Page 39 of Royal

I smile at that. “Your dad is amazing. I was so happy that Marie found someone.”

River squeezes my hand, and I notice that she is very pregnant. “My little girl, Skylar, who is the spitting image of her daddy, is playing in the ball pit.” She is adorable! I swear my empty womb clenches at the idea of having another baby. I miss that baby smell when they’re a newborn, but I don’t miss waking up every hour that comes with it.

The girl next to her, I’ve never met before. “I’m Daniella. I’m with Knight, and Annie is my daughter. She is around the same age as Penny.”

Speaking of the little girl, she is the spitting image of her mom as Penny talks to her, waving her hands in the air excitedly. “They’re best friends,” I note, smiling at that.

Daniella beams as she holds a little girl. “This is Kaitlin, and my boy is with his dad, Knight.” She points to a big man cuddling a tiny baby to his chest.

I sigh. What is it about these rough, tough men holding babies that melt us?

Another girl sits forward to introduce herself. She is tiny, like all the women. “I’m Julia, and the little girl sitting next to Skylar is my daughter, Josie.” They’re all cuddled up together, it’s so cute.

Donovan runs around them in circles, drifting on the bike, almost taking out Annie in the process, but he corrects himself at the last second. “I’m kind of scared to get him a real bike when he is older,” I tell them, and they all laugh.

Julia stands up and turns to the side. That’s when I noticed she is heavily pregnant like River.

“Are you both due around the same time?” I ask them, and they nod.

“It seems our men were determined.”

The last girl says, “I’m Nicole, and this little girl on the floor in front of us is Andrea.” She runs her hand down Andrea’s hair. “I’m also very pregnant.”

I laugh. “I think they must have planned it.”

They all laugh with me. “We have been thinking the same thing,” River says, sitting back down and running her hand across her stomach.

“Well, if you ever need sitters, I have plenty of time now,” I tell them and finally sit down next to River.

The girls scoot closer. “Oh, tell me, how come?” They all have a knowing look. I’m sure they’re assuming that Royal made me quit or something along those lines.

I explain what happened yesterday with the lawyer and how I inherited all that money. Their eyes are enormous. “Wow, what are you going to do with it all?” Meghan asks me.

I shrug, clueless. “No idea, but I do know I would love to create a home where pregnant teenage girls get day care for their kids so they can finish their schooling and get help with food and all the things babies need.

“I think that is an amazing idea! Maybe you can have some ladies volunteer to be a big sister, but you know, like a step-in mom?”

“That is a great idea!” I tell her, getting more excited by the minute. I really can do this.

“It honestly doesn’t have to even be for just teenage girls. Single mothers struggle also,” I mention, thinking aloud.

“What has all of you ladies thinking so hard over here?” Gage pops out of nowhere, scaring me. I yelp in shock, and everyone starts laughing.

Royal snatches me off the couch and sits me in his lap. I lean against him and try not to sigh dramatically, loving being so close to him.

All the guys start piling up and do the same with their women, holding them in their laps. I notice the prospects are hovering around the kids. I guess they’re on babysitting duty.

Gavin looks like he is seconds away from having a heart attack because Donovan is cutting it close, almost hitting tables but ducking at the last second, bouncing off the walls, giggling.

I’m trying not to look because the stress of that kid destroys me. “Naomi was discussing the idea of opening a home for pregnant teenage girls who need help with whatever they need.”

Daniella pipes in, “And single mothers.”

Royal squeezes my thigh. “I think that is a fantastic idea, baby. You will know exactly how they would feel.” I smile at his praise.

“I have the funds, I just need to find the building and to figure out how to set everything up.” That sounds so overwhelming.

“We have the building. We weren’t sure what to put there, but if you want it, it’s yours.”

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