Page 41 of Brick (Chosen Few #5)
N atalie stuck the silver candle in the shape of the number three on top of the chocolate construction-themed cake, which waited on the kitchen counter. The chatter of their friends in the dining room mixed with Bray’s eager squeals. He knew dessert was coming.
“Oh my word,” Suzan said, clapping her hand to her cheek. “Bray’s going to be so excited.” Tears shone in Brick’s mom’s eyes, making Natalie weepy herself.
In such a short time, they’d become a loving family. Suzan had rained more love and quality time on Bray than Mary ever had. The two had instantly connected, and Bray was always asking if Mima would be going to the park or watching a movie with him.
The last two and a half months had been a whirlwind.
They’d moved from Detroit to Seattle a week after receiving the news that Shelby’s death had been accidental.
Brick had made the process of moving less painful.
As Natalie and Keetan had been common-law partners for ten years, she was entitled to their furniture and the proceeds from the sale of their house.
None of which she’d wanted.
She’d let Keetan’s mom take the items that were important to her, and they’d donated the rest. Brick had located Bray’s bedroom furniture at a local thrift store.
Shockingly, Keetan hadn’t sent it to the dump—probably because doing so would have resulted in a fee.
Lucky for them, no one had taken the crib, dresser, and rocking chair he’d had his whole life.
Brick had also found pictures and other personal items stowed in a garbage bag in the garage. The memory of him finding those sentimental things made Natalie’s heart ache. She’d felt both relief so strong and anger so blinding.
Selling the house had been tough. Part of her didn’t want a dime of Keetan’s money.
Didn’t want any attachment to him at all.
But as a result of the life insurance policy Keetan had taken out when she moved in with him and the proceeds from the house, she’d been entitled to over a million dollars after paying out the mortgage.
A million dollars she hadn’t come to terms with claiming until last week. Brick had insisted that she at least invest the funds so they could grow some of it for Bray’s future.
Suzan picked up a stack of paper plates. “I’ll take these into the dining room.”
Brick came into the kitchen and slid his arm around her waist—which he did every time she cooked, did dishes, or otherwise had her back to him. She chuckled and tilted her head so she could see his face dipped over her shoulder.
“He’s gonna love that cake.”
She grinned. “I know. He’s obsessed with heavy equipment right now.” A twinge of regret hit her. She hated that they’d had to wait two weeks to celebrate his birthday. But with the move to Seattle and now house shopping for a bigger space, life had been crazy.
But the good kind of crazy.
With Keetan, she hadn’t been allowed to work. He’d never wanted her around other people, to make friends, or have her own money. She’d been okay with staying home with Bray—in truth, she wanted to continue to do that.
But now that she was free in so many ways, she could let herself dream. Plan things for herself, maybe pick up a job or start a business—heck, the possibilities were limitless. But her son’s years of being a child weren’t, so she was going to enjoy every minute with her baby as long as she could.
“Momma, Daddy, CAKE!” Bray called from the dining room.
“Patience is a virtue, my dude,” Zain said playfully.
Brick produced a lighter. “Ready to go?”
“If we don’t get started soon and get this sugar through his system, he’s going to be up until midnight.”
Brick grunted and flicked his thumb over the spark wheel. “Good point. We need him in bed and these guests gone soon, or we’re gonna have to sneak upstairs.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
His hardness pressed against her jeans. “Only for you.” He touched the flame to the candle wick.
Natalie lifted the plate as Brick crossed the room to cut the lights.
“Happy birthday...” she sang. Brick chimed in, his husky baritone carrying over hers.
She entered the room to watch Zain slide Bray onto his chair at the head of the table.
Dana knelt beside him, pointing at Natalie.
Ellie sang the loudest, crouched beside Dana.
Her sister had taken their move hard, but this was already her second trip to Seattle, and she’d be back at Christmas.
Everyone sang in unison. Having the Backcountry team and Brick’s closest friends—who were now also hers—in attendance warmed her heart.
Suzan, Taschen and Sephie, Zain and Dana, Toth, Savannah, and their son, Roman, Rami, August, and the twins, Ivy and Gigi: the glowing faces of her newfound family lifted her spirit and hit her right in the tear ducts.
Bray’s little face beamed with happiness. His eyes danced as he watched her approach with the cake. He clapped and bounced in his seat, then pressed both his hands over his mouth in wonderment. Everyone laughed and cheered as he took a deep breath and huffed out the candle.
“Yay!” Natalie cried, clapping and smiling through the tears washing out her vision.
Bray stood on his chair and threw his arms around Brick. “Look, Daddy! A escabater!” he yelled, pointing at the excavator sitting atop his cake.
“That’s right, champ!” Brick said proudly, rubbing his large hand over Bray’s chest and pressing a kiss to his wild dark curls.
Natalie wondered how it was possible to feel such intense heartbreak and love in the same moment.
Heartbreak for the little boy who’d gone so long without this stability and love from others; heartbreak for the man who’d stepped up for their son when he had every reason to hate her.
And love. God, the love. If it were possible for her chest to split in two from so much of it, it’d have happened right then.
Brick’s eyes met hers. His face shone with joy and bore the same expression of wonderment as their son’s. Knowingness crossed his brown eyes as he studied her. He was surely reading her mind and seeing her heart on the floor. “I love you,” he mouthed.
She blew him a kiss.
“Time to cut the cake,” Brick said, swooping the tray out from under Bray’s nose before he licked it.
“I’ve got the cake knife,” Gigi said. Ivy bustled over with a stack of plates, and they worked to cut the construction site Gigi had so artfully designed. “The big man gets part of the machine!” Gigi called, then passed the plate to Bray.
August looked affronted. “I thought that was for me.”
“Nah, give him the pile of dirt,” Taschen quipped.
“How about you get the worker’s hard hat to cover that head of—”
Savannah elbowed August. “Hey. Be nice. We’re raising little ones who’re going to take this language to the playground.”
“You guys are exhausting,” Ellie said teasingly to the guys as she accepted one of the plates.
“He started it,” grumbled August.
Ivy snickered and Gigi snorted. In minutes they had the cake distributed.
Bray polished his off in seconds, then moved to the floor to play trucks with Roman, who was almost a year and a half old.
Despite their age difference, Bray was always patient with Roman, and he let him have a turn with his new toys.
Brick placed both hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek from behind. “He’ll make a great big brother one day,” he said softly.
She covered his hand with hers and tilted her head back to look at him, as she’d done in the kitchen. “That day isn’t as far off as you might think,” she whispered.
He froze. His eyes went wide, his face pale. “You’re joking.”
The smile spread from deep within her. She shook her head, unable to say the words because she’d explode with elation. It was too soon to share the news with everyone. Plus, she didn’t want to overshadow Bray on his special day.
Brick cupped her face and kissed her lips. “You’ve made me so damn happy.”
“Get a room!” Rami tossed a napkin over the table.
Brick caught it and hurled it back.
“Boys,” Toth said, shaking his head. “I swear, you guys are like children.”
Natalie laughed and settled back in Brick’s arms, loving every minute of the banter. For the last ten years, she’d been so alone. Isolated except for Bray. Now she had friends who were family, and they’d watch their children grow together. Her heart swelled with gratitude.
She and Bray finally had a real home.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Ghost ...