Page 126 of Love Without Demands

I tutted from inside the door. “A man can’t even have a decent heart attack in peace in a place like this.”

Mama flashed me a fake glare before hugging me and Lehra. “Always with the smart mouth, this one,” she complained, patting my cheek.

Paul Bouvier was slightly reclined on the bed, and I was thrilled to see that the color had returned to his skin. Crossing to him, I sat on the edge of the bed and pressed a kiss to his warm cheek. “You look better, Dad.” The last word rolled off my tongue as naturally as if I’d been calling him that for my entire life.

“It’s the hospital gown,” he said, pinching the neckline of the gray patterned garment. “It does wonders for the complexion.”

Lehra sat on the other side of him, and they shared a warm hug before she teased, “I’m going to tell Devereaux you’re not wearing a Bouvier hospital gown.”

My father chuckled. “He’ll be trembling in fury. Maybe I’ll talk to Monty about designing a new line.” He patted her hand and turned back to me. “Did you call your brothers?”

My brothers.I actually liked the sound of that now.

“I called Auburn. He and Monty should be here any minute.”

Lehra stood and looped her arm with my mother’s. “Stella and I will go get a coffee and maybe hit the gift shop for a while.”

Mama didn’t move to hug Paul, but she placed a hand on his shin and met his eye. “I’ll be back.” He nodded, and once again, I was struck by the visceral feeling of their connection.

Once the ladies were gone, I rounded the bed and took the chair beside my dad. “How are you?”

“I’m good, son.” His blue eyes seemed full of life when he smiled. “Thank you for saving my life.”

“I didn’t do anything. Just had Mama call the ambulance.”

“You were there. That’s all I needed,” he replied, voice thick with emotion. Before he could say anything else, the door swung open and my brothers entered. Monty waved and I flashed him asmall smile, my anxiety ratcheting up a couple notches. I prayed this went well… that they would accept me.

“Boys! I’m glad to see you. I’m sorry to have interrupted your Saturday,” Dad said.

“Hush up, young man,” Monty said before pressing a kiss against his forehead.

They talked for a few moments, Paul filling them in on the surgery he was about to have.

“That’s good. We’ll be here the whole time,” Monty assured him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

Our father passed a look between his two oldest children. “I wanted to talk to you about something before they put me under. I was going to tell you the day after Chloe’s funeral, but I thought I’d dropped enough on you for one afternoon.”

He smiled weakly before continuing. “And then it never seemed to be quite the right time. Monty, you moved back, there was all the wedding planning, and then our sweet Janie started walking. I didn’t want to overshadow all that.”

“Well, now we’re focused on you, Dad,” Auburn said softly. “What do you need to talk to us about?”

“I’m just going to say it.” His eyes scanned all three of us this time, holding on me for a long beat.

“Auburn, Monty…” Dad took a deep breath, and I could sense his nerves, so I reached out and gripped his hand.

After a long pause, he finally said it.

“Cruz is your brother.”

There was no yelling. No accusatory looks. No demands for proof. I’m not sure what I expected, but it sure as hell wasn’t this.

Monty blinked in confusion, but he didn’t look mad at all. Auburn didn’t either, though he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me with… was thatsmugness?

I wasn’t sure what to make of his reaction. The oldest Bouvier brother was a bit of an enigma, a much tougher nut to crack. Monty was the one I was most worried about because he’d become one of my best friends since he moved back here last year, and I feared this would drive a wedge between us.

Our father spoke up to try and clear up the confusion. “You remember that I told you I separated from Chloe all those years ago? And that I fell in love with Auburn and Evie’s nanny?”

Monty’s eyes narrowed and then widened as he put the pieces together like one big, familial puzzle. “That was before I was born, so you and, um…”

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