Page 9 of Brother to Brother

“Can you add child locks to that list?” I asked Ashton, and she put a finger to her nose and tapped twice.

“You’re a good mom,” she said and Noah piped up from behind her.

“Good mommy!”

We all laughed again and the front door opened, Nox came through and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Out of the four brothers… well, three now, Nox was always the easiest to talk to. There was always something, I don’t know,softerabout him; gentler somehow.

I got up and went around the kitchen counter and said, “Hi Nox,” quietly. He smiled at me and opened up his arms and I felt my eyes get misty. I hugged him and he sighed when he felt me tremble with a silent sob.

“Where’s my nephew?” he asked, giving me a slight squeeze.

“Noah, come here, Baby,” I called and he pushed off the couch, climbing down and toddling over. I picked him up and settled him on my hip and said, “I want you to meet your uncle Nox,” I said gently and he looked at Nox blinking his wide eyes so like his father’s.

“Hi, buddy!” Nox said and Noah just stared, chewing on his fingers. He smiled impishly and put his little head on my shoulder. Ashton and Hayden giggled quietly.

“Don’t be shy, Noah! Say hi to your uncle Nox,” I said, though my voice wasn’t in the slightest bit chiding.

“Unca Nox, hi unca Nox,” he said and I kissed his soft hair.

“Hi, Noah,” Nox said and ruffled my boy’s hair. He looked at me and I brazenly met his gaze, one brow raised in question.

“Picked Grind’s name, huh?” he asked.

“I picked his father’s name, yes.”

“I thought Grinder’s name was David,” Hayden said softly.

“Itwas, David Noah Chandler,” I said, “He hated David.”

Nox snorted, “He hated the whole damn thing. What’s the last name you gave him?”

“What’s your name, Noah?” I asked.

“Noah Jeramiah Beswick!” my baby proclaimed proudly.

“That’s right!” I bounced him on my hip a little and said, “I’m proud of you. Can you tell your uncle Nox how old you are?” I asked. Noah looked at his little hand, and I urged him one more time, “Go on, hold it up,” I said. Noah held up one finger with a cheesy grin and Nox smiled and praised him.

“Good job, Buddy!”

Noah smiled and laughed and threw himself in Nox’s direction, arms outstretched. I almost lost my grip, I hadn’t expected him to do it. I said, “Woah, Noah hang on a second,” but Nox was there, taking him from my arms.

“I got him, Mamma,” he said gently and took Noah from me. Anxiety filled my chest and I folded my hands together to belay their trembling. Noah was busy, absorbed in playing with the buttons and colorful patches on Nox’s cut.

I swallowed hard, “Be careful please?” I asked softly and Nox frowned at me.

“No worries, Mel. I got him,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” I immediately apologized. Ashton stepped up beside me and rubbed my back and I spooked, jumping lightly.

“You take good care of your mom, little man?” Nox asked Noah, but Noah was fully absorbed in a button on Nox’s cut that said ‘fuck you,’ which I was suddenly glad Noah and I were just beginning to work on his numbers one through ten and his ABC’s. Reading was going to get interesting, along with all of the ‘what’s that’ and ‘what’s that mean’ questions that would likely follow.

“Well, I’m sure you’d like to catch up,” Ashton murmured and I felt myself nod woodenly. She and Hayden gathered their purses and light jackets.

“Don’t forget, you have one more load that needs to go in the dryer,” Hayden reminded me and I nodded, taking a deep breath.

“Nox, can you bring Noah and come with me so I can do it?” I asked.

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