it.
“So... you gonna tell me the good news or what?’’ Max shouts excitedly through the phone.
“No,’’ Mason deadpans, his face a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
“Ahhhh, it’s not yours is it. Look bro, I should have told you before. Denny and I, we have this amazing chemistry...’’
“Fuck off Max,’’ Mason growls and I giggle. He shoots me a warning glare and I make a motion of zipping my lips, my grin spreading across my face.
“Oh come on bro. You wanna be an uncle, I get that, but I’m the daddy...’’
“I’m cutting you off asshole.’’
“Who’s the daddy?’’ Max sings through the phone. “I’m the mother fucking daddy.’’
Mason glares at the phone and I giggle again, this time ignoring his murderous glare. “Is there something you fucking wanted Max other than to piss me off?’’
“That’s no way to speak to your lovers baby daddy is it Mason. Nah, I’m fucking around, keep ya knickers on. We’re all heading over to the Manor, want to meet us there for lunch and give us the good news?’’
“We’ll be there,’’ he growls. “Oh and I’m kicking your ass,’’ Mason snaps before shutting his phone off. “Don’t even start.’’
I hold my hands up in surrender, the grin spreading across my face hurting, “Wouldn’t dream of it daddy.’’ My voice is full of amusement and I watch as Mason tries hard to keep a straight face, but before I turn my attention back out the window his lips twitch into a smile.
We turn up at the restaurant twenty minutes later with all the gang outside waiting for us. Harlow is the first one to run over to us, running into my arms and giving me a tight hug.
“So? What are we expecting, a niece or a nephew?’’ Maverick calls with a grin, making his way over to us.
“I’m the daddy, I should find out first,’’ Max teases, giving me a wink.
My heart melts and I can feel tears fill my eyes as I take in everyone. They are all here to support me. I spoke with my Nan on the way here, wanting her to be the first to know. She congratulated me and told me having a girl is one of the most precious gifts I’ll ever receive. I did reply what if it was a boy and she laughed saying she’d wish me all the luck in the world. I knew she was only joking. My Nan knew any child brought into this world was a gift. Not everyone could carry that gift so they were to be cherished in every possible way. I had to agree. Carrying a child is the best gift I could ever receive and I know I’ll spend the rest of my life cherishing her.
“We are having a...,’’ I smile, before turning to Mason, gesturing to him to tell them the good news.
“We’re having a girl,’’ he shouts in triumph, pulling me to his side and oddly enough it’s comforting being there. Everyone hollers out their own congratulations, giving us both hugs. It’s only when Mark, Mason’s granddad comes over to give me his blessings that things get emotional.
“Girl, you’ll never know how pleased I am to see my first grandbaby coming into the world and that you’ve brought in the second girl this family –on my side anyway- has ever been blessed with,’’ he says choked up, his eyes watering. I want to argue and don’t think Mason’s mom is someone you can call being blessed with. From what I know and from little of what Harlow has mentioned, their mom is a piece of work. She never once looked after the boys and ran off leaving them with a complete bastard of a father.
I wipe my eyes, feeling tears fall. Feeling Mason coming up beside me I try to compose myself, but it’s too late.
“You upsetting my girl, Granddad?’’ he teases Mark.
My girl! He called me his girl.
I’m doing a happy dance inside hearing him call me his girl. I’ve never thought I’d hear him say those things and to be honest it’s doing funny things to my stomach.
“No son. Just letting her know how pleased I am she’s a part of this family, and for giving me a granddaughter,’’ he tells him, looking at me adoringly.
“Thank you,’’ I whisper, feeling myself becoming choked up.
He steps forward bracing his arms out for a hug and I step the last bit of space between us and step into his arms, breathing in his musky, detergent scent. It reminds me