Page 62 of Cross My Heart
Dex has been avoidingme all day, probably at Julia’s instruction. If I didn’t love them both so much, I would be pissed.
Holy Fuck.
Thank God I’m not holding a baby right now because I may have dropped her.Did I really just say that I loved Dex?
I’m on the floor playing blocks with the girls trying to figure out what I’m feeling when the front door flies open. In an instant, I’m standing up, herding all the kids behind me. I’m shooing Tate into the kitchen when he darts past me.
“Nanna Sylvie, you’re here! I didn’t know you were coming?”
“Well, just look at you, darling! I can’t tell you how good it is to hear your sweet voice again. This must be the lovely young lady we can thank for that.” She comes to me, hand outstretched, Tate glued to her side. “You must be Lanie. I’m Sylvie Westbrook.”
The name doesn’t register, and I’m trying desperately to pull Tate back to my side, I don’t know who this woman is. Dex said he hasn’t seen his mother since he was five, and there is no way this woman is related to Anna. I go to voice my concerns when Preston walks in leading a pack, yes, a pack of men.
“What the holy hockey is going on here, Preston?” I’m overwhelmed by the amount of male laughter that erupts. I look all around. I’m surrounded by Preston and four almost identical versions of him. They all have their unique way about them, but I swear, each is a carbon copy of the next. Standing before me are five insanely attractive versions of the same man.
“Holy crap, your dad must have had some strong genes.” I let slip before I can sensor myself.
Sylvie bursts into a peal of very dignified laughter. “That he did, my dear, that he did. I take it you haven’t met Preston’s brothers yet?”
“Ah, definitely not, ma’am,” I say in shock.
“Oh, forget that, ma’am business. Sylvie is just fine. Now, manners, Preston. Make the introductions,” she orders.
“Hi Lanie, I’m Preston, the best looking and oldest brother. Then there is Easton, Shepherd, Cooper, and Ashton here is the baby.” He points to each in a line.
“Wow. Hi, I wasn’t expecting you. Does Dex know you’re coming? Can I get anyone something to drink?” I ask, entirely out of my element here, and Preston can tell.
“Relax, sweet thing, Dex will be here any minute to explain. It’s all taken care of,” he coaxes.
I don’t get to ask what it is that is taken care of because I hear the door shut again and in walks Dex, smiling without a care in the world. He makes the rounds, greeting each Westbrook in turn.
When he reaches me, he says, “Surprise!”
“Oh, dear. Dexter, this is not the kind of surprise you spring on someone.” Sylvie tsks him in a way I have often heard from Mimi, and I feel immediately relaxed around her. Turning to me, she explains. “Well, since none of my boys have managed to give me any grandchildren yet, I like to borrow Dexter’s whenever I can.”
I give him the side-eye, but he is still all smiles.
“After that dreadful woman left, you know who I’m talking about, dear, I started making my trips to visit more regularly. When the girls were a few months old, I started taking them to my house one weekend a month, so Dexter could have some time to himself. Truthfully, it's so I can spoil the kids rotten.” She adds under her breath. “I haven’t been by lately because I was trying to let you settle in, but Preston here told me it might be time for another visit. Let’s get these kiddos packed up, and we’ll be on our way!”
“But, but I don’t understand? What’s with all the muscle?” I ask, staring at all the Westbrook’s.
“Oh, don’t mind them. These boys have known Dexter almost as long as Preston has. When they heard what I was up to, they just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the girl that caught Dexter’s heart,” she says slyly.
Dex clears his throat suddenly. “Right, okay, Sylvie, let's go, I’ll help you pack a bag. Lanie, you’ll need to pack too. Just a few things, bathing suits, shorts. Just the essentials, nothing fancy.”
“Oh, okay,” I say.
I guess I’m going to the Westbrook’s too. It would have been nice of him to give me a little heads up. I try not to be bitter, but I realize this will be the first time in months we haven’t spent the night together in some way. The realization makes me sad.
“Hey, sweet thing, why so glum?” I don’t know how he does it, but Preston is always sneakily perceptive.
“Oh, nothing, just thinking about what I should pack,” I tell him.
Preston watches me for a few minutes, and I see the wicked gleam in his eye. “Pack whatever you want, darling, it’ll just be you and Dexter on the yacht. The six of us are on kid duty all weekend.” He winks and walks away, leaving me feeling like I just got bulldozed by a Westbrook truck.
* * *
“That is a whirlwind of a family,”I comment as all the Westbrook’s make their exit with kids and gear in tow.
