Page 113 of Pucking the Enemy

“Ooh!” I clapped my hands together in excitement. “Good! I swear, in my silly baby brain moments, I’ve sent so many things there. You would think I would remember I changed my address, but nope.”

“I can tell, from the small mountain that’s arrived at the house. It’s all in the kitchen. Why don’t you come get a snack, and we can work through it?”

“Sounds like a plan!” I said, lumbering after him.

The kitchen island was covered with packages. I had really been ordering a lot, but in my defense, a baby needed a lot of items!

“Did you order the whole store, sweetness?” Cormac chuckled from where he was sitting in the breakfast nook, shoving mac and cheese into his mouth.

“I like having options… and I may have gotten carried away with internet shopping a few weeks ago,” I said primly. “Do you guys want to help open these?”

“Sure,” Seb agreed.

Cormac nodded around a mouthful of food, putting his fork down and getting up.

Together, we attacked the pile. Burp cloths covered in ducklings. Pacifiers with moons and stars decorating them. There were even little baby hats with plants and farmyard animals on them.

“This baby is going to be the best prepared child in the history of babies,” Cormac joked, adding yet another pack of onesies to the growing pile. They had little turnips on them, and they were absolutely adorable. I had been powerless to say no when I saw them online.

“Better to be over prepared than under prepared.” I shrugged, grabbing another package.

“We should order them baby skates!” Cormac declared excitedly. “You know any child of ours is going to end up on the ice at some point. Best to start them young!”

Seb snorted. “Unless they have the balance of their lovely mother. Hazel can’t skate in a straight line.”

“I’m not that bad!”

He laughed. “You were on the ice for three minutes, then injured yourself.”

I pouted, throwing him a quick glare before picking up a few more packages. He followed my lead and also started going through them.

“Our child won’t be on the ice for a few years. You can take them to get outfitted when the time is right, as long as you get them all the protective gear.” I glowered at Cormac.

“Of course, sweetness! I would never let our kid go onto the ice unless they’re padded up like the Michelin Man.”

I laughed, shaking my head at that mental image.

“Did you order more wall decals?” Seb asked, cocking his head as he looked at a bulky paper envelope he had plucked from the pile.

“I don’t think so. What’s that logo?” The envelope had an official-looking emblem on it.

Seb’s eyes widened as he brought the paper closer to his face, reading the smaller print. “It’s from a lawyer’s office?”

“What?” I took the envelope out of his hand, ripping it open. The paper inside was heavy, luxurious.

Petition to establish right of custody for maternal grandparents.

My mind stuttered, reading the words several times before I could find the words.

“My parents are suing me for grandparents’ rights?” I shouted, loud enough that Seb winced before the words registered.

“What? Give me those!” he said, taking the papers off me and flicking through them.

Cormac walked to the kitchen entryway with a frown and bellowed in the direction of the stairs. “Ro! Get your ass down here! Philly boy, you too!”

My heart pounded in my chest as I desperately tried to catch my breath. Were my parents really trying to take my child away from me? The legal papers were dated only a week prior.

Cormac strode over to me, pulling me into his arms. It was like he could sense that I was about to fall apart. Tucking my head under his chin, I took several deep breaths. His sweet root beer scent was usually so calming, but nothing was going to calm me down right then.

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