Page 10 of Derick

“Oh, sorry, I’m being rude. I should have introduced myself first before I took Hope, but she’s just so adorable and I couldn’t wait to cuddle my first grandbaby. I’m Evelin, Derick’s mother, and this is Lucas, but you’re more than welcome to call us Mum and Dad. We are family now.”

What the hell was this woman going on about? I had a huge crush on her son, and he’d been watching me and had been so sweet to my daughter, but there was no reason she would ask me to call her Mum and her husband Dad. I hadn’t even called my biological parents that.

Evelin didn’t leave her husband’s side and barely took her gaze off Hope, like if she blinked, she’d disappear. “H…Hello, M…Mrs. Silverman. It’s nice t…to meet you.”

She grabbed my hand and shook it quickly. “I’m sorry to be rude, but you’ve given me a granddaughter, and my only one. Our family rarely gives birth to girls. In the last six centuries, only one has been born. I’ve already bought her so many things.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as she clapped her hands and jumped up and down like a little kid showing her excitement. She may be crazy, but she was happy.

“I’m so blessed that all my babies have found their ones, and I gained a beautiful granddaughter.” She tugged at her husband’s arm. “Come on. I want to show her the other things I got for her.”

“What d…do you mean other th…things?” I said as Evelin and Lucas turned, taking Hope with them down the long hall with beautiful, shining white tiles and cream walls with fancy painting on them. I followed them into the house.

There was no doubt the furniture was expensive. It was all leather with elaborate embroidered seats and pillows. The house was mostly open plan, except for the first couple of rooms. My gaze caught what looked like a mostly white loungeroom, and there were stairs as you first came in, and two doors on that side, but they were both shut. The open plan was a large kitchen, like you’d see in a magazine, there was a dining room with a huge, wooden table and twelve seats, and a playroom, with a pool and air hockey table and pinball machines, on one side, and a rumpus or second loungeroom with a massive, almost movie screen sized, TV, but it was all open, so from the kitchen you could still see what was going on. The back of the house was one big French door that opened out to an entertainment area, where there were two couples sitting in an outdoor setting covered with food.

“You’re here. Yes.” Cassie did a fist pump to the air. “We can eat now. I’m so hungry.”

Cassie wiggled forward and stood up, her pregnant belly bigger than even a couple of days ago. She waddled to me and embraced me, holding as tight as a pregnant woman with triplets could. She eased back and looked into my eyes and then over at Hope.

“Oh, you just gave her something she always wanted, a little girl,” Cassie said. “Evelin’s wanted a daughter of her own for years, but the Silverman family are prone to only have sons.” She waved her hand like she was shooing something away. “Sure, Uncle Carl has a daughter, but between aunts, uncles, and us all, she’s hard to get any time with. So, another girl is a dream in this family. Evelin told me that she can’t wait to go to all the Disney princess movies and buy barbies and go to dance recitals.” She pushed me to her side and hooked her arm through mine, and I helped her back toward her chair. “She would totally be hugging you and praising you for your help with Dustan, but she’s excited. They both are. Derick has been holding them off from introducing themselves to you a week ago.”

A man that looked just like Derick’s father, and one I’d never forget because I’d helped him escape, got off the chair and assisted Cassie, guiding her to sit on his lap and not her chair. “Sit, Ruby. I’ve wanted to meet you too. I want to thank you for helping me get away from The Devil’s Queens.”

I felt heat rise in my cheeks, and I went to sit down but yelped as Derick took my spot, but before I got the chance to choose another, he yanked me onto his lap. I wiggled to get away only to freeze when I felt how much he liked what I was doing. I should be asking for help, I should be telling him to let me go, but I don’t.

He cleared his throat. “My parents are never this rude, but then again, as Cassie said, they’ve never had a daughter or ever thought they’d get a granddaughter. My mum has gone shopping every day since I told her about you and Hope.”

Derick kissed my head, and my body melted against him. It was strange, as I’d never done this with anyone. What was it about this man?

“Expect a whole new wardrobe. I got one.”

I darted my gaze from Cassie over to a beautiful, young woman with long, brown chestnut hair and light brown eyes. Her skin had a healthy glow, and the man next to her looked a lot like Derick but a darker version. This had to be Stephan and his wife Jade.

“Cassie and Mum go shopping all the time,” she said.

Thanks to my upbringing, I was good at reading people, and there was no way to miss the tension when Jade said Cassie’s name, and the look she turned her way too was one of longing.

“Don’t worry about Mum and Dad. Once they get Hope to love them, they will come for you.” She waved. “I’m Jade, Stephan’s wife.”

“My love already has Hope picking out everything she wants for her bedroom.” Derick’s father’s deep voice had me craning my neck to see him coming toward us. “She must move in now or she’ll never get her daughter back. Your mother is head over heels for that little angel already.”

My laugh came out as a scoff. “Oh, she’s n…not an angel, I bet it’s Hope th…that already has Mrs. Silverman wr…wrapped around her l…little pinky.”

His laugh was deep, and I liked the sound. It wasn’t as good as his son’s, but it was nice.

“I have no doubt, sweetheart. She is adorable though.” He came closer. “May I hug you? I want to thank you for your help with Dustan and welcome you to the family too.”

He didn’t wait for my answer, and I was glad as it didn’t give me time to think and get worked up. His hug didn’t give me the sickly feeling that I got from others when they touched me. Only my brother and Derick had ever been able to give me affectionwithout my body going into panic mode, but now I could add Derick’s father to that too.

“Thank you, sweetheart, and welcome to the family,” he said. “I hope you take us up on our offer.”

“Mr. Silverman, wh…what do you m…mean offer?” I couldn’t remember in the short time I’d been here if I’d been offered anything.

“Sorry, am I rushing ahead before anything has been asked?”

I nodded, because I had no idea what Lucas was talking about.

“Well, since my son is pussy footing around, I’ll ask.” He dragged a chair closer and then sat. “We would love it if you and Hope moved in here. The house is so large that you could have a section to yourself. We want to repay you for your help and want you and your daughter safe.” He smirked, and that’s when I saw the similarity to Derick for the first time, besides his eyes. “Plus, it would put my son at ease too. If you don’t know it yet, he likes you.”

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