Page 97 of Claim Me

“Because Caveman is a dumb name for a kid. Nobility sounds pompous, sure, but I think I can pull it off. After all, I am royalty,” I say and point at my tiara.

Caveman glances at Noble and then the twins who rush over to show off their tiaras. Instead of thanking me for naming my kid after him, Caveman just orders the girls to fear bears. When they shake their heads, he storms off.

“He nearly lost a nut to Yogi Bear,” Noble explains to the twins. “Just ignore his whining.”

Caveman might not thank me for choosing his name, but he heads over to Indigo and starts chatting him up.

“Caveman is happy about the baby’s name,” I tell the twins while Hector and Nora run over with Natasha close behind.

“Can you say the baby’s name?” I ask Hector.

Natasha offers a grumpy grunt and rubs her belly where her second baby cooks. “Is this a test?”

“Yes. I find it fascinating what he can say and what he mangles.”

Hector looks back at Jacinda running toward him. “Ocean!” he cries, and she laughs.

“Close enough,” I say and hug Natasha. “I’m so happy to have this house.”

Natasha bounces slightly before remembering her preggo bladder. “You’re even closer to my house.”

Hunter is soon added to our cuddle fest. She carries baby Atticus while Tack walks around with Lotus in his arms. Carys joins us as Ripley toddles around with Olívie and Lorcan.

The kids have already started grouping up. Glen gravitates toward Hicks and Hudson. The twins and Nora offer tiaras to Jacinda and Hector. Lotus ends up inside the fenced play area with the other walking babies.

Bear and Tack show off their pug dogs to Caveman who doesn’t seem impressed. However, Indigo stares at the ugly dogs like he’s looking at magic.I know what I’m getting him for his birthday!

Blue is still a puppy when Oisin is born. Indigo and I decide to have my tubes tied during the C-section. Six kids and four pets are enough chaos for our family.

Like his older brother, Oisin looks like a mix of his dad and me. Unlike his older brother, Oisin isn’t moody. He’s easy-breezy unless something is wrong. He never just cries to test out his voice. Born into a big family, he realizes he’ll never be able to out-drama all the people around him.

Oisin adores his dad. They often sit out back together and watch the dogs and kids make noise. I’ll find them grinning at each other as if we’re so damn entertaining.

Indigo isn’t a casually fun guy like my dad. Elvis owns his feelings in a way Indigo probably never can. My man’s heart is so tender about the people he loves.

However, Indigo isn’t nearly as serious as I used to think. He loves playing out back with the kids. He will get on the floor to engage with his youngest sons. I often catch him wrestling around with the dogs. Once Indigo unleashes his silly side, I feel as if I was blind to have never realized it existed.

Occasionally, when the house is quiet and the kids are focused on something, I’ll find myself standing in front of Indigo. We look at each other and I’m hit by how much has changed between us since that magical night in the clubhouse. We’d known each other for most of my life. I had loved him since we were kids. He was my family and a friend. Yet, he remained a mystery to me.

I didn’t have a clue how passionate he was inside. No matter how dumpy I might get some days, Indigo can unleash a look that makes me feel like the sexiest woman in the world.

Before that night, I saw a loyal guy with a big broken heart. I never could have imagined how patient he would be with our babies. Or how curious he might be about life outside his little circle.

Every day, Indigo offers love in such effortless yet meaningful ways. When Nora burns a new recipe, he quickly soothes her tears and helps her figure out how to salvage the meal. When Glen struggles at school and we get called in to talk with the teacher, Indigo goes on the internet to find the right questions to ask. If the baby cries in the middle of the night, he pops up on the first grumpy whine. He’s so fast that I sometimes never know they were up at all.

For a long time, Indigo fell into a rut. He loved the club and farm. He had good friends. When he was feeling low, Mom always knew he needed her attention. Life was simple, and it made sense, but Indigo needed more. He just couldn’t figure out how anything worked. At some part, he got stuck, but he never wanted tostaystuck.

Once he realized I could love him as he hoped, Indigo started pushing himself. He asks questions rather than hiding. I know it’s not easy. Indigo doesn’t want to be wrong or look stupid. He’s a guy, and his ego needs protecting.

Yet, he wants to be the best version of himself. That guy, the one who laughs his ass off about the dogs being goofy or gets emotional when his kids are hurting, is more than I ever dreamed I’d find for myself.

Once I truly saw Indigo, the love bug bit me right.

INDIGO’S EPILOGUE

Elvis once said some boys needed strong fathers to turn out right. Other boys needed a sweet mama to ensure they didn’t go wrong. His point was people were different. Not every boy who arrived at the farm would grow into a healthy man. There was no magic formula.

When he told me that, I considered how I never wanted a dad when I was growing up. I only hoped a man would love my mom enough to make her healthy. Of course, that didn’t happen, and I was in a freefall after her death.

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