Page 13 of The Doctor

Jake smiled at me, his brown eyes so similar to Bex’s. “So, I’m guessing your evening didn’t go according to plan.”

All I could do was show him the middle finger.

8

BEX

By the time I pulled up in front of my parents’ home, I was a nervous wreck. I’d called the family meeting in our family text group. I also made sure everyone understood that it was urgent. Jake had texted Mason a heads-up to make sure he didn’t worry.

My childhood home had been converted to the B&B my mother ran and my parents now made my grandparent’s cottage their home. They did, however, extend some to make room for when the grandchildren all slept over together. They had four grandsons and two granddaughters with Cassie and Anna each pregnant with their second child. That’s not counting the honorary grandkids like Skye and Aidan, and now I was adding Dominic and his siblings to the mix.

He had lost so much, and while I couldn’t replace the mother he’d had, I could give him the family I had. Nosy uncles, a mischievous grandfather and a grandmother who didn’t know how not to love the people around her. Dom will miss his mother in the same way I miss Debbie, for the rest of his life. It wasn’t the same thing. Losing Debbie four years ago had nearly broken me so I couldn’t imagine losing my mom yet, and I wasn’t a fifteen-year-old boy. But we’d make sure he never forgot he was loved. No matter where he landed.

Both my older brothers' cars were parked at the side of the house. Since there was only a two-car garage and no driveway, we all just parked where we could at family gatherings. Even with Mason on honeymoon and Brie’s sister looking after the twins and then Jake at Logan’s place, the house would still be quite busy.

Even Jared's car was parked outside. It took a long time to convince him that he was, in fact, family. And not just because he was the father of Debbie’s son.

Before I even made it to the porch, I spotted Cassie’s car driving up the single lane path. As she parked next to me, I tensed a little. I wondered why she hadn’t joined Jake at Logan’s place. Had Jake already told her?

She climbed out of the car and I smiled at her little bump which was slightly more pronounced than the day before because of the fitting dress she wore.

“Hey.” I met her gaze. “I wasn’t sure if you were coming.”

She pushed dark hair out of her face. “I wanted to make sure you don’t feel alone.”

“Did Jake —”

Cassie quickly shook her head. “He still hasn’t told me anything. Just that the rest of the family would be angry and he didn’t want you alone.”

Tears welled in the corners of my eyes and throat burned a little. “Thank you. But how do you know you won’t be mad as well.”

“I don’t know that. But I know I will still love you. And that’s why I’m here. To remind you that you are loved, no matter what you've done.”

She took my hand and together we walked through the front door of my parents’ home.

The first thing I noticed was that both my nephews, Cooper and Matteo, were in high chairs. That was something I wouldneed to get as well. I hoped Dom had added it to the shopping list he was meant to send me.

Ollie and Nick were at the long dining table filled with leftover food from the wedding the day before.

Nick narrowed his eyes at me. “I didn’t expect to see you today. And definitely not looking so glum. Do I need to kick Logan’s ass?”

Oh god. “No.” I lifted both hands in a stop motion. “In fact, if we can resolve that there will be no kicking of Logan’s ass, this will all go a lot easier.”

Ollie lifted a brow. “As long as he didn’t do anything to hurt you.”

The irony of that statement was not lost on me. “No. He never hurt me.”

Both my brothers put their plates on the table and turned around. Almost simultaneously they crossed their arms.

My mother leaned forward. “The floor is yours, sweetheart. What’s on your mind?”

“I need to get all this out before you guys interrupt me. Even if you’re mad.” I hugged my middle. “Let me finish before you yell or stomp off, okay.”

“Sweetheart, what is it?” My mother never answered my request,

My voice cracked as I responded. “Mom, please. Just let me finish.”

She nodded and gestured for me to continue. Cassie stood beside me and I took a moment to absorb her support. One more deep breath and I began. “In the summer between junior and senior year, I fell pregnant and…”

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