Page 3 of Still Singing To My Heart

“That’s not how generational wealth is supposed to work,” Blake teased him. “You’re not her dad.”

“Eh, what was I supposed to do? Just shut it down? Besides, it made her happy. Hopefully, it still is,” Duke said.

“She loves it. She practically lives there now. She’s made the place a bit brighter, but I expected that,” I said.

“It’s hers. She can do whatever she wants to with it,” Duke nodded as his house came into view. “One second. Let me make sure everyone’s decent.”

He sprinted ahead and I flashed Blake a grin.

“You sure you don’t want help with the bags?” he asked as he always did.

“I’m fine. I’m not old yet,” I laughed and stole a kiss as we took our time walking up the driveway to where Duke lived with his mate, baby, and his cousin’s family too. Blithe was more or less one of our kids just like Lee and Bane could say the same about Duke and the rest of our brood.

“Okay,” Duke said, stepping onto the porch. “We’re good, but you have to take your shoes off and wash your hands before you touch the kittens or Duchess. Not just you guys. Anyone would have to.”

“We’re not mad that you have boundaries,” I chuckled. “Calm down, kiddo.”

He let out a long, slow breath. Whether because of Fred never being around or because he grew up in a pack, Duke hated the thought of making anyone feel left out or singled out.

“Just show me where to put the bags down where they won’t be baby toys and we’ll wash up,” I said, already kicking off one sneaker.

“Let me take the bags,” Duke said, his big eyes hopeful.

I sighed but handed off the bags. Some days the offers of help made me wonder if I looked old, but knew that was just the way the wheel of life spun. You raised kids, helping them every step of the way. Then they grew up and wanted to help you. We were lucky with Duke, Joy, and all the others.

“Better than a packed concert of screaming fans?” Blake smirked as Duke disappeared into the house to put our bags in the guest room.

“Any day,” I laughed and stole another kiss.

I used that very line in one of the songs I wrote right after we moved back to Mage Street shortly after Joy was born. She was perfect as a baby and still was, if you asked me.

Chapter Three

Blake

The living room was empty. So I made a dash for the kitchen. Even as teenagers Duke and Blithe mostly lived in the kitchen of whatever house they were currently at. It didn’t surprise me that they and their mates still spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

Syre, Duke’s mate, rocked their baby girl in the dark wood rocking chair. My heart leapt into my throat, and inside his inner sanctum, my wolf’s tail wagged. It took all my self-control not to try to pick up Duchess right then and there. Instead, I waved hi to Syre and made a b-line for the sink. I washed my hands twice before drying them just to be sure they were clean enough for Duke’s liking. I loved how protective he was over his little baby.

“Let’s move to the living room,” Duke said, walking back into the kitchen as Jonah washed his hands. “That way everyone has somewhere comfortable to sit.”

We all shuffled into the living room with Duchess and her two kitten cousins in tow. I wanted to hold all the babies. After all the kittens were Lee’s grandbabies. So many little babies being born in to our family while we were still having babies of our own. I wondered how many generations we’d get to see before our doors showed up.

“Many, many more,” Jonah said over our mating link as we sat down on the sofa.

Syre kissed Baby Duchess’s head before passing her off to us. My heart skipped a beat when my granddaughter looked up at me blinking. Jonah smoothed down her thick, dark hair. She looked so much like Duke. She was perfect. I’d never met an imperfect baby, but until I was a granddad I secretly thought our babies were the most perfect. I couldn’t imagine what would keep Fred away from this tiny baby. He knew all about her. Duke and Syre told everyone about her. She was rightfully the center of their universe right now.

“She’s so precious,” I said, finally glancing up at Duke and Syre.

“She’s perfect,” Syre grinned.

“They always are,” Jonah nodded.

“We were hoping for a small favor,” Syre said and Duke bit his lip.

“Bring back my stuff if you want me to get the checkbook out,” Jonah laughed.

“Oh! No!” Duke shook his head fast. “We’re good. We just wondered if you’d watch her while we took a nap.”

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