Page 112 of The Heir

Isobel's eyes suddenly go sad, making me reach for her hand. I know she has scars on her heart from not having a dad in her life, and I vow to give our child everything that she didn't have. Maybe it will help heal her wounds as well.

"Hey, it's going to be okay, beautiful." I press my lips to her temple and breathe her scent in deeply. "I'm going to make sure of it."

Isobel gives me a tentative smile in return, and nods. We take our time finishing our dinner, holding hands and talking quietly about baby names, and make plans to turn her blue bedroom into a nursery.

Mariah. We're going to name her Mariah.

Chapter twenty-five

Family Gatherings

The next afternoon Isobel and I walk hand in hand through my parents' front door a little ahead of schedule, as I'm finding Isobel is just about always early to an event. We step through the foyer and greet my parents' butler, who takes our jackets and instructs us to the family room where father, mother, Mason, and Teresa and her husband are sitting.

Mother's holding baby Vi while father sits next to her cradling Vi's head in his big palm. Mother croons down at Vi, who's looking up at her, swaddled tightly in her blanket.

"Hey sis, she looks so beautiful," I say to Teresa, bending down to give her a kiss on the top of her head and then shake Brody's hand. He's proud, boasting the biggest smile I've ever seen on another man's face. "Brody, you did good, my man. How does it feel?"

Brody furrows his brow. "Like I want to kill someone over her."

Teresa giggles, rubbing his arm. "Well, hopefully not until the first guy comes knocking on the door in about sixteen years." At her obviously harmless teasing we all turn our heads to look at Brody and grin as the blood visibly drains from his face and he narrows his eyes with an expression I'd never seen from him before.

I guess my turn is coming next.

I sit in a nearby chair as Isobel sinks to her knees in front of Madre and watch as she gently hands Vivian over to her. I'm not even bothered that Izzy gets to hold my niece before I do, I want to see what my woman looks like with a baby cradled in her arms.

It's everything I've dreamed.

At first I wasn't sure if we should tell our families today about our pregnancy, considering we're so early on, and I didn't really want to steal Teresa's and Brody's thunder. But when Isobel looks over at me, and I see the happiness in her eyes, the pure joy radiating from her in this moment, I can't help but want to suck everyone into our bubble so they can be a part of it too.

I'm fixing to open my mouth when my parents' butler comes into the room, announcing Donna and Melody's presence.

"Hello!" Donna greets us as she walks in first, toting a shy Melody behind her.

I stand and walk over to welcome her, worried that I've done irreconcilable damage to mine and hers relationship. But as I draw closer, that fear recedes as she goes from being obviously fake irritated with me to a bright welcoming smile.

"Hendrix King you brute!"she teases, hitting me lightly on my chest before letting me pull her into a big hug with a chuckle. "You better be so grateful that you're so charming!"

"Mom!" Isobel states rapidly as she rises off the floor with Vi and rushes. "I've missed you so so much-"

Isobel squeaks when, as she gets close to her mother, Donna grabs Vi out of her arms instead of hugging Isobel. She stands there silently looking rather confused as Donna snuggles Vi, then coos at her. "Oh you're soadooorablleeee!"Donna gushes.

I stand there like a sore thumb, watching Isobel get passed over for the baby.

"Well,"Isobel huffs. "Glad to see you missed me too." She leans over to embrace Melody who sidesteps Donna.

"Oh please, I knew you were okay," Donna chastises Isobel gently, rocking Vi and giving my family a bright smile. "Hi everyone, I'm Isobel's mom. How are you all?"

Everyone chimes in their hello, except for one voice that's missing. I turn to do some chastising of my own. I glance over and see Mason staring rather hard at Melody, looking overcome.

"Mason?" I call out, still seeing him locking eyes with Melody, who's turning redder and redder with every passing second. So immersed, that he still isn't comprehending that I'm speaking to him."Mason!"I snap.

Nope, he's gone deaf; looking at Melody like he's going to leap across the few feet at her and eat her up. Leaning forward I snag Mason by the elbow and yank him behind me, moving to the other side of the room and well out of the ear shot of our families.

"Hey Hen, let go of me!" he snaps tugging against my hold, but it just makes me tighten down even harder as I jerk him around to face me.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I hiss. "She'ssixteen,Mason!"

He throws his hands up but I know better; I saw what I saw.

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