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“Of course, we were the youngest, or at least we were until Harper came along.”

Gabriel is ten minutes younger, and Caleb never lets him forget it.

“Now you’re going to play that card?” Gabriel says, standing up and making his way over. His son Callum rests in his enormous arms. The genetics of these men take my breath away, especially when Francesca is so petite. How on earth did she produce such enormous sons?

“April, it’s lovely to see you. I hope you’re keeping my brother in check.”

I smile at Gabriel, my eyes flitting to Callum, who is gazing up at his daddy.

“Hello, gorgeous boy,” I say, running a finger down his cheek, earning myself a little grin.

“Here, my arms could do with a rest.”

Before I can stop him, Gabriel has passed Callum over to me. I gaze down at the beautiful baby in my arms, and my chest tightens.

Cal moves behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder. “He looks good in your arms,” he whispers close to my ear.

I turn my head and catch his gaze. “Don’t go all broody on me,” I reply, as his hands tighten around my waist, pulling me back against the semi he’s now sporting.

What the?

The sight of a baby in my arms gives him a boner. Why does that send shivers of delight straight to my ovaries?

I need to get a grip. He still doesn’t know. This could all be over in a matter of days.

“April, why don’t you come and sit?” I look up to see Leah patting the seat next to her. “That boy of mine is getting heavy. We can have a girlie chat. Let the boys do something useful.”

“I think they’re dismissing us,” Gabriel says, casting his wife a look of adoration.

“We are, now, scram. Your mother has given you a list of jobs to do.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes. “And to think this time last year, we were sneaking off to the water tower,” he mutters, causing Leah to blush and Cal to burst out laughing.

I’m clearly missing something.

“I’ll explain,” Leah says as I walk across the room.

It’s Gabriel’s turn to blush. I bite my lip to suppress my grin.

I carry the gurgling Callum over to his mother and take a seat, gently untangling my hair from his iron grip.

When I turn back, the boys have gone, leaving me alone with Leah.

“I thought I’d allow you five minutes to breathe,” Leah says, giving me a gentle smile. “The boys forget how overwhelming this can be.”

“It’s spectacular,” I say, finally getting the chance to look around the room we’re in. Large sash windows flood the room with sunlight. A stone fireplace takes up space along the inside wall. There’s a full-sized grand piano and multiple sofas.

“This is everyone’s favourite room. We’ll be in hereplaying Monopoly later. It’s a family tradition. Gabriel is, how can I put it, competitive?”

It’s my turn to chuckle. “I’ve seen him at poker night,” I say.

“So you get it,” Leah adds, shooting me a telltale grin.

I gaze down at Callum and sigh. “He’s so adorable.” At five months old, he is starting to get big.

“He is, but then I’m biased. I wanted him for so long. I thought my time had passed, but then life changed direction, and here I am.” Her wistful tone surprises me. “As for all this. The Frazers are the most down-to-earth family I’ve met. I won’t lie, some people that will be here tomorrow have sticks lodged up their arses—thatcomes from Francesca, by the way. She asked me to warn you. But she said you’re to ignore them. She does.”

I wonder why Francesca sent the message through Leah rather than deliver it herself, but then Leah is like me… we’re not of this social standing.