Page 64 of The Sinner's Son
“That’s kind of tame,” Royce said. “Where’s the pizazz?”
Sawyer lifted his leg and showed off his gross toe. “Your idea of pizazz gets us in trouble sometimes.”
Royce’s hamstring spasmed as if to prove Sawyer’s point, which he conceded with a sigh.
“And my idea includes eating sugar cookies. No one is eating cake or cookies that came from a fake crime scene. Besides, our sweet Lil Plum isn’t a crime.”
“No, she’s our precious miracle,” Royce said. “You’re always so smart.”
“Married you, didn’t I?” Then Sawyer grimaced. “Ow. It’s throbbing.”
“Again? Damn, I’m good, but not that good.”
“My toe, Dickhead,” Sawyer said.
“Here, let me help you up. We might need to get that checked out.” Royce tried to roll to his knee, but his hamstring spasmed, and he landed back down on the rug, holding the back of his aching leg.
Sawyer’s body shook with laughter. “We’re too young for those necklaces that alert emergency services when we fall.”
“Damn thing would get the paramedics here every time we had sex,” Royce said.
They shared a laugh for a few more minutes before they joined forces to get off the floor. They limped into the kitchen to retrieve ice for their injuries and eat dessert. Royce grabbed the Oreos and the bowl of chocolate mousse, and Sawyer grabbed the ice packs.
“Good call on the chair, by the way,” Royce said, then winced on his next step.
“I can tell.”
“So worth it.”
Evangeline curled her arm around Sawyer’s waist. “I love you so much.”
Sawyer draped an arm over her shoulders and rested his temple on top of her head. “I love you too. But I’m still not ready to make the announcement.”
His mother released an exasperated sigh. “Fine, but it’s getting late, and people will start leaving soon.”
“Not the ones that matter, Mom.” Sawyer didn’t care if friends of friends found out about their big news secondhand.
Everyone who mattered would be there, including some last-minute guests Sawyer invited. He glanced over to where Royce gathered with the Suttons, Jason, and Alec. Dane’s physical injuries were on the mend, but it would take longer for his emotional wounds to heal. Alec had worried Dane would blame him for what happened and had braced himself for rejection, but Sawyer witnessed the genuine smiles Dane sent Alec’s way, even if he’d chosen to sit across from him instead of taking the empty chair next to Alec. With time and healing, Sawyer thought they might have a chance at something special.
Nina sat with her face toward the sun and her eyes closed, a serene smile gracing her face. Sawyer was all too familiar with that expression because Vic had worn a similar one toward the end of his life. She’d made peace with the fact that this would be her final Labor Day celebration and was enjoying every second. She must’ve sensed his gaze on her because she opened her eyes and turned them in his direction. Her smile grew bigger, and she winked. Royce leaned forward to break their eye contact and pretended to scold her for flirting with his man. Sawyer couldn’t hear the words they exchanged, but he recognized the gesticulation and gleam in his gray eyes. Nina swatted Royce out of the way to clear her line of sight. Sawyer winked back, and she waggled her fingers.
Flirting hadn’t been the intention behind Nina’s wink. The gesture was pure gratitude after the conversation they’d had two weeks ago when he’d taken her to the hospital to see Dane after his rescue. She’d been an emotional wreck, relieved and full of gratitude that Dane had survived, but terrified about what the future might hold for her sons. Sawyer had simply reached for her hand and told Nina that he and Royce would always look out for them. They’d always have a place to go for the holidays, an ear to bend, a shoulder to lean on, and people in their corner cheering them on. Her tears had turned to relief then, and she radiated peaceful acceptance now.
Sawyer spotted his father heading inside the house and excused himself to go talk to him. There were some things he wanted to tell his dad before they made the big announcement. Barron had always been the midnight backdrop to Evangeline’s diamond bright star, and he’d never complained. His dad seemed more than happy to bask in her brilliance, but sometimes quiet personalities like his got overlooked. Credit went to other people when it should be shared or even given to others. Sawyer, a proud mama’s boy since birth, loved hisfather dearly but worried he didn’t always give Barron the recognition he deserved. That truth became even more apparent as he watched Royce and Eddie stumble their way through a reconciliation.
“Hey, Dad,” he called out.
Barron jerked his head out of the refrigerator with a partially eaten cupcake in his hand. He swallowed the bite and held up the treat with a victorious smile. “Why didn’t anyone tell me we had cupcakes?”
Sawyer bit back a laugh. “Because those go with the big announcement Royce and I are about to make.”
“Oops.” Then the words clicked. He looked into the refrigerator and noticed the candy baby bottles and rattles decorating the tops of the cupcakes. “You’re having a baby!”
“We are,” Sawyer confirmed. “Kelsey is the biological mother and our surrogate.”
Barron pulled Sawyer into a fierce hug, his happiness bubbling out of him in joyous laughter. When he stepped back from the embrace, he looked around the house. “You didn’t tell me before your mother, did you? I can’t live with that.”
Sawyer laughed. “She knows. I hadn’t planned to tell her, but she stumbled onto the news when she popped by to spoil the pets while we were at work.”