Page 19 of All It Takes

She waggled her eyebrows. “Hot, huh?”

“Yeah,” I returned, wishing my face didn’t feel like it was on fire. “He’s not a priority, though, because Ross is. The whole thing is a lot to take in. The attorney said we’re to share guardianship unless one of us refuses. Neither one of us wants to refuse. I just hope it’s okay for Ross. I’ve got a bedroom set up at my apartment. When Wes is out dealing with fires, he’ll stay with me, and we’ll figure it out.”

“Maybe it’s not the usual arrangement, but I think it’s great. Obviously, Sarah and her husband trusted you two to make it work.”

“Of course. I am a hundred percent there for Ross. I just hope this is the right move. There are so many what-ifs to worry about.”

Hallie shook her head. “What if, what? It doesn’t even matter. His parents died, and he needs both of you. I’m a firm believer that family is what you make of it. When you grow up, family is different. The idea expands and contracts. Like you’re family to me now, and so are Chase and all the new friends I’ve made here in Willow Brook. I know it sounds cliché, but it does take a village to raise a child. I cannot imagine raising Danny without your help, without your dad, and without the various friends around me who have experience with babies and can give me advice when I panic.

“What weird things have happened?” I asked quickly.

“Nothing terrible. But Danny was congested one night, and I didn’t know what to do, so Maisie stopped by and showed me how to do the trick with a bulb syringe. Sure, I could look online but having a human friend help is much better. I’d call you in the middle of the night if it was something serious, but I think you get my point.”

“I do. Speaking of the family you make, I had a call with McKenna the other day, and she’s planning to come for a visit soon. She said she texted you and Chase about it.”

McKenna was my brother’s half-sister. There’d been a mini bomb dropped in my family’s life a few years ago. Our mother, the very one who’d screwed my head up around trust and commitment, had neglected to tell anyone that our father wasn’t Chase’s biological father. One of those handy ancestry websites had led Chase to discover his birth father and seven half-siblings. They were all awesome. I felt lucky because I’d always wanted a sister, and now I had one. Of the seven, there was only one girl. She was just as excited to have me, probably more so, than I was to discover her. Maybe we weren’t even technically related, but she was my sister in every way that mattered.

Hallie nodded. “She did text. She said she and Rhys are coming by ferry to bring some stuff for the energy place.” She waved a hand vaguely in the air.

“The part of their company Archer runs,” I offered.

This half of Chase’s family was very wealthy. You wouldn’t know it to meet them, though. They were all down-to-earth and nice. Fireweed Industries was one of the most well-known companies in Alaska. It had started here and grown into an international consortium. The branch of the company here used to be a mine, but a friend who turned out to be Chase’s cousin, Archer Cannon, had shut down the mine and turned it into a renewable resources business. They were expanding fast these days, which was great for Willow Brook because it brought in jobs.

“I’ll make sure to text her so we have the dates. I’d love to have dinner.” I paused, checking on Danny. He shifted in my arms and let out a soft sigh. I couldn’t resist leaning down and nuzzling his cheek. Lifting my head, I smiled over at Hallie. “He smells so good. All soft and fresh.”

“I know. That baby smell is magic. If it was possible to bottle it, I’m sure someone would make a fortune.”

I nodded in agreement, smoothing my nephew’s hair back. “Do you think it would be too much to bring Ross when McKenna and Rhys come for a visit?”

Hallie drummed her fingertips on the table before shrugging. “I don’t think so. It’s not like we’re a wild group. I think the more he knows people are there for him, the better. Didn’t you say the social worker set him up with a therapist here?”

I nodded. “I guess I’ll ask her and see what she thinks. I’ll also check with Wes.”

I took a swallow of coffee as Hallie cocked her head to the side. “So aside from Wes being hot, how are you two handling this unexpected situation?”

“Okay, I guess. We’re having pizza tonight at my place. It’ll be Ross’s first night there.”

She leaped up from the table. “Wait a second,” she called over her shoulder as she walked out of the kitchen and down the short hallway that led to the bedrooms. A moment later, she reappeared holding a box. “Chase got this for you,” she announced as she placed it on the table and smoothed her hand over the surface.

“A PlayStation?” I looked up, a little confused.

“He said that Wes told him Ross likes playing video games. Chase already set up a subscription for him. Wes said they did the log-in and everything. With this, he can play at your place and save everything for when he’s at Wes’s. This way, he’ll be able to do something he enjoys no matter where he is. Plus, it’s leverage.”

“Leverage?”

“Right now, he’s probably just stunned. It won’t be too long before he’s a teenager, and this will give you leverage for discipline.”

Ross’s big brown eyes flashed in my thoughts, and my heart pinched. “I can’t imagine having to discipline him.”

“It’ll happen eventually,” she pointed out.

“I’ll have to thank Chase. Actually, I’ll do a voice text right now.” I lifted my phone, tapping open the endless string of texts I shared with my brother before I tapped the microphone icon. “Hey Chase, thanks for thinking of Ross and getting him the PlayStation. I’m sure he’ll love it.”

I set the phone down after I hit send. “My video game skills are limited to what Chase taught me when we were younger.”

Hallie lifted her hands and let them fall. “I don’t even have those skills.” We laughed together.

I left not much later. Glancing at the clock on my dashboard, I realized I would see Wes in just two hours. Anxiety tightened in my belly, and my pulse revved.

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