hear someone say syrup? I love syrup. But do you know what’s also awesome on a pancake?” Bree asked with her eyes solely focused on Liv.
Liv eyed Bree for a moment as she stood there, holding Dean in her arms. Their son was grabbing a hold on one of his mom’s curls. Bree winced when Dean yanked a curly strand down. Declan quickly untangled his son’s fingers from Bree’s hair.
Declan met Bree’s smiling face and gave her a quick kiss. He turned around and watched Liv relax a bit at the sight of baby Dean. Liv let go of her mother’s shirt and took her mother’s hand.
“I like peanut butter and banana on my pancake,” Bree said.
The five-year-old scrunched up her nose. “Yuck!”
Bree laughed and said, “I know! I’ve got the weirdest taste buds since I’ve been pregnant. It’s till not back to normal.”
“Ooh, I remember! I used to eat scrambled eggs and bacon every day while pregnant with Liv. In the middle of the night sometimes. Now I can’t stand the smell.”
“Oh,” Declan said, because he was about to serve exactly that. Scrambled eggs with crispy bacon were his favorite. It probably was the only thing he was good at making.
Bree giggled. “We have other things, don’t worry. Please come inside! I’m Bree, by the way. And this is our son, Dean.”
Before Jessie could respond, she turned around at a yell from across the street.
“Tommy Aiden Mills! Get your butt over here, now!”
Declan noticed Tommy storming off towards them, like a broken free puppy. Declan smiled while figuring the only thing missing was his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
“Hey, Tommy. I think I heard your dad calling out your name. Am I right?” Bree said in her teacher’s voice.
“Yes, Miss Bree.”
“You need to listen to your father, Tommy,” Bree said.
Tommy held still before Liv and said, “I know you.”
Liv stuck out her chin. “Oh? Never seen you before.”
“Nuh-ah. You go to Miss Kate’s class.” Tommy put his thumb against his chest and said, “I’m in Miss Bree’s class. She lives here. And I live there,” he pointed across the street where his father was stomping on the asphalt to get his son back into the house.
“But Miss Bree had two babies. And I had Mister Craig. But after the summer, I’m getting Miss Bree again.”
“You had Mister Craig?” Liv asked. She looked like she wanted to say something of the likes of feeling sorry for Tommy, but withheld. She grabbed her Mom’s leg again the minute Keenan had reached their gathering in front of Dec’s front door.
“Didn’t I tell you to never cross the street without looking? And that you always need to tell me first whenever you want to go see Miss Bree or the babies? You can’t go over here all day, every day.”
“Keen. It’s okay,” Bree said. She ran her hand over Tommy’s golden hair while holding Dean firmly in her other arm. Declan wanted to remember this sight forever.
“Oh, I’m sorry. We just interrupted you. I’m Keenan Mills, Dec’s cousin. And this tornado chaser is Tommy.”
Keenan held out his hand for Jessie, who eyed the tall Mills cousin up and down. She giggled at Tommy being introduced as a tornado chaser. Keenan wore grey sweatpants and a white, simple T-shirt with a V-neck, like he’d just got out of bed. His inky hair stood to all sides, so it made sense.
Jessie blushed as they shook hands. “Hi, I’m Jessie Walker. I’m Bree’s cousin.”
Keenan looked over from Jessie to Dec and cocked his head.
“It’s a long story,” Bree said.
“An endless story,” Jessie added, giggling.
Bree took a step back and said, “Now, please come inside everyone. I hear our daughter Ava is waking up.”
“Oh, we were just leaving,” Keenan said and furrowed his brows because he probably already knew what was coming next.
“But, Dad…” Tommy whined.
“It’s okay, Keen. You can stay. We’re just having brunch. It’s all very casual. Just so we can have this awkward first meet over with.” Bree slapped a hand before her mouth.
“Oh, I didn’t mean it like how it sounds. I meant that first dates are always awkward. But with the kids here, we can all sit around and relax. You know? Get to know each other without it becoming a job interview.”
Jessie giggled again. “Oh, I like that, Bree. You have no idea how nervous I was.”
“Mom dropped a vase this morning,” Liv said.
Declan laughed as he could see Jessie being fidgety. He turned and took a few steps back to make room for everyone to enter their home.
“Well, that was this morning. Now we know we have nothing to worry about,” Jessie said, smiling to Liv before guiding her daughter inside.
Bree placed Dean on the baby play mat and he reached out his hand for the mirror that hung above his head.
“I’m getting Ava, be right back,” she said. He nodded at Bree and turned to ask what everyone wanted to drink.
While getting the drinks, he watched Keenan and Jessie having small talk and Tommy and Liv sitting at the table ignoring each other. Bree walked back into the room with Ava in her arms. “Come kids, who wants to watch the twins play?”
Liv and Tommy both jumped from their seats and ran over to Bree. Declan could never grow tired of the cute baby sounds. Jessie oohed and aahed as she joined Bree and the kids.
Keenan joined Declan in the kitchen to whip out scrambled eggs and bacon. Jessie came into the kitchen looking for some juice to give to Tommy and Liv.
“If it’s alright with you, that is?” Jessie asked Keenan while raking a hand through her long blonde hair.
“Sure,” Keenan said as he kept on flipping strips of bacon.
Declan smiled as he sliced an apple in four pieces. His cousin was unaware of the appreciative looks Jessie was giving Keenan.
Jessie bumped her hip into the counter, and Keenan still didn’t look up.
“You are one hard nut to crack, Cuz,” Declan said.
“Nah.”
“I think after Evangeline, the only time you’ve shown interest in someone had been that time with Errin.” Declan remembered
how angry his oldest brother Brennan got when Keenan’s showed his interest in the youngest Walsh sister.
“I just liked her spirit, you know? Errin tells it like it is. And she got that whole sexy angel thing going on.”
Declan stilled his slicing and pulled a brow when he looked up at his cousin.
“You know I would never go there now, come on. But when I first saw her standing there in Lucky? Yeah… she’s my type, all right.”
Declan leaned in and said in a low voice, “And Jessie isn’t?”
Keenan shrugged. “Didn’t get the vibe. You know… that tingle. She seems sweet.”
“Ah, come on, man.” Declan felt the need to defend Bree’s cousin. When a guy said ‘she seems sweet’ it usually meant she looked like princes Fiona from the Shrek movie—the green version of the princes.
“I could see you two together.”
“Dec, you’re just being like Pops. You see two single people in one room together and you figure they’re meant for each other.”
Declan grinned but returned his attention to slicing another apple.
“Didn’t you tell me she got major issues with some ex? I don’t want Tommy—”
“That’s been handled. He’s in jail for at least a decade, and the divorce is almost final. I asked Donovan to keep tabs on him in jail. You know how my brother will keep on following him when the asshole gets out.”
“Well, that’s something at least. But I mean it, Dec. I need to get knocked upside the head. Get a kick in the gut. But I just didn’t feel it. So, just leave it at that.”
Declan nodded. They walked back into the dining room and the laughter from Tommy and Liv, while playing Go Fish, welcomed them. Bree sat with a big smile on her face, watching them play.
Jessie looked up at Declan but had only eyes for Keenan when he entered the room. Declan smirked at how uncomfortable Jessie’s looks made his cousin. Seeing him squirm was fun.
“Keenan, I heard from Bree that you’re looking for a nanny?” Jessie said as she placed her elbows on the table and rested her head on her clasped hands.
Keenan sat down next to Tommy and said, “Yes. Do you know of anybody who could do four weekdays?”
