Page 76 of Blood

My fingers twirl her ponytail, the blond hair thick and silky. I shake her hair to soften my words.

“Not on his own anyway,” Michael mutters.

“Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this here?” Lara interjects.

Probably not, but Sam was so nervous meeting up with our brothers that I thought a public place would be best.

“Maybe we should step outside for a minute?” I suggest.

My brothers grunt in agreement.

Rupert whimpers and instantly starts to cry.

“After we’ve all finished eating and drinking.” Daniel changes his mind. “Can you manage?” he asks Charlie as she maneuvers the newborn out of the baby wrap. Pulling the wrap loose, she drapes it over her shoulders, concealing herself while her son eats.

“Momma,” Belle whines, reaching for Charlie.

“Your brother is eating,” Daniel tells her, pulling her back onto his lap.

The toddler does not like that. Big fat tears drip down her face. “Momma,” she cries, reaching for Charlie again.

My heart shatters.

“Belle, Rupert needs Mommy right now. Can you help Daddy color this butterfly?”

“Nooo,” she wails, shaking her head. Brown curls spiral out.

“How do you say no to that?” I whisper, ready to give the little girl anything she wants.

“He rarely does,” Charlie answers.

She leans over to kiss his bicep. Pulling back the wrap, she shows her husband their baby boy. Daniel nods as if it strengthens his resolve.

“He’s eating well,” he praises, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

We rally around the table and manage to distract Belle long enough for her milkshake to arrive. Drinking happily, she forgets about her brother.

As I look around the table, a sense of hope settles in my chest.

Maybe I can have it all.

I watch in horror as Daniel grabs a few fries, then dunks them in his wife’s milkshake. Holding a hand under the milkshake-covered fries, he feeds them to her waiting lips.

Sam and I have the same look of disbelief.

“That’s disgusting,” she mutters.

Daniel cradles Charlie’s face, then leans down and kisses her.

“No, that’s disgusting,” I argue. “She has a mouth full of food.”

“Not anymore,” Daniel corrects, chewing what he just stole.

“I feel like we’re intruding,” I whisper.

“You are,” he agrees, feeding his wife again.

This goes on until Charlie signals she’s done.