Page 90 of These Jagged Edges

When Maddox pulls Maggie onto the dance floor, I can see the tremor in her body as she holds her baby, who now towers over her. Magnolia Wilder’s love for her boys is fierce, but Maddox, he’s the one who’s been through the most, the one who almost slipped away from her completely. I can’t help but think about the years of fear she must have lived through, not knowing if today would be the day she’d get the call—the one telling her they found him, lost and broken somewhere. It’s a fear only a mother who had almost lost her child could understand, and in that moment, I see it in her eyes. The way she holds him close isn’t just about dancing—it's about holding onto the boy she almost lost, cherishing every second of his presence in her life.

Vic tries to call a truce with Joe after a few whiskeys inviting her to dance and surprisingly she agrees until he steps on her foot and she calls him ‘a bull in a damn china shop’.

Charlie and Bash had eaten until they could barely move. Sophie made their favorite ridiculous chocolate cupcakes, and now they’re both lost to the world in their food comas. Charlie is curled up on Sophie’s lap, his little body completely relaxed, while Bash is sound asleep between Henry and Lou as they dance. Bash had initially fallen asleep between Lou and me, but the moment Henry came up and asked Lou for a dance, she quickly snatched my son into her arms, as if hoping to deter the mountain of a man. But Henry, silent as ever, simply picked my sleeping child up, cradled him against his shoulder like he was nothing more than a newborn, and extended his hand to Lou without hesitation.

I was impressed, more impressed when she took his hand.

I excuse myself for a moment of peace, stepping away from the noise of the celebration. The soft evening air welcomes me as I walk down the dock, the heels of my shoes clicking lightly on the wood, before I stop and slip them off. I lift the hem of my dress and carefully sit at the edge, dipping my toes into the cool water. The sensation of the lake's embrace sends a shiver of calm through me. Leaning back on my hands, I let out a contented sigh, savoring the tranquility. The water ripples gently around my feet, and for a moment, the world feels still—just me, the lake, and the quiet of the evening. It’s the perfect pause amidst the whirlwind of everything.

“You lasted longer than I thought.”

This time I don’t startle; I knew he’d come find me the minute he saw me slip out of sight of everyone. I can always feel his hot gaze tracking my every move no matter where we are.

“What do you mean?”

I watch him kick his shoes off before taking his socks off and taking a spot beside me. His jacket and tie long forgotten. His black shirt is uncuffed and rolled up and the first two buttons are undone. Fuck he’s delicious.

“You sneaking off for a breather.”

He’s right, I love my family but big celebrationsand lots of people still overwhelm me. Our loud rowdy family becomes background noise, that comfortable silence encompasses us as we sit and stare at the shimmering water as it reflects the moonlight.

I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Maddox.”

“Yeah, Pretty Girl?”

I swallow hard before turning to look at him in the moonlight. His handsome face is strong and unwavering and for the first time relaxed. I trace the scar along his lip, and he leans into my touch, nuzzling against my hand like a giant house cat.

“Maddox, I…” Fuck this is harder than I thought. “Maddox, I’m pregnant.”

The earth stops spinning as he raises his head and looks at me.

“I’m twelve weeks today. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner, I was afraid to tell you because what if something happened? I wanted to wait until I knew the baby was healthy, but then I found out and I was afraid to tell you for some other stupid ass reason?—"

He suddenly pulls me onto his lap to straddle him, ending my babbling.

“I know,” he says softly.

“You do?” How? Vic is a steel trap, unless I talk in my sleep that’s the only way he’d find out.

“You think I don’t know my woman well enough to know when something about her changes?” Maddox asks me with a crooked grin.

I rack my brain trying to figure out what changes he’s talking about. He sits quietly watching me squirm before putting me out of my misery.

“Woman, I barely touched your nipples, and you came harder than ever the other night, the sight of eggs turns you green, you bit my head off for not folding the boy’s underwear the right way the other day, and you’ve been eating those nasty ass ginger gummies like their going out of style.”

Well, fuck. I cross my arms and look at the lake.

His rich laugh fills the night air. “I know you’re not pouting Evie Lynn Wilder.”

Damn he can get under my skin.

“Give me those eyes, Pretty Girl.”

I hold my chin higher in defiance.

“Let me look at the woman carrying my baby.” His voice breaks on the last word, and I turn my head and look at him. His big hand palms my belly as if needing that connection more than air.

“A baby, my baby,” he says to the night air.

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