Page 98 of Storm

He leaves the room and all of us behind. None of us speak until we hear his booming voice from down the hall, demanding a moment with my son.

“Dick, your dad is a badass.”

Tatum’s joke has all of us laughing, broken free from the shock. “He is,” I laugh out. “I think we should wait until tomorrow to tell Miriam. She’s going to put up a fight.”

“No she won’t.Mi pétalois going to be relieved. Now we just have to ask her to marry us!” Ezra jumps up after dropping that bomb and hurries out of the room.

We follow, only to find my mother sitting as close to my father as possible while he holds his grandson for the first time. There’s nothing but pride written all over his face and I’m, once again, absolutely floored.

My mother holds a glass of wine up, waving it at us with her finger stuck out. “You bunch make quite the interesting family.” She looks down at my sleeping Gabriel tucked in her husband’s arms and coos. “This poor baby boy is never going to get away with a thing.”

Ezra’s grin turns sly, and he flashes his teeth at my mother. “Oh, I’ve definitely got plans to teach him how to break the rules without being caught.” Then he taps the side of his head and whispers, “We’re going to be sneaky.”

EPILOGUE 1

TATUM

1 month later

“Are you ready to head out?” I ask after sticking my head into the bedroom where Miriam is fussing over Gabriel.

Ezra isn’t helping, pacing the room and throwing as many unnecessary things into the diaper bag as possible, only for Miriam to glare at him and take them out.

“Wait! We need that! Willy is the one who convinced me to get those!” He’s got his finger pointing at a large box, and I can’t tell what it is until Miriam holds it up with frustration.

I burst out laughing just as she grits out, “I don’t need to bring fifty fucking nipple pads, Ez!”

He holds his hands out like he’s pleading with her. “Mi pétalo!Please. We’ve got a two-hour drive there, then the visit, then a stop at Susu’s,thenanother oneat your dad’s place!”

They’re both breathing hard, Miriam ready to strangle him and Ezra’s eyes wide as he fights the good fight.

“Ez, I’m?—”

“What if you leak everywhere?”

I stand up straighter and head into the room, stepping in between the two of them. This just went from a hilariousargument to Ezra about to dissolve into panic and Miriam might just kill him.

“How about,” I start, snatching the box from them and opening it up, “We take a dozenjust in case.” I stress the end, hoping Miriam will understand. Luckily, I don’t need to worry because her face has already softened.

Taking the package away from me, she shakes her head. “No, he’s right. You never know when these babies will make themselves known. Maybe I should bring a couple extra shirts, just in case.”

“I got them,” Ezra calls out, rushing into her closet.

Reaching out, I draw her against me in a hug. “Thanks, Miri. He was…” I trail off when she nods.

“I know. I can’t believe we’re taking a whole road trip to meet a cashier at a baby store.” She giggles, then sighs as she lifts her head to rest her chin against it as she looks up at me. “Hey, I have to tell you something.”

Brushing her hair behind her ear, I give her a cocky grin. “What’s that, pretty lady?”

She flashes a smile at me and pushes up on her toes to kiss me. I groan against her mouth, enjoying every moment I get her to myself like this. She and our son are my entire world, so I’m not complaining. I just want them with me all the time.

Her kiss turns into a smile as she drops back down to walk her fingers across my shoulder up to my ear. Giving it a light tug, she bites her lip, grinning more. “I think you’re pretty great. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget that I love you.”

“Hmm,” I say, pretending to think it over. My arms tighten around her when I say, “I guess you’re not so bad. A little temperamental for my taste, but I’m learning to live with it.”

“Pendejo,” she snaps without heat. “I only get riled when you all are wrong and I’m right.”

Chuckling, I kiss her nose, then her forehead. “I guess you’re right.”

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