Page 70 of Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

Like I told her to, she’s made sure to be around for dinner every night, something that my brothers and I have always done since before I can remember, but she hasn’t jumped right into normalcy and while I appreciate her trying to ease in slowly, it’s also frustrating as fuck.

Royce bends down, gently brushing across a few of the flower petals, and shakes his head. “Nah, man. Sun’s just not hit ‘em today yet.”

I hike a brow. “The fuck do you know about flowers and the sun?”

He laughs, pushing to his feet with a grin. “Hey, I’m right, fucker. Remember when Miss Maybell had us start doing outside chores? Mine was the planters on the porch.” He shrugs.

I look to the sun, and back to the flowers.

“Also learned over-watering kills ‘em even faster.”

“Fuck.” I drop the hose, glaring at the garden.

The purple garden...

A part of Zoey.

A part of Victoria?

Did she give my daughter a garden as someone gave one to her?

“You good, man?” Royce eyes me.

I run my palms down my face. “Yeah, I’m just—”

“Horny?”

I laugh, my brows lifting as I nod. “Yeah, actually.” That’s part of it.

“Won’t be much longer, brother.” He smirks. “By the way, Mac says still no sign of douchebag Mike. Think he got the picture.”

“He came and asked to see her. You really think he’d go without saying bye?”

“Yeah, man,” he chuckles. “I think taking your brass to chin might have convinced him to.”

“Daddy!”

We turn as Raven and Zoey walk around the house.

“Fuck.” Royce quickly stomps out his joint and then jumps in front of her.

She pretends to juke him, spinning around and he lets her pass so she can run to me, fully believing she evaded his hold.

I pick her up, tossing her in the air and then kiss her cheek. “Did you have fun on your walk?”

“Uh-hu! We saw five birds.” She holds a hand up. “One was a hawk, RaeRae said.”

We laugh when she tries to say RaeRae, the nickname Royce uses for Raven, but it comes out as WayWay.

“That’s awesome, Zo.”

“Zoey,” Raven calls. “Tell Uncle Bro what the baby needs.”

“Oh!” Zoey spins in my arms, looking to Royce. “Uncle Bro! Baby needs donuts, okay?”

Royce laughs, wraps an arm around Raven and kisses her temple. “What baby wants, baby gets, Zoey Bear.”

I grin from him to her. “Maybell’s got all the food ready, we just gotta grab it from her as we leave. As soon as Maddoc’s out of the shower, we’ll head out.”

“I had to go and get sick, delay us by an hour,” Raven says, making a face.

“For real, RaeRae, your uncontrollable morning sickness is gettin’ real inconvenient.” Royce gives a dramatic eye roll and she slaps his stomach, making him laugh. “Careful, or I might puke on you like you puked on Madman earlier.”

“Fuck off.” She laughs, then slaps her hand over her mouth. “Oh shit.” Her eyes widen, making us laugh.

“You’re fine,” I tease her.

Her shoulders fall and she throws Royce’s arm off of her and sludges past us. “I’m literally a lost cause. The worst.”

“Ah, not the worst but...” Royce grins, dodging her punch and runs ahead of us.

“Uncle, wait!” Zoey squirms, so I set her down and she chases after him, Raven and myself on their tail.

We follow them into the house, my steps slowing when we round the entryway to find my dad and Victoria in the kitchen.

They chat with ease as he hands off the butter, and she begins cutting small pieces into the bowl on the countertop, my eyes falling to her lips as she pulls them in, concentrating on whatever it is she’s making.

She steps back, grabbing her hair in her hands, lifting and twisting it on top of her head. Untying the bandana from her wrist, she uses it to tie her long locks up.

“Rora!” Zoey barrels into the kitchen.

My gut twists, torn between conflicting emotions, and I’m not sure what to make of it.

My daughter is running for her and while I’m still anxious and unsure, all I’m thinking is goddamn.

Red lipstick on already rosy lips might be my favorite fuckin’ shade of her.

Thick black winged liner and deep, dark brown eyes find and hold mine, strings of loose hair framing her face.

Zoey reaches her then, pulling all her attention.

Victoria’s eyes leave mine and she dips down, now completely hidden from my sight.

Her warm words follow.

“Good morning, Mama,” she says.

My heart beats double-time.

I can’t see her face, can’t see Zoey’s, both blocked behind the bar.

I can see my dad’s, though, and his are zoned in on the hidden moment.

Soft, yet studying.

I move forward.

“Morning, Rora,” Zoey says. “I had a good sleep.”

My lips twitch, my dad’s doing the same.

“Girly, I know.” Victoria teases with ease. “You were snoring like crazy.”

“No!” Zoey laughs, and Victoria’s follows.

My dad sets his coffee cup down, bending at the knees. “Guess what I talked Rora into making, Zo?”