“It’s taken almost fourteen years for the karma to slap that bitch right where it hurts.”
“Evin!”
“No, Poppy. That woman carried out an agenda and intentionally inflicted pain on many people. Each time she suffers helps lighten the memory of my sister’s world crashing before it got started. I may be a bastard, but seeing her misery gives me satisfaction.”
“It’s rough and blunt, but I agree. She doesn’t deserve your sympathy,” Dad says. “Now let’s get these carts loaded on the trailers and back to the house. My granddaughter is excited to meet me.”
“You wish, it’s me she’s coming early for,” Mom snipes.
Poppy shimmies on my lap, waving her hands in the air. “It’s baby time!” she shouts unnecessarily loud, earning a chorus of cheers. “How’s that for satisfaction?” Her smile beams brightly.
I crash my mouth over hers, not caring about our audience. She giggles down my throat, twirling her tongue with mine and linking her fingers at my neck.
A new round of catcalls and whistles echo in the air as Mom speeds off, shouting her shrill approval of my affection.
“I’d like to visit Charleston.” Marco drops the news.
“Took you four fucking days to get to the point.”
“Was I that obvious?”
“No news on Tasha, no change with Poppy, and confirming everything is fine. All that can be covered in a text. Yet, you call every day. Idle chit-chat isn’t exactly our style.”
“Maybe we can change that, find more to talk about. I bet we have a lot in common.”
“Our relationship revolves around Poppy until she tells me differently.”
“Understood. That’s why I’d like to visit.”
“I don’t know if she’s there yet.”
“Evin, I’ve respected your wishes and done as you asked, caring about her wellbeing from afar. It’s been three months, and she’s on her path to recovery. Now I’d like my chance at repairing our relationship. And that means proving myself. I’m asking for a few hours. We can stretch it over days if that’s better.”
“Shit.” I rub the back of my neck, actually considering this. “Today’s your lucky day. All the positive energy in the air has me mellow. I’ll mention it to her. No promises.”
“Thank you.”
“It’ll be later. She’s currently flipping through at least a hundred pictures.”
“I remember those first birthdays. Although my girls had theirs at home surrounded by family. Not sure I’ve ever heard of one in a hospital.”
“Mom makes things happen, especially for her grandson.”
“He sounds like a fortunate little boy.”
“He’s a badass.”
“Is Poppy in any of the pictures?”
“Probably more than my sister. Dev has a thing for her.”
“I’d love to see one.”
“Don’t push it. I’ll talk to her about the visit and we’ll be in touch.”
“Good luck with your sister.”
“Thanks, keep me updated if you hear anything.” I end the call, going to the couch where Poppy is flanked by Maya and Cole. “Which one of you is moving so I can sit?”
Both peer up at me, then back to the computer screen, neither of them budging.
“Poppy, want to help me out?”
“In a minute, honey, we’re almost done.”
I cross my arms, rocking back and counting to thirty. At twenty, she taps a button and announces, “Done!”
“You have ten seconds.”
“Then what happens?” Cole squints defiantly.
“I pick her ass up and move in.”
“Yeah, we’ll see.”
Poppy laughs, sliding the computer to his lap and swinging her arms my way. “Time to stretch my muscles.”
I tug her to her feet, Maya and Cole scrambling too, their focus behind me. Pierce comes in looking fatigued. The last hour since the birthday celebration ended has not gone his way. “Darby’s decided she’s ready.”
“Darby decided? Is that how this works?”
“Apparently, with your sister it is. Don’t know how the hell she did it, but she stalled her progress by eighteen fucking hours.”
“Don’t think that’s medically possible,” I point out warily. “Maybe the baby wasn’t as ready as we thought.”
“I didn’t believe it either until she curled into me fifteen minutes ago and said she was ready. Swear to God, I helped her to the bathroom and ten seconds later her water broke. Somehow, she held off.”
It’s not smart to argue since there is absolutely no logic to this.
“Dad, can we see her?” Maya grabs the laptop. “Poppy organized an album from the birthday.”
“That was quick.”
“All the time hanging in Evin’s office has sharpened my skills,” Poppy brags.
“Darby will love it. Let’s go show her.”
“I’ll call Mom.”
“She and Edward are almost here with Stephanie and Todd. My family is on the way. The Rhodes are keeping Dev at Miller’s place.”
“We’ll be in there in a minute,” I say, giving him a slice of alone time with the kids and Darby.
“There’s no rush. This could go on a while.”
When he and the kids are out of range, Poppy leans into me. “Your sister has magic.”
“Don’t want to hear it.”
“There’s a power behind spiritual control. It sounds crazy to you alpha-male, obsessively-driven men, but she knew what she was doing.”