“But Beth and Evan…”
He shook his head, smiling. “I knew you would be worried about that. I have it on good authority my brother has some news to share with Beth tomorrow. A new job and a new address are in her future if she wants it.” He leaned his forehead to mine. “Say yes, baby.”
A car went by and honked, and Liam glared as they drove past. I had to laugh. “Maybe we should go inside and talk.”
He shook his head. “This is our spot. It’s like lunch. Only ours. All of our big conversations have happened here.”
“I have to talk to Beth. I-I can’t leave her behind, Liam.”
He smiled. “I love your open, giving heart, Paige. I adore the fact that you’re worried about Beth, and Ronan thinks she’ll have the same reaction. We know how close you are.” He ran his finger down my cheek. “So, if she says yes, then you’ll say yes?”
“Yes.”
He bent low and kissed me. “Then it’s as good as a done deal. I get you and Lucy. Ronan gets Beth and Evan. It’s perfect.”
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
Sunday night, the four of us sat together and figured things out. The girls were thrilled for each other, hugging and talking quietly. I shook Ronan’s hand and clapped his shoulder.
“Onward and upward, little bro.”
I looked at Paige, sitting across from me. “When is your lease up?”
“Not until November, but I called the landlord today. He told me he just had a family member asking about the place. He said he’d let us out of the lease at the end of August.” She looked doubtful. “It’s pretty fast, though. That’s only six weeks away.”
Ronan and I shook our heads. “Totally doable,” he disagreed. “Mom and Dad are gonna have Evan for a while so Dad can work one-on-one with him on his leg. We can move his stuff to my place right away, and he can just stay there. We’ll hire movers for your stuff. You won’t have to worry about it.”
“I’ll have Lucy’s room done by the team. I can have your part of the office set up fast, Paige,” I added. “A desk and a chair and whatever else you need.”
Beth and Paige glanced at each other. “What?” I asked.
Paige smiled, covering my hand. “Most of the furniture is pieces we bought second- or thirdhand. Aside from some things that belonged to Beth’s parents, and the kids’ and our personal stuff, there isn’t a lot we want to bring from here.”
I squeezed her fingers. “Whatever you want is fine. Leave it for the next people, or we’ll haul it away. But we both have lots of space. Bring anything you want.”
“We have extra storage space at the Hub. Each family gets a section,” Ronan said. “You don’t have to leave anything behind you want to keep.”
The next day after dinner, I took Lucy and Paige for ice cream. Lucy scrambled onto my lap as always, often requesting help when her ice cream dripped. After I licked the ice cream for her, I touched her nose. “So, Munchkin, I want to ask you something.”
“Otay,” she replied, busy with her cone.
“How would you feel about you and your momma coming to live with me?”
She stopped, staring up at me. “By the water? In your house?”
“Yes.”
“With your daddy and mommy? Ava?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated then, looking sad, shook her head. “No.”
I met Paige’s startled gaze over Lucy’s head.
“Why not, Lucy-loo?” she asked calmly.
“I miss Evan too much.”
I grinned. “Then you’ll be happy to know that Evan is moving too.”
“Oh! With us?”
“He’ll live with Beth and Ronan,” Paige explained patiently. “You’ll see him all the time.”
“Can I bring my unicorn?”
“You can bring all your stuff. Anything you want.”
She held up her cone, and I caught the drips and returned it. She licked in silence, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She crooked her finger, and I lowered my head. She cupped my ear. “Can I call you Daddy, then?” she whispered.
I lifted my head, meeting Paige’s tear-filled eyes.
“Soon, Munchkin. I promise you soon.”
“Otay,” she replied happily. “I say yes, then.”
Well, that was settled.
Somehow, the days got busier, yet time seemed to stand still. I couldn’t wait for Lucy and Paige to move in with me. Beth and Evan were moving out first, and I planned on staying with Paige and Lucy in the house until my home was totally ready. Not only was I having Lucy’s room done, but I was redoing the office so Paige had a comfortable place to work, and I was having the place painted. I had Paige sit with Liv to choose colors, and I asked Liv to encourage Paige to pick a few items she liked for the various rooms. I wanted her to feel as if she belonged in the house, not simply moving in to my space. As soon as it was ready, I planned on bringing Lucy and Paige out to the house and handing her keys back to the landlord. The rent was already paid up, and he could let his nephew move in whenever he wanted.