Page 40 of Treasure and Tarot (Echoes of Secret Springs #1)

Chapter

Thirty-One

S ebastian had never been gladder to see their house when they pulled up with Abby and baby Dani in their little car seats, Colton driving them over the pass like an eighty-year-old.

He was so damn cute.

The whole crew had gone on ahead of them to open up the house and get them set up on the ground floor for a few days.

There was no way he was hauling his ass up the stairs like he’d planned to. It would only take a day or two, but he needed to be able to sleep downstairs.

With the baby.

He grinned and let Colton park as Gent and the crew streamed out of the house to come help.

“Hey! Welcome home,” Iago said, opening the door to unstrap Abby and haul her into his arms.

“Thanks. I feel like I was gone forever instead of just twenty-four hours.” Devon had insisted he hang out for a bit, just making sure he was good to go. They had a super-comfy in-patient bedroom at the birthing center now. It was ten kinds of awesome.

But this was his house.

Colton came around to ease him out of the car, then got Dani out, her little swaddled form so small and adorable.

“Come on, babe. Let’s get you inside so you can hold her and love on her.”

He grinned and nodded. He’d promised Abby they would sit together on the couch and hold Dani together. She was very excited.

He was panting a little by the time they got inside, but he’d passed Devon’s exam with flying colors, and he knew from experience that he would bounce back pretty quickly.

There was a banner in the foyer that said, “Welcome home, Dani, Abby, and Sebastian,” and he teared up a little, because it was so important for Abby to feel included, and he loved that the guys knew that.

“Ta-da! Couch. Blankets. Pillows. Spots for all of you.” Xavi led him to the sofa, which was all decked out.

“Nice.” He eased down, his body humming a little. It had been way less work this time, and it had been good work. So he was happy.

“I sit wif Daddy and sister!” Abby crawled up with him. “I’m the big sister!”

“You are.” He hugged her, kissed the top of her head. “You so are.”

Colton fussed a little, moving this pillow, giving him blankets, tucking one around Abby. He finally met his husband’s violet gaze. “Can you get me a drink, babe? Something like ginger ale?”

“Be right back.” Colton hustled off, and Gent chuckled.

“Smile, guys.”

Abby beamed and he grinned at Gent, who took their picture. The man was a photo-op machine.

“I thought Law was the cameraman,” he teased.

“Yeah, well, he does moving pictures.” Gent winked. “Can I get anything, honey? From the store, or…”

“May I text you when I know what we need? I think you guys thought of everything, but I’m not sure.”

“Cool. Well, we’ll be around next door and all. Holler if you need us.” Gent seemed to understand his need for a little quiet, and he herded everyone out, leaving him with Abby and the baby.

“You did good, Daddy. She’s so pretty.”

“Like my first girl, huh? And you’re so smart and brave.”

“I want to be a good sisser.” She was struggling a little with some of her words, which he thought was because she was so excited.

“You’re going to be great.” He looked around. “So what do you guys think?” he asked the air. He wanted the ghosts to approve of little Dani, too.

“Crap! Be right there, baby! I spilled a little.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Did you guys help him? What do you want to say?”

A book fell from a shelf and landed, gently, beside Abby on the couch.

“Daddy! So pretty. Look.” She handed it to him, and it was another of those old velvet-covered photo albums. When he opened it, there were rows of neat baby pictures with dates on the pages, from the earliest photos printed on paper and not, like, daguerreotypes, to him.

And Abby. And there was a spot for little Dani, with her name on it in spidery 1800s cursive.

All they had to do was pick one of Gent’s pictures and have it printed.

Tears stung his eyes. “Thanks, guys. I’m glad you approve. We’ll do you proud. I promise.”

And Colton brought him a drink then, eyebrows rising as he saw the album.

Yeah, his house had ghosts. So what?

They were a treasure. Sebastian wouldn’t have it any other way.