“You have a point,” I agreed with a shake of my head as I averted my gaze from the spectacle. An involuntary shudder passed through me.
“Help me distract myself. Let me hold that little cutie pie,” I said as I made grabby hands toward little Parker.
With a mirthful sparkle to her blue eyes, Kira handed him over. My lips curled softly as I gazed at his pursed lips and the curve of his cheeks. Memories of the first time the nurse laid Trace in my arms assaulted me. I’d never realized I could experience such a profound and all-consuming love as I had that day. I remembered thinking there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. No lengths that I wouldn’t go through to ensure his safety and happiness.
But I hadn’t truly understood the depths of those feelings until he’d been taken and my own mother had shown such complete disregard for my son being abducted. I trailed a fingertip over Parker’s wrinkled brow as he quietly blinked up at me.
“You look good with him,” Kira quietly said, and I glanced up to see her watching me with a fond tip of her lips. “Do you think you’ll have more?”
I bit my lip, and though I fought it, my gaze flickered to Angel and back. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”
Jasmine looked up from the book she had been quietly reading. “You don’t want more?”
“There will be plenty of bebés for you and the angel.” Madame Laveaux startled me when she spoke in my ear from behind the couch.
“Oh, um, I don’t know,” I tried to argue, but she clucked her tongue at me.
“I wasn’t asking for you to agree, I already know,” she said with a slight lift to the corner of her mouth. Then she moved around the couch to sit next to me. She gazed with love at her great-grandson.
Unsure how to respond to that, I chose to change the subject. “Now that Trace is safe and things have settled down, I really need to go see my father,” I murmured. I’d wanted to tell him we were in the area, but I didn’t want to pull him into the shitstorm that had been squalling.
“Your father lives around here?” Kira asked in surprise.
I nodded. “Yes. He moved from the home we lived in when he and my mom split, but he stayed in the Des Moines area.”
“Why don’t you call him?” She tipped her head inquiringly.
I gave a heavy sigh. “I will.”
“You and your father have much to discuss. Don’t put it off too long,” Madame Laveaux cryptically murmured. Her eyes were locked on the beautiful baby in my arms, but I knew she was speaking to me.
“Yes, we do.” She’d hear no argument from me.
Her pale blue eyes lifted to meet mine. “Remember that the mind gets clouded when love is involved. Try not to judge harshly.”
“What do you mean?” My brow furrowed in confusion. How could she possibly know my suspicions about my father? Then I reminded myself that she had a very powerful gift. Chills rippled through me, skating across my skin.
“It’s not my story to tell, but you need to go see him. It’s important.” The older woman seemed insistent, so I nodded. Her gaze flashed to Jasmine, then back to mine.
“Okay. I’ll call him in the morning.”
She patted me and gave me a pleased grin. “Now pass me the child. It’s time for this old lady to have a turn.”
With a chuckle, I gently handed him over to her. She began speaking to him in what sounded like French, and hell if he wasn’t watching her like he understood every single word. It was the strangest thing.
No, that was a lie. What was going on at the table was possibly the strangest. I glanced over my shoulder and grimaced.
Jesus, my life had taken a seriously bizarre turn, but I wasn’t so sure that was a bad thing.
I’d be lying if I said my heart didn’t flutter like a million butterflies were bursting to get free every time I looked at Angel.
I loved him.
And I was going to make sure he knew it once and for all.
Bring on the ink.
“AngelsOnTheMoon”—ThrivingIvory