Tasha laughed, but flinched when she felt a sharp pinch in her stomach. “We’re teasing. Though I can’t swear that one’s nickname won’t be Huckleberry, because look at him. He’s so sweet.”
Stephen kissed Tasha’s forehead and spoke without taking his eyes from his child. “We liked the name Patrick, for Natasha’s father.” She felt the smallest tinge of sadness that he wasn’t standing next to the Stephen’s parents and studying his grandchildren. She wanted him to know about them. To know how complete her life had just become. You will never doubt my love, she promised her boys silently. And whether you like it or not? I will never leave you.
“And, if it’s okay with you,” Stephen looked up at his father somberly. “Edward—Ned—for your father.”
Tasha worried for a moment that they’d made a mistake. Shawn’s blue eyes were instantly drowning in tears he refused to shed. She knew the stories. Ned Finn was connected to the Irish mob and Sol and Shawn had both renounced their ties to him. Sol became police chief and spent his life obsessed with rebuilding the tarnished Finn name. Shawn moved forward and found happiness in his family. But for some reason Seamus believed he might like it.
“It’s okay if you don’t like the idea. We were also thinking of—”
“No.” Shawn interrupted her by reaching down to grip her hand. “Ned is good, Natasha,” he said in a gravelly voice. “Ned is exactly right.”
Jen leaned over Stephen’s shoulder and smiled. “Hi, Ned.” She looked up at the baby her mother was holding and her smile turned mischievous. “Hey there, Huckleberry.”
Her mother shook her head, but she laughed. “I think you should have your baby back while you can, Tasha.” She handed Patrick over tenderly. “Shawn and I will go out and let Seamus have a turn. He’s climbing the walls out there, waiting to see his brother’s sons. But we won’t be far.”
Ellen slipped her arm through Shawn’s and was speaking in a soft, soothing voice as she led him out, Jen close behind. “Should we think of another name?” Tasha asked Stephen, unsure. “The last thing I want is to have his grandfather cry every time the little guy enters the room. We liked Henry too, didn’t we?”
Stephen picked Ned up and smiled at her. “I don’t think we need to change a thing. Seamus was right. Dad’s missed his father, the family he grew up with, for a while now. A boy needs his father, don’t you, Ned?”
“And his mother,” Tasha whispered against Patrick’s soft forehead. “You’re my Huckleberry.”
Stephen laughed. “Does our son’s nickname have anything to do with that old Wyatt Earp movie you’ve been watching on a loop?”
Tasha blushed. “I only had a few movies on my tablet and I was stuck in bed a lot. Alone, with only poor, sick-but-still-sexy Doc Holiday to keep me company.”
“Sexy?”
“Don’t be jealous.”
“I’m not jealous,” Stephen assured her cockily. “I know you’re mine. You wouldn’t sweep me aside for some long-dead dentist with a bad cough.”
She laughed carefully as the door opened again, Seamus and his son Jake peering around the door. “Are we interrupting?”
Stephen beamed at him and Tasha hid her smile by nuzzling Ned’s temple. He was so overjoyed and proud it made her giddy. It made her want ten more…but she was sure that would pass. These two were going to be a handful as it was.
She looked up to watch Seamus pulling Stephen into a tight bear hug, practically lifting his twin off the ground. “Welcome to fatherhood,” he said with a slight hitch in his voice. “You’ll never sleep again.”
Stephen laughed as his brother set him down and patted him on the back. Tasha caught Jake’s eye and rolled hers. “As if he made them all by himself.”
Jake pushed his dark hair out of his eyes and smiled shyly at her. “You like them?”
Oh damn, the hormones were still raging. Tasha swallowed hard. “I love them Jake. In a few years they’ll be sick of me because I don’t plan to let them out of my sight.” Or my arms.
Jake digested this, nodded, and moved closer. She saw Seamus turn away and wipe his hand over his eyes, composing himself. These weren’t the first newborns young Jake had come to visit, Tasha thought about Penny, Wes and Little Sean. But she might be the first mother he knew who wanted to keep them.
“What do you think of your cousins, Jake?” Tasha gave him an encouraging smile. “I hope you like them, because I was hoping you’d show them the ropes. Our family can be a little confusing.” And I’d love it if they were both as sweet as you.
“I can do that,” Jake said with a quiet confidence that belied his age. Nearly thirteen, but he might as well be thirty. She hoped he found time to be a kid before he graduated high school.