Page 34 of Summer Nights (The Kingston Brothers #3)

Ivy

I was exhausted yet unbelievably happy. When the nurse placed my baby boy in my arms, I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling so much love. It was like my heart expanded to encompass my family, Cooper, and now Henry.

Cooper was next to me for everything. He held our baby skin to skin in the hospital, murmuring things to him while I drifted off.

He was there in the middle of the night to change the baby and help me to get him to latch onto my nipple.

And then when I was done feeding him, he’d swaddle him and put him in the bassinet.

For the first few weeks, Cooper had taken leave from work to be with me the entire time. I was recovering from pregnancy and childbirth and learning how to take care of a baby. Both of us were figuring it out together.

When he scheduled time to go back to work, we talked about it together as a team, discussing what would make the most sense for us.

He’d scheduled his mother and my friends to stop by every day to watch Henry so that I could shower and take a nap. I was grateful for any help I could get, and everyone wanted to hold him. I was positive I could do it myself, but I didn’t have to.

We had so many people supporting us, and it meant more love for our baby.

Today was the party that Joy insisted on throwing to welcome Henry into the world. All our friends and family were invited to Joy and Jonathan’s house. Even Rae and Duncan were in the pool.

I’d told Mom that Dad was in my life again, and she said I was an idiot for letting him in after how he’d left me. All I said was that we both knew that wasn’t true, and she didn’t say anything more. She’d lied to me, and I wouldn’t let her continue to disparage my father.

I hadn’t officially confronted her about it, and I’m not sure I ever would. I was too focused on moving forward and being happy to delve into the past. And I wasn’t ready to invite her to something like this yet. Not when my dad would be meeting Henry for the first time.

“You know your dad is going to love Henry. How could he not?” Cooper asked on the drive over to his parents’.

“It’s weird that my father’s going to meet my son. He’s going to be part of our lives now, when he wasn’t before,” I said, still not able to wrap my mind around this new development. It almost felt too good to be true.

Cooper glanced over at me. “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

My eyes filled with tears. “Yes.”

“Then why are you crying?” he asked gently.

I was more emotional than I’d ever been, and I could blame it on the hormones, but I think it was because I was feeling everything for the first time. I wasn’t lying to myself or telling myself a story. I was finally letting people in, and it was easier than blocking everyone out.

Cooper reached over to hold my hand “We’re by your side.”

“I know, and I’m so grateful for that. This little guy will have so many people to love him.”

“You know that’s because of you, right? Everyone loves you and, by extension, Henry.”

“I’m starting to see that.” I understood a lot of things I hadn’t before. My world had expanded to include so many people. I no longer saw my friends as acquaintances or Cooper’s family as his. It felt amazing to be part of a community that supported each other.

By the time we arrived at his parents’ house, the cars were lined down the street.

Cooper helped me out of my SUV and took the baby in the heavy car seat. Then he held my hand as we headed inside.

In the kitchen, there was a blue sign that said Welcome Baby Henry above a table of blue-and-white cupcakes. People milled about in the living room and kitchen and spilled outside onto the deck and lower patio.

Cooper took Henry out of the baby carrier and allowed everyone to ooh and aah over him.

Eventually, he let others hold him, but Joy was the one who took him the longest. She was ecstatic to have another grandbaby to spoil.

She didn’t get to see Marshall’s daughter, Hayden, or Oakley and Dalton’s baby girl, Lilliana, very often.

My father wasn’t here yet, and I tried not to let that bother me. It was hard not to fall into old patterns of believing he wouldn’t show up for me.

I was eating a plate of food outside, Joy holding Henry on the chair next to me, when Clint came outside on the patio. He scanned the room and smiled as soon as he saw me.

When he approached, he said, “Don’t get up. I’ll come to you.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Exhausted but happy,” I said with a satisfied smile at Henry, who Joy still held.

Clint followed my gaze to Henry. “How’s the baby?”

“He’s perfect,” Joy said. “Do you want to hold him?”

Clint grinned. “I’d love to.”

Joy switched places with him, letting Clint sit in the chair, cradling his grandchild. I was aware that Cooper snapped pictures of us, then eventually slipped away to give us privacy.

Clint gazed at Henry’s face, his expression a mix of awe and a little regret. “I missed these moments with you.”

“We can’t get that time back,” I agreed.

Clint lifted his gaze to mine. “I can make up for time lost. I want to be a part of your life going forward.”

I smiled. “I’m more than okay with that.”

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you the last few weeks.”

“Me too.” We’d exchanged phone numbers, and I’d texted him updates about the pregnancy and our plans for the future.

Clint looked down at Henry, who sighed in his sleep. “Will you bring Henry over to visit with his uncles soon?”

Love surged through me. “I’d love that.”

“They’re excited about being uncles.”

I’d met them once, along with his wife, Sherri. I was surprised that they accepted me so easily into their lives.

There wouldn’t be any pictures of me as a baby with my father. But there would be of me, Henry, and Clint. It filled my heart with contentment. I’d dreamed I’d have my father in my life, and I was finally getting my wish.

Everything was coming true for me at once. I had a beautiful baby, a relationship with Cooper, my father, and my beach house. Life was perfect.

I was worried about how I’d manage work and motherhood, but I’d hired Blakely and talked to another realtor about working together. Everything was working out.

The slider to the patio opened, and a man stepped outside. He looked a lot like the Kingstons' older brother, Marshall.

“What’s Marshall doing here?” Cooper asked his mom. “Did you know he was coming home?”

Joy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I didn’t.”

Marshall stepped outside, a sullen teen girl behind him.

“He has Hayden with him.” Joy crossed the patio, taking his cheeks in her hands and saying something to him. She moved onto Hayden who reluctantly accepted her hug.

Joy said something to Marshall, and he looked over at us. He crossed the patio and stopped in front of Cooper.

They hugged, and Cooper said, “It’s good to see you. I didn’t realize you would be home.”

“I was at Walter Reed in Maryland to recuperate.”

“You were hurt? Why didn’t you say anything to anyone?” Cooper asked him incredulously.

“I didn’t want Mom to worry.”

“I’m glad you’re home now,” Cooper said, his gaze resting on his niece.

“Tiff wants me to take Hayden for a while. It seemed like a good time to be discharged.”

“Hudson will be glad you’re home for good.”

Marshall’s jaw tightened. “I don’t have any plans for now. I just want to reacclimate to everything.”

“I don’t know anyone here,” Hayden grumbled.

“You know Grandma Joy and your uncles,” Marshall said to her, but her lip curled as if she didn’t care to spend time with them.

“Can I go inside? I want to listen to music.”

“You don’t want to spend time with your family?” Marshall asked, a bite to his tone.

Hayden gave him an exasperated look. “Dad.”

Marshall sighed. “For a little bit, and then come back outside.”

Hayden turned to go inside.

“She’s in full teenager mode, huh?” Cooper asked with amusement.

Marshall shook his head. “When I left for my last deployment, she was sweet and loved to spend time with me. Now she’s irritated about everything I do and say. It’s like I can’t do anything right.”

“I guess that’s what we have to look forward to in the teenage years,” Cooper said, taking Henry from Clint.

“Enjoy this time now. It goes so fast,” Marshall said before turning away to talk to Hudson and Elena.

“I can’t believe he’s home,” Cooper said to me.

“Your mother must be overjoyed.”

“All her family in one place,” Cooper murmured.

“As much as I love being around everyone, I’d love to be alone with my little family.”

Cooper grinned at me over Henry’s head. “That’s my favorite place to be too.”

I hope you enjoyed Ivy and Cooper’s story! To read about Cooper’s proposal download the bonus epilogue .

Marshall and Saylor are next in Summer Escape .

I recently left the military, navigating fatherhood with my daughter who became a teenager overnight, and dodging the family I disappointed when I walked away from the family business.

But the real problem? My former summer fling—the one woman I never forgot—is now living next door.

Now she's a daily temptation… and possibly the biggest complication of all.