“I’m sorry Mike did that to you.”
“I’m sorry for what he did to you.”
“Eh, fuck him,” I say with a laugh that gets her laughing, too.
“For sure, but let’s be thankful for the wonderful kids he left us with.”
“I can drink to that.”
She touches her glass to mine. “Cheers to great kids.”
GAGE
The kids are chargedup after an exciting day, but they manage to get their showers done and change into pajamas. Carter is sleeping on the trundle bed we pulled out from under Tyler’s bed, and Tyler has been great about showing him where everything is and asking if he needs another pillow. He’s gone from rejecting Carter to accepting him in the span of a few hours, which doesn’t surprise me. Tyler has a great big loving heart, and I had a feeling he’d soften once he met his brother. Although, I can’t pretend to know what it would be like to find out you have a half brother a year and a half younger than you when you’re seven.
Iris was right to take care of this now when the kids are innocent enough not to ask too many questions. I have no doubt there’ll be questions later when they put the pieces together, but for now, Carter is someone new for them to love, and the three of them have made me proud today.
My phone rings with a call from Adrian. Since the kids are all in their rooms, I take the call. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Gage… I can’t find Wynter and Xavier. I got home an hour ago, and they weren’t here. She’s not answering her phone. I checked the park and all their usual places, but she’s nowhere to be found. I don’t know what to do. If I call the cops, this becomes a big deal, and I don’t know…”
He’s on the verge of hysteria. “Try to stay calm. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.”