Page 71 of Brother to Brother

“I already feel like I’m on my own here, but if she likes race cars then far be it from me to say otherwise, still, I will hold out for mermaids and princesses like when I was growing up.”

The guys chuckled and laughed and Ms. Washington was even smiling. I took that as a good sign.

“I think I’ve seen everything I’ve needed to. I’m going to make a note in your file that it appears your mother and stepfather are attempting to use the system to harass. I’d like to make one additional follow up visit in the next three months, if that’s alright.”

“Of course,” Archer and I agreed at once.

“Okay, y’all have a nice night then, and congratulations on your new home.”

“Thank you,” we both said in unison again and laughed at each other.

“Noah say buh-bye?” I asked and he grinned his cheeky grin and waved bye-bye to the woman. We saw her out and the moment she was gone, I very nearly sagged with relief.

“Do you think we’re going to be okay?” I asked apprehensively.

The three guys all looked at each other and Archer sighed, “I think so, but with these government types, it’s always hard to tell.”

“All you can really do is jump through their hoops and do everything they tell you to do and hope for the best,” Nox said and tried his best to smile. I sagged and sighed deeply.

“I’m terrified,” I admitted and Archer pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me.

“Don’t be, doesn’t matter what it is, we’ll get up and over it. I promise.”

“I wish you would have just left them alone,” I said, breathing in the smell of clean laundry and Archer through his soft tee shirt.

“Wasn’t happening, I drew a line in the sand and they’ve crossed it. Now it’s seriously war. I don’t want you to contact them, I don’t want them to ever see our children again. They had one shot, they fucking blew it. Now let’s see how they like dealing with the consequences of their actions.”

“That’s just it, theydon’t.They turn their consequences intomyconsequences. I’m the one that has to deal with the fall out.”

“Not anymore, Baby. I promised I’d protect you and our family and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“The only thing you can do is try not to think about it,” Rush said and I nodded.

“Let’s try to put as much of our house together before people start getting here, huh?”

I nodded, there was supposed to be a barbecue celebrating our first house and there was supposed to be more things moving in from various other places. Most of it purchased brand new. Archer had actually saved quite a bit of money for the eventuality that he would one day buy a house, and when he’d made an offer on this one, it was almost too good to be true. He’d had well over three quarters of what was required to purchase, but had offered them half down, that way there was money to furnish the place.

Well, that had mostly been the plan, but then Rush happened when it came to things like headboards, dining room tables and chairs, coffee and end tables, dressers, curio cabinets, and whatever else you could think of. Except it turned out that he actually had almost all of it made… it was just sitting in storage.

“Okay, I gotta go meet up with the guys with the truck, we’ll see you soon.”

Rush gave me a quick hug, squeezing me between himself and Archer and I nodded. Nox was supposed to keep Noah entertained while I fixed up the master bathroom off what was supposed to be mine and Archer’s bedroom.

“See you on the other side of this mess,” Archer told me and kissed me quickly.

The social worker had been a setback, taking up a good two hours that were meant to be devoted to actually moving, but it couldn’t be helped. Not if I wanted to keep our family together. I had the bathroom done with everything Shelly and Ghost had gifted us at the wedding in practically no time. I moved on to putting the majority of mine and Archer’s clothes away in the walk in closet.

Rush had let us pick whatever furniture we’d liked out of his dragon’s hoard. He was paying a ridiculous amount for storage at a place and it was now Dragon’s mission to clean up the central bay out at the shop so that Rush could, in effect, expand. It was spring cleaning for The Sacred Hearts’ home chapter, just a few months too late for spring, but it was time for a new beginning.

In more ways than one…I thought to myself.

Chapter 30

Archer

“I thought he’d never go down,” she murmured and sighed, collapsing back against me lightly. I put my arms around her as we watched our son in his brand new bedroom, sound asleep in his very first big-boy bed.

“A lot of excitement,” I said and knew contentment.

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