Page 50 of Fall of a Kingdom

“What do you have there?” I asked.

Flynn cleared his throat and gently pushed aside the blanket just as Barrett angled the phone down.

“That’s a baby,” Sasha stated.

“Well spotted,” Barrett said with a huge grin. “This is Piper. We just adopted her.”

Tears of joy filled my eyes. “She’slovely.”

“How did that happen?” Sasha asked. “Whendid that happen?”

“Early this morning,” Flynn said. He then launched into the story of how Piper had come into their lives.

“Now Helena will have a friend close to her age,” Barrett said, her eyes darting from mine to Sasha’s. “They can grow up together.Ifyou move to Scotland.”

“You’re really pushing for that,” Sasha said.

“I have this dream of all of us living close to each other, our collective gaggle of children running wild together,” Barrett replied.

“Nice dream,” I said.

Sasha looked at me over his shoulder. “You’d really want to live in Scotland?”

“I’d consider it,” I said.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Barrett and Flynn exchange a look.

Sasha turned his attention back to them. “Congratulations on your newest addition to the family.” With his free hand, he reached over his shoulder to me.

I clasped it.

“Quinn and I have some good news, too.”

“You’re pregnant,” Barrett announced.

I laughed. “No.”

“Damn,” Barrett said. She peered at Sasha. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Wrong with me?” Sasha repeated. “Nothing. I’m trying every moment of every day to get Quinn—”

“Anyway,” I interrupted, not wanting to go down the rabbit hole about the expansion of our family. It would happen in time, like anything else.

I heard the shouting of three young boys with far too much energy as they entered the room and a moment later their faces appeared on screen. They said their hellos and then zoomed around the room with wild abandon.

“Ramsey gave them sugar, I know he did,” Barrett said to Flynn.

“Wait, Ramsey is there?” I said in surprise.

“Aye. He showed up this morning and within an hour he caused a food fight. Ash and Duncan’s kitchen is a mess.”

“Sounds like we missed a good time,” I said.

“Next year,” Barrett vowed again.

“Next year.” Sasha nodded. “If Flynn promises not to end my life the moment I step foot on your property.”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” Flynn scratched his jaw.