clear that his dad was getting choked up. “Well, then, Grampa. Looks like you and me have somewhere we need to go.”
Mike nodded briskly, even as he blinked hard. “Twins. Damn, I had no idea.”
And judging from the expression on Dare’s face when Blake led his father into the hospital room an hour later, joining Marion and Jaxi, who were already there, his sister-in-law was pretty damn proud of having kept the secret.
“You Colemans are a dangerous lot,” Dare said with mock seriousness. “Twins. He got me pregnant with twins. That’s it. He’s cut off.”
Jesse was cuddled up beside her, a baby cradled in his arm, but he paused to kiss her cheek. “You’ve just gone through a traumatic event, so I’ll forgive your poor choice of words. I don’t think you really want to cut off anything.”
She tilted her head and eyed him. “I just pushed out two six-pound footballs. You really want to get into an argument about semantics?”
Jesse winked then curled himself upright and marched toward his father. “I hope you don’t mind we borrowed Grandpa’s name for this one. Figured with my genes and Dare’s, he needed something to give him some solid roots.”
Mike took the baby from his son with a grin of delight. “Your genes are solid,” he insisted. “And your roots as well. Never doubt that.”
Jesse watched his father for a moment, gaze dropping to his son then sliding over to meet Blake’s eyes. “Those roots are important. I know that, and so does Dare. But the best way to grow strong is to be planted in the right spot. We’ve got that here in Rocky.”
They were staying. Blake got the message loud and clear.
Even as his concern vanished on one level, another level of truth arrived. It wasn’t worry but a clear, concise understanding.
His brother staying required as much of a commitment on Blake’s part. All the things he would’ve done if Jesse and Dare had chosen to live hours away would be so much easier to do with them close.
Those family-connecting things still needed to happen. He still needed to make the time.
Blake dipped his head at Jesse before sliding around to where Jaxi waited for her turn to take little Ryan from Marion. Slipping an arm around Jaxi was the most natural thing in the world.
She squeezed him tight. “Have fun fishing?”
“Yep.” He held on as she leaned in closer, head resting on his chest. He whispered, careful to make sure no one else overheard, “You a little bit sad?”
She shrugged but then shook her head. “If it’s right for us to have another, we will. I’m not worried one way or the other.”
“But you’re gonna cuddle everybody else’s babies as much is possible, ain’tcha?”
Her eyes danced with laughter. “Of course.” She leaned in and bumped their noses together. “Same way I catch you sneaking baby cuddles every chance you get. You big old softy.”
Blake couldn’t deny it. He had no objection at all to baby cuddles, toddler cuddles, or the rest of it. Although, dear God, they were going to be heading into the teen years eventually, and that was going to be an adventure.
Although Daniel had managed it, and so had his parents. Somewhere amongst those roots and branches, he figured there was enough wisdom in the Coleman clan to get them out the other side intact.
Still, as he watched Jaxi cradle little Ryan, the look in her eyes made him want to give her everything she wanted. Or at least the things he had some control over.
Maybe it was time to do a little plotting of his own.
25
There were people everywhere. Far more than Mark expected even if he counted up the number of people in the Coleman clan.
He caught Mike grinning at him, his oldest brother stepping forward to offer a cheery hello. “Don’t worry. There’s a horde, but we’ve got enough food to feed two hordes.”
“Did you import people from Red Deer?” Mark asked as he glanced around.
Mike considered then shrugged. “Not impossible.” He caught Mark in a tight hug then aimed him toward the nearest circle of people. “Canada Day started small, but now it’s a free-for-all. Just wait. Once you build your place, we’ll add you to the list so you can host.”
Mark tried to picture this many people swarming around what was now a concrete foundation on the top of the rise. He shook his head. “Sounds like a plan. I can put them all to work, yes?”