Page 43 of Can't Take Moore

My grandfather sighed. “Some unexpected guests who Baxter won’t be pleased to see right now.”

When he started to get up, I waved him off. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.”

“Thanks, Dean. I just don’t have the energy to deal with my son and his wife at the moment.” We were all tired from sitting in the uncomfortable chairs for so long while we waited for news about the baby but seeing my grandfather’s shoulders slump pissed me off. I laid all the blame where it belonged…at my uncle Franklin and aunt Penelope’s feet.

“I have your back, but can I ask who we're about to throw down with?”

“Baxter's parents. I don't know how they found out that Skyler went into labor, but they must have hopped on a plane as soon as word reached them.”

Vienna's brows drew together. “I thought all of your family lived in Mooreville?”

“All of my cousins, but not Uncle Franklin and Aunt Penelope. He's a bigwig in New York City. Baxter grew up there. He didn't move here until my cousin Weston passed away. His younger brother.” I gave her a considering look. “I guess that's something you and he have in common. You both moved here after you lost someone you loved.”

She slid her palm against mine, lacing our fingers together. “It sounds as though we both came to the perfect place to find someone who could make us happy again.”

My heart swelled at her confession, and I wished we were alone so I could share my feelings with her. But my uncle showed exactly how awful his timing was when he came around the corner of the hospital corridor with my aunt at his side. They came to an abrupt stop when they saw me. “Dean, I wasn't expecting to see you here in the middle of the night.”

My aunt wrung her hands together and asked, “Did they have the baby?”

“Where else would I be? My cousin is about to become a father. The whole gang's here.” Widening my stance, I crossed my arms over my chest. “But none of us thought you'd be joining us. Please tell me that Baxter called you, and that's why you came.”

My uncle shook his head. “No, but I’m certain he wouldn't want us to miss the birth of our first grandchild. No matter where our relationship stands at the moment, we’re still his parents.”

“Second,” I corrected.

My uncle’s head jerked back, his eyes widening. “Second?”

“If you were a part of Baxter’s life, then you would have gotten to know Simon, and you'd think of him as your first grandson.”

“Oh, yes. Right,” he blustered, his cheeks turning ruddy. “Of course. Simon. Skylar’s boy.”

My dry chuckle wasn’t the least bit humorous. “Yes, your daughter-in-law’s son.”

Sensing the rising tension inside me, Vienna stepped toward them, holding her hands up in front of her. “Look, I don't know all of the history that's at play here, and I'm sympathetic to what you're going through right now. I get that this is a big deal, but you shouldn't be here unless your son invited you.”

My uncle's back went ramrod straight, and my aunt gasped. Wagging his finger at her, he barked, “You got one thing right, missy. You don't know what's going on here.”

“Watch yourself, Uncle Frank,” I warned.

“Franklin,” he corrected like the pompous ass he was.

Wrapping my arm around Vienna's back, I held his gaze. “Unlike you, Baxter and Skyler actually want Vienna here tonight.”

My aunt's nose wrinkled. “Who is she, anyway?”

I shook my head at her question. “That right there goes to show how disconnected from the family you are. Vienna is my girlfriend. You would have already met her if you bothered to show your faces in Mooreville at any time other than when you were here to cause trouble.”

“We're not here to cause any trouble,” my uncle denied.

My aunt insisted, “We only want to get a little peek at the baby. Surely that would be okay.”

Taking charge, Vienna suggested, “How about this…give me your phone number, and when the baby is born, if it's okay with Baxter and Skyler, I will call you with a time that you may come back for a short visit.”

I wasn't sure how I felt about her being their point of contact, but I’d address that with her when they weren’t around to listen to our conversation. My aunt jumped on the offer and rattled off her phone number. Then she wrapped her fingers around my uncle's arm and practically dragged him back the way they came.

Relieved that they’d left without a major battle, I pulled Vienna against my side. “Sorry about that.”

She laughed softly and shook her head. “This is going to sound awful, but I’m kind of relieved that just happened.”

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