Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,101

coming either.”

“What?” Cap asks and we all laugh.

We sit, all of us. There are kids and chaos as everyone dishes up and babies cry and someone jumps up to grab a soother.

“I think it’s pretty awesome,” Josh adds, giving us an approving nod. “You have made your own family. And I’m jazzed to be part of it.” He slides his hand over Claire’s thigh and Jenny beams, visibly approving of the relationship that’s forming.

I lift my glass of mimosa that is mostly orange juice, and ting it with the knife. “To Rich, for loving our boy Carson with your whole heart. And to you, Carson, for letting Sami marry you off in what I think was her best work. I mean, that was a wedding. Well done, Sami. And congratulations, you guys.”

“Cheers!” everyone shouts.

We clank our glasses and drink.

It’s chaotic as food is passed and people eat and talk over one another. We’re loud and funny, harassing each other for every tiny mistake but also supporting during every crash.

We’re a family.

Not blood.

Not heritage.

But choice.

And at this table, filled with my family, there is more love than any I have ever sat at.

We eat and visit until we’re stuffed and everyone needs a nap, splitting off to their varying bedrooms. I find Jenny and both kids in our room when I get there. She’s just putting the kids down for a nap in the beds I got them for the beach house.

I creep into the room and lie on the bed, watching her.

My phone vibrates and I see a message from Sean. It’s a video. I get up and walk into the bathroom, turning the volume down and tapping it to start.

“Heyyy, little bro. Me and Callie were just chilling here at Mom and Dad’s, and we realized it’s your wedding anniversary. So congrats!” Sean’s teeth are new, caps to cover the old ones. His skin is rejuvenated with diet and health but the wrinkles remain from the hard life he lived.

Callie slides her face into the camera view and grins. She’s been staying at Mom and Dad’s place with the kids since she left Martin. Thankfully. “We hope you guys have a fun day on Martha’s. Go out for dinner or something. You need some adult time!”

I laugh. She’s right. Jenny and I do need some adult time.

“Love you, Bro!” Sean says and the video ends. Freezing the frame of him smiling. There’s a sparkle in his eyes again. I haven’t seen it since we were kids. It wasn’t there when I went for my visit with him at the clinic, and he told me he didn’t need to see me; I wasn’t a trigger, but he wanted to apologize.

I click the phone off and walk to the bed again.

Jenny climbs on and kisses me, quietly whispering, “What was that?”

“Video from Sean and Callie saying happy anniversary.”

“How did he look?” It’s the thing she asks every time.

“Like himself,” I say, surprising us both because it’s never been my answer before. “I’ve got my brother back.”

“Best anniversary gift ever.” She curls into me and snuggles, the way our kids still do when they sleep. “And here is mine. I know I made fun of you, but I’m glad you own this inn,” Jenny admits. “It’s still weird, but it’s also super epic.”

“And it holds everyone important to us.” I lean in, kissing the side of her face and drowning myself in the scent of cherries.

“Mmhmm.” She closes her eyes, and within seconds she’s taken by the hangover and food coma.

Her breathing slows and her hand on my arm relaxes.

Eventually, she’s sleeping.

I watch her for a few minutes before I too close my eyes and drift.

My mind wanders back to the day I bought the mansion. I stood on the beach and looked up at the house and imagined all the epic parties I could have here. The decision was made out of a hope for fun and carefree summers.

A slip of a smile crosses my lips as I think about the toddlers and diaper bags and clothes and gear that has gone into this week here.

And yet, I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Except more.

I would like to have more of all of this.

And I have a feeling that’s exactly how this life is going to play out.

The end

The End

Thank you so much for loving these characters.

If you liked this series, give the Serendipity Standalone Series a try.

Buy at Amazon

ALSO BY

ROMANCE

by Tara Brown

The Serendipity Series

Fling Club

He Loves You Not

The Royals Series

A Royal Pain

A Royal Affair

A Royal Wedding

The Puck Buddies Series

Puck Buddies

Roommates

Bed Buddies

Girl Next Door

Baby Daddies

Standalone novels

My Side

The Long Way Home

For Love or Money

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

by Tara Brown

Blood and Bone

Blood and Bone

Sin and Swoon

Soul and Blade

The Single Lady Spy Series

The End of Me

The End of Games

The End of Tomorrow

The End of Lies

The Lonely Duet

The Lonely

LOST BOY

Standalone novels

Ophelia

Castaways

Lucid

EROTICA

by Sophie Starr

Sinderella

Beauty’s Beast

The Club

MYSTERY

by Meg Browne

Crimson Cove Mysteries

Pretty Girls Die First

The Little Crimson Lies

Third Time’s a Charm

Four Crimson Corners

When The Lights Fade

YA SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS

by AE Watson

The Born Series

Born

Born to Fight

Reborn

The Seventh Day Series

The Seventh Day

The Last Hour

The Earth’s End

The Last City of Men Series

Imaginations

Duplicities

Reparations

Standalone YA Science Fiction

The Reverse of Everything

YA FANTASY BOOKS

by AE Watson

The Roses Series

Cursed

Bane

Hyde

Witch

Death

Blackwater

Midnight Coven

Redeemers and Betrayers

The Stones of Amaria

Sword of Mist

Sword of Stone

The Light Series

The Light of the World

The Four Horsemen

The End of Days

The Blood Trail Chronicles

Vengeance

Vanquished

Valiant

Standalone YA Fantasy

First Kiss

Sunder

In the Fading Light

Tara Brown is the international bestselling author of over sixty books. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil from the Bradford Literary Agency and is published traditionally with Montlake Romance and Skyscape Publishing.

https://www.tarabrownauthor.com

http://TaraBrown22.blogspot.com