Page 108 of Quinton's Quest

“I do, too.” Melodie grinned. She and Trevor had some facial features in common, but not many. I couldn’t remember if Leo had said whether they had the same father or not. All I could recall was their mother giving them up for adoption when Melodie was two and Trevor was just a couple of weeks old. I couldn’t fathom doing something so profound. Brave? Selfish? Clearly she believed Leo and Gideon had been better suited to care for her babies. So maybe…selfless?

“Bowls, Quinton.” Mama scowled.

“Right.” I gave her a sheepish grin.

She winked. Then she ladled some congee into each of four bowls. I put the two smaller ones in front of the kids. “Hot, okay?” I considered. “Maybe have some crackers first?”

“Okay.” Melodie snagged the peppercorn and handed Trevor a couple. She handed me some, apportioned some for Mama, and took her share last.Color me impressed.Obviously Leo and Gideon had taught her manners.I wish I knew more about child development.So I made a mental note to grab a book from the library. Loriana the librarian would be happy to assist.

And would ask questions.

Better to ask Marnie, the assistant librarian. She was far more discreet.

I gestured for Mama to sit on one of the stools while I stood across from all three who gazed at me eagerly. Under thescrutiny, I stirred my congee. Then I took a spoonful skimmed off the top. I blew on it. Finally, I tasted it. “Oh, Mama.” I pressed a hand against my chest. “The best. The absolute best.”

Melodie giggled.

I reveled in the sound.

“Okay. So sip slowly.” I gestured to the congee.

The two kids followed my lead and ate their congee with the same deliberateness as I did. When we were finished, Trevor had a bit dribbled down his shirt, and there were cracker crumbs everywhere, but everyone appeared in one piece.

My phone buzzed. I yanked it out and checked the screen. Then I met Mama’s gaze.

She cocked her head.

“Vancouver has a mass-event of some kind, the surgeons in New West are performing a heart transplant, and there was a major crash on the highway just outside of Abbotsford.” I pointed to my chest. “Crush.”

“Papa’s going to save a life.” Melodie snagged the last cracker.

Mama grinned. “Who wants to play a game? I kept some from when Quinton was a boy. How about Chutes and Ladders?”

“Don’t know that one.” Melodie grasped Trevor’s bowl and put hers in it, the added the spoons. She pushed it toward me, meeting my gaze. “Will you teach us?”

I smiled. “I’d be happy to.” Before that, though, I shot a text to Leo assuring him we were all fine and to take all the time he needed.

That I had his back. That I’d take care of his family.

I blinked.

Yeah. That.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Leo

Iwas beyond exhausted as I showered after the back-to-back surgeries. Both patients had survived.

Somehow.

Quinton’s text saying he’d driven the kids home, brushed their teeth, read six stories to them, and settled them into their beds warmed my heart. He sent a picture of the two of them hunkered down in Melodie’s bed with Lucky lying at the foot of the bed. Apparently, within moments, the kids were asleep.

Also, my kids had brought good chaos to Quinton and his mother—they both enthused about how much fun they’d had.

While I’d been saving the lives of an elderly gentleman with a crush injury and a child who had been impaled and whose heart had been nicked.

Beyond dicey.