Page 12 of Derick

“I know I sound crazy, but I promise what I said is true. I—no, we—want you and Hope to move in here so you have more room and everything you both deserve.”

He made his way to me as I backed up closer to my baby girl. These people were on something. I barely knew them. Why on earth would I move in with them? The house was nice. Well,nice was such a simple way to describe this house, and it was anything but. I’d never stayed in anything so luxurious. I’d seen pictures and watched shows with mansions like this, but never dreamed I’d have the chance to live in one.

I may have feelings for Derick, which if I went off what I’d just learned, was because I was his soulmate. I didn’t know if I believed in that. I certainly hadn’t seen any stable relationships in my life. Oh, I’d read and fantasized about them, but I wasn’t so delusional to ever think I’d be that lucky. I was alive and had Hope. That was enough for me, or so I thought. My heart felt like it began to beat faster than ever before as I stared at Derick. Could I have the fairytale? Why did my heart and the rest of my body think I could? It was my mind that reminded me to be cautious.

For the first time in years, I ignored my head, looked at my daughter, who was the happiest I’d ever seen her, and then turned my attention back to Derick. “I think I might be crazy like you too, but I’ll move in.”

He rushed me, his arms wrapped around my waist, and he peppered kisses on my cheeks. I froze, never having had this kind of affection from anyone but Hope. This wasn’t a mother-daughter love though. This felt different, like he cared and that I mattered to him. I basked in that feeling as I let him kiss my cheeks, enjoying the first affection from someone other than my brother and daughter. I knew I could very easily get used to this.

“Yay!” Hope’s long, drawn-out yell had me stepping away from Derick to see my daughter come to me with the puppy in her arms, skipping with contentment. “Mummy, Iza got a puppy. Look.” She pushed it up as high as her arms would go. “Shes allz mine.” She brought the Labrador back and cuddled it, swaying like it was her baby. “Nanny says I nameded hers.”

I pushed away from Derick and kneeled so I was face-to-face with Hope. “Baby, I’m so happy you love the puppy, but he’s not yours. He’s theirs, and they should get to name him.”

“Nah-ha,” she whined. “Nanny said she gots her justs fors mes.”

I darted my gaze up to see Evelin nod at me. “I was going to ask, but since you said yes to moving in, I don’t need to beg you. I couldn’t keep her hidden from Hope any longer when she said she wanted a doggy like the one we have running down the back of the yard. I sent Brand from my security to go get her. Kids should have pets.” Evelin came and knelt beside me, her arm wrapping around my back. I sat better to make it all more comfortable. “I would say I’m sorry for just taking over and giving my opinions, but to tell the truth, I’m not. I love you already, and not just for being strong enough to survive what you went through and for helping my oldest son, but for the love and instant family you’ve given Derick and our growing family.”

Evelin eased away, stood, and I followed. I stared, not sure what to make of her. I’d never had a mother, and the women at the club weren’t what you’d call the mothering type. I knew what they were like from TV and books. I’d been terrified when I found out about Hope, not just because of how she’d been conceived, but because I had no idea how to be a good mother. So I’d read book after book and watched every TV show I could on the matter, and when she was born, I just asked myself when I was stuck what would my father do, and I did the opposite.

Now that I’d agreed to move in, I would watch Evelin and the other mothers. I intended to enjoy my good luck and the fairytale I seemed to be in now and live my life. I was going to enjoy how the Silvermans treated me and Hope for as long as it lasted.

Icouldn’t believe Ruby had agreed to move into my parents’ place. I had a room here, but it wasn’t where I knew my parents would put Ruby so she would feel comfortable. I would move closer but keep enough distance to make her feel like she was safe and had her own space.

My parents are so happy right now. All their children had soulmates, and they now had a granddaughter, thanks to Ruby. I’d expected more of a fight, but Ruby surprised me with how easy she agreed, not just to moving in, but she didn’t run away when I told her about the gifts my family was given. Today had been full of surprises. I thought it would take her weeks to let me touch her, but she hadn’t pushed me away. Well, when she wanted to get to Hope she had, but she’d let me hug her for a while before she broke it off.

I was happy…no, ecstatic right now as I sat outside with my brothers and their wives as my mother and father took Ruby to show her and Hope their new accommodation. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this good. I didn’t even care about the obvious tension in the air as no one said anything for a while as we sat in peace.

Cassie broke the silence. “So, that went better than even I thought it could go, especially after meeting and getting to know her. Really, I’m surprised she let you near her.”

Smiling at Cassie, I nodded. “Me too. I expected her to be a little, well?—”

“Like me. Like Alexa,” Jade interrupted me. She was usually the quiet one who sat and took everything in and didn’t say much unless she was asked. I also knew that she and Cassie weren’t on very good terms at the moment and that was my fault.

“Yeah Jade, like her, and even how you were.” I stood and looked at both couples. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I’ve caused this rift between you two.”

Cassie’s laugh was soft but held no happiness in it; it was hollow. “Oh, it has nothing to do with you. Well, that’s untrue, it kind of does, you just brought it all out. I’m angry with Jade for not sticking up for me when I did with her. For Christ’s sake, my family even took her in, and when I needed her the most, when you were yelling at me and being an arse, she did nothing. She hasn’t made the effort with me even when we half-heartily made up.”

“Cassie, stop being so sensitive,” Stephan snapped at her. “How many times does Jade have to apologize?”

Oh shit. Even I knew you didn’t call out a Silverman mate and tell her she was being sensitive, but a pregnant one? My twin was a dead man. If the killer look Dustan was giving to Stephan as he gently got up and placed Cassie on the seat he’d been on, was any indication, he should run.

Jade stayed quiet, and even I got a little annoyed at her. Dustan stomped over to Stephan and grabbed him off the seat and punched him. “If you ever speak to my wife like that again, brother or not, you will start missing body parts.” He threw Stephan, and my twin knew he’d fucked up because he didn’t fight back. Dustan turned toward Jade, and that was when I saw Stephan get up. “You,” Dustan growled at Jade, “need to stop staying quiet. I know you had it tough too, but for fuck’s sake, stop taking it out on my wife. Who I know damn well you encouraged to keep hidden away from me and thought it was hilarious.”

Tears slid down Jade’s face, and guilt assaulted me for my part in this drama, but Dustan was right, and him saying it might help give Jade the push that she needed.

“Back the fuck off, Dustan.” Stephan came to stand in front of Jade.

“Sit down, Stephan. He’s right.” Jade pushed her husband to the seat next to her and stood so she was almost toe-to-toe with Dustan. She took a deep breath and then looked around Dustan to Cassie. “I’m sorry, Cas’. I’ve been a selfish bitch. I still sometimes believe this is a fantasy, and if I cause too much trouble, I’ll lose it all.” Dustan backed up and sat on the seat next to Cassie. Jade went on her knees before Cassie. “It’s why I’ve been holding back on Stephan and I starting a family of our own. I’m terrified I’m going to wake up, or do something that will take all this away. It’s the only thing I haven’t given Stephan just to make him happy. I’ve been spending the time since you came back agreeing to everything because I didn’t want to be treated like Derick and the others did to you. I’m not strong like you.”

“Ha, what a load of bullshit.” Cassie cackled like she’d just been told the greatest joke. “You’re one of the strongest women I know. You have nothing to worry about. Stop living in fear.” Cassie wiggled forward and grabbed Jade’s hands. “Oh Jade, I’m sorry too. I thought you were over living in fear. Truth be told, I sometimes think I’m living in a dream too, and if I am, I never want to wake up. You are not alone and never will be.” They hugged each other, sobbing against one another, and that was what my parents, Ruby, and Hope came in on.

“What did we miss?” my dad asked as he took in the scene.

“Oh, nothing much, Dad.” I winked at him. “Just the wives kissing and making up.”

Cassie picked up her water bottle and threw it at me. “You wish, jerk,” she hissed.

I ducked, but the bottle hit my shoulder. Since becoming pregnant, Cassie had become even more sassy. She didn’t take any crap from any Silverman men.

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