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“Thanks. Sonny’s with someone,” Elle says, waving her hand very nonchalantly.
“Shouldn’t you know where your other son is?” I tease.
“I left him with his father, who was left with our mother and a room of aunties.” Elle shrugs and opens the door to a suite, and there, in this massive room is my entire family.
The one thing I’m going to say about my family is, they do subtle well. Knowing full well that this is the moment I’m bringing someone knew into lives could be awkward for Justine, they choose to ignore. Except they’re not truly ignoring, they’re going about their day as they normally would, which right now is being immersed by the babies.
Thankfully, Ollie knows what’s what.
He comes running as fast as this toddler legs can manage. I pick him up mid stride and earn two chubby hands on my cheeks. “I badopted.”
The word, created by the twins, many, many years ago settles over me warmly. “Wh-what’d you say, bud?”
Oliver leans back slightly in my arms and looks at me. “I badopted.”
At the repeated word I scan the room for my parents, spotting my dad first. His smile beams as he walks toward us.
“Ollie said badopted.”
The smile—if at all possible—grows wider. “This morning,” Dad says. “Your mom requested an emergency hearing after the state finally signed off. He’s officially ours.”
My parents could’ve easily kept this from Oliver, but he’s known for as long as he could comprehend. He has books in his room about adoption. Mom and Dad want him to know that we chose him. I hug Ollie tightly, and then dad pulls us into a hug.
After our moment, Dad clears his throat and steps back. “Hi,” he says to Justine. “I’m Quinn’s dad, Harrison.”
Justine laughs. I appreciate my dad’s sense of humor. Ollie squirms out of my hands when JD, Jenna and Eden come into the room. He runs toward JD, which is probably cause for concern, but whatever.
My mom comes toward us, with a baby in her arms. “I’m happy to see you,” she says as she gives me the best hug she can with a baby in her arms. “I’m Quinn’s mom,” she says to Justine. “You can call me Katelyn and this bundle is Jace.” My mom holds my nephew up slightly to show him off.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Justine says. “Jace is Peyton’s?”
“Yeah, along with Maverick and of course, princess Juniper,” I add.
Mom rolls her eyes. “That girl is never going to have to do a thing in her life being surrounded by four boys. Also, I know you get daily pics of the babies, but the boys look alike.”
“I expect Jace and Maverick to look alike.”
“No,” mom says, shaking her head. “All four boys look alike. I’ve convinced your sisters to put nametags on them because I’m old and I’m afraid I’m going to mix them up.”
I try not to laugh, but my mom is not old.
After a few more minutes, Justine and I make our way around the room, talking to everyone. Each member of my family and extended family treats Justine like she’s been part of our fold for years, not minutes. I expected nothing less, but one has to wonder how people are going to react when someone knew comes around.
Dad, Liam, and JD come over to us. Justine squeezes my hand and tells me she’s going to go play with the babies. I watch, as she walks away, to see how my sisters are going to react. Peyton moves over on the couch and motions for Justine to sit in between her and Elle.
God, I love this family of mine.
Liam pats me on the back and then pulls me into a hug. JD does the same. “I hear the outside performance was your idea,” Liam says.
I nod. “Everyone was on board instantly. I just couldn’t see wasting the night or disappointing the fans.”
“Elle says the show has opened doors for everyone,” Dad adds.
“With three labels looking to sign Plum. FMG Records being one of them,” Liam tells me. “We’re about to have a meeting.”
My eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Liam nods. “I know I was supposed to join the tour for a couple of stops, but with the triplets and some town crap I couldn’t get away, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the talent there. I’m excited to make them an offer.”