Page 108 of Beast: Part Two

Shortly after, we all gathered in the backyard. Summer once again did an amazing job distracting us from our pain. We’ve laughed, played games, and ate well. Now, Brooklyn and Hawk are standing in front of us with gender reveal smoke cannons. Each one holding a cannon to represent each child.

“All right,” Summer sings. “On the count of three.”

“Wait,” Brooklyn says. “Let’s do it one at a time. Hawk, you do yours first.”

He nods obediently.

“Okay,” Summer continues. “On three Hawk. One, two, three.”

Hawk shoots his cannon, and blue smoke shoots up in the air. We all cheer.

“What color is it?” Hawk asks.

“Shit, baby. I forgot you’re blind. It’s blue,” Brooklyn shouts. Hawk turns around and gently lifts Brooklyn up spinning her around.

“Did she just say he’s blind?” Summer asks looking at me. “He’s been blind this entire time?”

Maksim and Zel chuckle beside me.

“I was just as confused as you the first time I found out,” Ari says. “Don’t feel bad.”

Seconds later, Brooklyn shoots her cannon, and more blue smoke pours out.

We continue to celebrate. I find myself in the corner of the yard staring up at the sky.

“You have two more grandsons, Priest. You would’ve had your hands full.”

I hear her footsteps before she speaks. “He would’ve had so much to say about all this pink and blue, but deep down he would have been so happy.” Albany steps up beside me.

We don’t speak again for a long moment. Both lost in our own memories of Priest.

“Is it weird that I still feel this connection to him? It’s like I know he’s dead, but part of me feels as if my soul hasn’t gotten the memo.”

I turn to her, glancing down at her teary eyes. Placing an arm around her shoulder, I pull her into me.

“You lost your soul mate. Your soul is never going to get the memo. But we are here. For whatever you need.”

She smiles up at me. “Look at you, tapping into your emotions. Priest would be so proud.”

I shrug off her compliment even though it meant the world to me.

We spent the remainder of the night celebrating Brooklyn and Hawk’s great news. At one point, we sat around the fire pit with Charlie, Emory and Gabe and shared stories of Priest. It was a good night. One we truly needed.

chapter Thirty

Baby Names

Brooklyn

Iplace a hand over my belly. The boys are active this morning. They’ve been that way a lot lately. I just turned eight months; they are probably running out of room.

I take the last tray of the muffins Malia made out of the oven. I love that woman, but I swear living with her is going to have my damn back so wide I won’t be able to fit in the doorway.

Summer walks into the kitchen carrying a playful Charlie.

“Is that auntie’s baby?” I coo at my nephew.

“It sure is. I heard him yapping in the room, so I went in and grabbed him.”

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