“I’ll leave you to settle in,” Poppy said, accepting Val’s kiss on her cheek. “I’ll go and make sure Grammie isn’t signing the house over to Emmie.” It was nice that Val had relaxed enough to laugh. “That would certainly make my mom’s day.”
Anyone who hadn’t known the Maddox’s were coming wouldn’t be ignorant for long. Already Emmie was declaring her presence. Poppy loved it as much as Grammie would. The house needed some life and the little people would definitely provide that gift. It was more than the worth of any diamonds or jewels.
NINE
“Shh!” Noah whispered to her, his finger over his lips as he tried to stifle a giggle and hid behind her skirt.
Approaching the construction site slowly, Poppy could hear the men inside the structure winding down for the day, as she expected they would be. Before the guys could get more rowdy or use any more of the colorful language that had drifted her way, she stopped to look through an opening where one of the back windows would probably end up.
“Miss Poppy,” Aitken said, being the first to notice her, though the others were quick to turn, Turner included.
When he spotted her, he smiled and began to saunter over. “Hey, baby.”
“I have a surprise for you,” she said.
His brow arched. “Is it lingerie? Keep it for the bedroom, babe. I don’t want the guys around for that show.”
“No, it is not lingerie,” she said, ignoring the snickers from deeper within the house.
The little laugh from behind her thigh was stifled by fabric, though not enough that Turner didn’t hear it.
He stopped, wearing a frown. “Candy-Cane?”
Noah probably wasn’t identifiable from a laugh, but he’d given away his presence. She twisted to slip her hands under the little guy’s arms. “Ready?” she whispered and he nodded fast.
Picking him up, Poppy swung him around.
The moment Noah saw his uncle he shouted, “Boo!”
“Geez!” Turner called, exaggerating his shock. “Wow! My God!” Noah was in hysterics. He was heavy and she couldn’t see around him, but when Turner’s hands closed over hers, Poppy handed nephew over to uncle. “What are you doing here, Sport?”
“We came in a big plane,” Noah said, extending his arms outward from his sides. “Just us on the plane. Me and mommy and Grama.”
“Grama’s here?” he asked, curious when he looked at her.
“Everyone is,” Poppy said. “Noah’s sisters and yours too.”
“All of them?” he asked, nodding and gesturing to the construction guys, saying his goodbyes as they did the same in return.
Poppy backed away from the house to wait for Turner to bring Noah around.
“Aww,” the little guy said, disappointed. “I want to build the house too!”
“I’ll bring you down later, Sport,” Turner said, coming over and putting Noah down when he wriggled in a bid for freedom.
“I know the way, Uncle Turner. Follow me!”
Noah ran on ahead, then slowed to a pronounced march, proud of his role as leader.
“When did they get here?” Turner asked, threading his fingers through hers. “Why didn’t you tell me they were coming?”
“Talk to your buddy,” Poppy said. “I didn’t know. Preston set it all up with Tiller. They got here about an hour ago.”
“My family, taking over your house,” he muttered like that wasn’t such a good thing.
Poppy just laughed and rested her head on his arm. “Grammie’s already bequeathed anything that isn’t nailed down to Emmie who is rocking tiaras I didn’t even know we had.”
“Shit,” he breathed out, driving his fingers into his hair. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s the most fun I’ve had for weeks. I don’t think it’s possible not to fall in love with the three little ones on the spot. Noah’s been clamoring to come and visit you at the site. I thought it was best to wait until closer to the end of the day. I didn’t want him to get hurt and… uh…”
“And, uh, what?”
“It took a few quiet words from your mom to Faye before she’d let me walk him down here alone.”
He stopped to show his glare. “What? Are you kidding me?”
“It’s okay,” she said, still smiling as she stroked his jaw. “I’m in the doghouse. It’s nothing we didn’t know before this surprise.” Poppy got them walking again. “To be honest, I don’t know why I didn’t think of inviting them to the estate sooner. Having them here makes everything so much easier. We can keep everyone safe here. The kids have plenty of space to play. Anything they need can be