Page 44 of Axton

She shrugged. “Totawy worf it.”

He looked at me. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on him because he is doing me a favor and he’s not exactly happy about it. Karter’s kid is coming to Creed’s Lake. He’s been given a choice. Either come get the baby or sign adoption papers. I can’t go to California because Morgan can have the babies any day now, and mom’s too sick to deal with it. So, I’m sending Magnus and Kayla with Karter to negotiate this whole thing. Kayla will be his legal representation, although I’m Karter’s guardian. That means Magnus has to deal with my mom and stepdad to get signatures. I’m going to do what I can to stop the girl from signing her rights away. I don’t think this is a choice the girl is making. She loves my niece then suddenly she doesn’t want to be her mom anymore? That makes no sense to me. They found out my brother comes from money, and they thought they were going to get a lot more in child support. They didn’t get what they wanted in the judgement, so they’ve made things very hardfor Karter. Sadly, it could come down to being my fault. I’ve been taking the child support from Karter’s pay and sending it, but also added some from my own pocket because I wanted my niece to have a good life. I should have consulted legal before I did it. I had no idea the courts would catch the overpayment and do a take back so Karter would be reimbursed. If they would have just called and told me, I would have cut them a check and sent it outside the court system. Instead, they jumped straight to not wanting the responsibility of the baby anymore. I think the girl is scared and just doing what her parents tell her to do. I need Kayla to talk with the girl about what she really wants, and if I’m right, I’m going to offer her the opportunity to come live here with the baby. That way my niece has both of her parents helping raise her. I have no doubts my checkbook will persuade the parents to agree. My mom abandoned me, and I don’t want my niece growing up feeling the way I did.”

“We’re getting another baby!” Addie was delighted.

“You'regetting another baby?” I asked Creed.

“We’re moving Karter in downstairs with my niece and I’ve hired Yolanda as a nanny for all four kids. Melissa is pregnant and Morgan and I can’t take it all on. We’ve agreed to keep the baby when Karter goes to the academy next year. I want him to be able to focus on school and he has to keep working to pay for all the things his daughter needs. I refuse to let mom send money because Karter has to learn how to be a responsible parent. Part of his check will go to paying Yolanda for her help, and Morgan and I are covering the majority because we will need her help as well.”

Yolanda was our first DV case. She was a good choice to be a nanny. “So, Magnus is mad because he has to deal with your parents?”

He nodded. “Mostly it’s the part where he has to travel with a teenager and an infant that’s got him all worked up.”

I couldn’t blame the guy. “My sister could help with the baby while they are traveling. She can be a bit uptight. You know, saving herself for marriage and all that? Those kinds of girls don’t really know how to let loose, and they tend to do a lot of babysitting.”

Creed’s face was turning blood red as he looked at me, as if he was holding something back. “Are you okay?” I asked.

He turned away from me and put his hands on his hips then looked up at the sky.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again.

“I’m good.” It sounded like he was holding his breath.

“I’m freezing.” Koty said. “But my only choice is to freeze or go back inside and not be able to breathe.”

I was looking at Creed. “Is there something I should know?”

“I tink he is eider laughing or cwying. I don’t care, I’m going inside.” Addie said then opened the door and went inside. “It his own fault.” She shut the door.

I looked back at Creed. “Dude, if it’s all getting to be too much, I’m here to talk. I know I can be kind of a dick lately, but I’m still your closest friend.”

“I’m fine, let’s load up that motorhome.” He didn’t as much as turn around before he opened the door and went inside. Totally avoiding looking at me.

When I stepped inside I bumped right into Creed who was completely still. I looked around him and my heart may have stopped.

“Holy shit.” I swallowed hard. Belle was walking down the steps in a pair of jeans and a form fitting sweater. I never saw a pair of jeans fit someone so perfectly. My mouth felt dry, and I had a thirst like I never had before in my life. Belle’s thick copper hair was braided, and it was swept over her left shoulder.

“It still smells bad.” Koty complained.

Belle and Bolton suddenly stopped, and my heart was racing.

“Which one of you pissed her off?” Bolton pulled her sweater over her nose.

Belle’s eyes grew and she slapped her hand over her nose and mouth. Her beautiful eyes began to water as she looked between me, Creed, Koty, and Addie.

“Daddy put two babies in mommy and now all twee of dem fart at da same time. It’s his fault.” Addie pointed at Creed. “Can I go home wit you tonight, Auntie Vow?” She batted her eyelashes up at her.

“Addie, we will get through this as a family. I know it’s hard, but you can’t keep begging to go home with people every time mommy gets a tummy ache. Your place is here with mom and dad, because we love you and will miss you if you leave. You don’t want us to be sad, do you?” Creed tried straightening her out.

“It not my pwobkem you get sad. I just want to bweave. Uncle Jwosh set us up because of you.”

“Lets get this done so we can get out of here and get some fresh air.” I motivated everyone.

Thirty minutes later, we were back in the motor home, where we were all taking in deep breaths of clean air. When Creed said Morgan had a lot for Belle, he wasn’t joking. It filled thebedroom of the motorhome up completely. She even gave her a few coats and she needed something because it was getting even colder. It was negative two and it hadn’t been dark for thirty minutes yet. I hated daylight savings time. It always got dark way too early.

I stopped the motorhome at the end of Creed’s driveway when a convoy of trucks drove by. “Please tell me that’s not Jeremy.” Koty said.

“No, that’s Magnus and Drakos. They must be done with Jeremy and they’re returning home.”

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