Page 79 of Big Red

“Mom, you’re pregnant?!”

God, that never gets old. Whenever she or Colt calls me mom, I want to cry from happiness.

Maybe it’s the hormones.

Colt runs into our room after hearing what Cindy said. He pauses for just a moment before a huge grin spreads across his face. He and his sister begin cheering and bouncing in excitement. Red comes out of our bathroom, confusion written all over his face.

“What’s going on?”

“Why didn’t you tell us Mom was pregnant?” Cindy frowns at him.

“Why are you just mad at me? Alice didn’t tell you either.” He crosses his arms while throwing me under the bus with him.

Both Cindy and Colt turn to me, awaiting my answer.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you two with the information. We were going through so much. My focus was making sure you two were okay.”

Their faces soften. They approach me with a hand hovering over my belly, silently asking for permission to touch it. I nod, and they place their hands on my belly.

“I hope you’re a girl. Lord knows we don’t need another Colt around here,” Cindy coos.

Colt's smile is wiped right off his face. “What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t hate because you’re not as awesome as me. I can’t help it if I’m the more good-looking and approachable sibling, and you’re the ninja assassin attacking everybody,” he rants, walking out of the room with Cindy trailing behind him.

I listen to those two going at it until they reach their rooms. Red is doubled over with laughter, and so am I.

They fight like cats and dogs, but when the time comes, they will go against an army for each other. Just as it’s supposed to be.

After everyone gets dressed for the day, we go to the clubhouse for breakfast. Marco and Hannah are out of their seats the second Cindy and Colt enter the dining hall. They are all talking a mile a minute. You would think Cindy and Colt were away at boarding school the way they were acting.

Once breakfast is over, the kids go with Crystal so she can drop them off at school. As Red and I are about to leave to head to the shop, Viper calls his name. Cara is right behind him with a worried expression.

“What’s going on?” Red asks.

Viper scratches the side of his face before sighing. “Paula is at the gate. She said she won't leave until she talks to you.”

Hearing Red’s mother’s name, I gasp. He clenches his teeth and shakes his head. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish I was, brother. Look, if you don’t want to speak to her, I can have Chief come out here and escort her off the property, but I didn’t wan?—”

“It's fine, Prez. Send her in.”

Viper nods and walks away, hand in hand with Cara. Red leads me into the common room, which is surprisingly empty outside of Mouse, who is wiping down the bar.

A few minutes after sitting, Paula walks into the room. She watches Red with a shaky smile before taking a seat across from us.

Red's mother is beautiful. He looks a lot like her. They have the same hazel eyes and raven-black hair. She has a few strands of gray, but she doesn’t look a day over forty.

And Red is thirty-two!

Clearly, despite being with Senior, he couldn’t do anything to take away from her beauty.

Red watches her closely, not bothering to speak. It is so awkward.

“What is it that you want, Paula?” Red finally speaks up.

Paula nods somberly. “I guess I deserve that. I’ve been a horrible mother to you.” She looks at Red just as a lone tear travels down her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Cliff.”

Red looks taken aback by her admission. Before he can say anything, she continues.

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