Page 63 of Claim Me

Even though I’m from a powerful family, I’ve gotten to live my life however I’ve wanted. When I throw a baby shower, it’ll be my friends at the farm for barbecue and goofy games. Natasha doesn’t have that option.

Her party is a three-pronged event. First is her catered luncheon with her close friends, family, and staff like the nannies. Second is a kids’ bash taking place during the luncheon. A support staff will watch the kids playing in the kiddie wonderland set up outside. The third part is a fancy black-tie dinner with Banta City’s wealthy and the Syndicate’s allies.

That last one sounds like a slog to get through. Mom, Dad, Carys, Pork Chop, and Noble are attending. Zoot claims he might show up, though he recently began faking migraines to escape fancy events.

We invite Vanilla and Chef to the afternoon party. After they did well at Hudson’s birthday party at the farm, Indigo and I started bringing the siblings along for fun events.

Indigo is obviously attached to them, and they think he’s cool. I wasn’t sure how they felt about me for a while. Chef would stare at me a lot while Vanilla wouldn’t look at me at all. They finally settled down when I played in the sand with them at the park.

Vanilla and Chef look younger than ten and nine. They’re small, skinny kids with often serious faces. At first, the twins seemed intimidated by them. Once Vanilla and Chef began joining us for an outing each weekend, Kiera and Deirdre showed more interest. Now they’re accustomed to driving to the hills to pick up their new friends.

Last weekend, we had dinner with the kids at Caveman’s house.

“Their parents won’t be taking them back,” my uncle told me while Indigo ran around with the kids and Tangina in the yard. “Their dad keeps getting into fights in county jail. He’s looking at prison now.”

“And their mom?”

Caveman stood on his porch and eyeballed the kids. “The woman reminds me of Indigo’s mom. Neither one could silence the noise in her head.”

“What’ll happen to the kids?”

“They’ll stay here. Maybe a family in the hills will take them in. Hard to know.”

“Wait, are you trying to convince me to take them in?”

“Of course, lass,” Caveman said and flashed a cunning smile. “You’ve got a big house.”

“Not that big and I have three kids,” I say, rubbing my itty-bitty bump. “And two dogs and a cat still pissed about those two dogs.”

“Maybe you can let them stay over on the weekends. Give them a break from my place.”

“Are they cramping your love life?”

“No, I get plenty of pussy, but I appreciate your concern, Siobhan.” Caveman paused to applaud my exaggerated eye roll before he returned to his point. “They’re at a special age. If things go well, they can turn out okay. If they don’t get what they need in the next few years, their damage will be like internal tattoos. Nothing will wash it away.”

I glanced at the kids who were wiping down a pampered Tangina.

“That’s what happened to your man,” Caveman said in a quieter voice. “If his mama died when he was younger or I’d sent him to the farm earlier, I think he’d be a whole helluva lot healthier. That’s why his brother became a big shit lawyer while Indigo spent years nursing feelings for a woman who was within reach.”

I frowned at my uncle. “Don’t guilt trip me.”

“Too late. I’ve already sunk my claws into that big heart of yours,” Caveman mocked while circling me. “What can you do now? I’ve planted the seed. You’re going to be thinking about those sad kids and your broken lover. Won’t be long before you turn one of your spare rooms into a space for Vanilla and Chef.”

His words held some truth, but I refused to give in just yet. “I don’t want to call them those goofy names you gave them.”

“Indigo is the name you yell out in bed, lass. Don’t know why you’re getting uppity now.

“His name is beautiful. I feel like you half-assed theirs.”

“No. I put great thought into those names, but you’re free to call them Glenjamin and Norleen.”

“Why?” I whined. “What is it about living in the hills that inspires you people to name your kids stupid shit?”

“Winifred is a fine name.”

I rolled my eyes again at his attempt to guilt me. “I’ll think about it. But they need better names.”

“They like the ones I gave them.”

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