“I’ll do my best to keep him in check,” Will added.
I clapped his shoulder. “Buddy, you’re welcome to try.”
Lori all but kicked us out at five o’clock, insisting that only Graham stay, and the rest of us headed to Val’s house, where the would-be birthday party for Lori was supposed to take place.
On the way, I checked my messages and noticed one from Brooke.
Brooke: Dad says you skipped practice today because Lori went into labor. Is everything okay?
Jace: Perfect. They’re healthy. I just left the hospital.
Brooke: Do they need anything? Is there something I can do? Do you have a picture with Evelyn?
I chuckled as I typed back, wishing I had taken a pic so I could send it to Brooke. I liked sharing details of my life with her, and that was new to me, but Brooke made it so easy.
Once we arrived at Val’s house, I noticed Milo was a bit more silent than usual. He’d been excited and all smiles at the hospital, but now something was weighing on him. My suspicion was confirmed when Hailey exchanged a few words with him, but he simply shook his head.
“Can you talk to him?” she whispered when we entered Val’s house.
“Sure.” I followed him into the backyard, sitting next to him on the grass.
“Milo, what’s wrong?”
He hesitated.
“Come on, you can tell me. Man to man.”
“You promise not to tell anyone?”
“I promise.”
“Do you think now that little Evelyn is here, Graham won’t want to be my dad anymore? Like my other dad?”
I felt as if someone had punched me straight in the face. I had no idea Milo had these fears, and I was not sure how to tread. Telling him his biological father was simply a scumbag who couldn’t handle responsibility was not the way forward, so I chose to focus on the positive.
“Milo,” I said softly, “that will never happen. Graham is your dad no matter what. Even if you have ten more sisters or brothers, it won’t mean he won’t be your dad, or that he’ll love you any less. Okay?”
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Milo pondered that for a few seconds before nodding.
“How is it to have a sister?”
“Buddy, I have a lot to say about that. I can give you extensive advice on everything, from annoying your sister to protecting her. Ready to take notes?”
“Ready,” he declared with a grin.
Dinner was delicious, as usual. We made plans for repairing Hailey’s shed the next day. I’d convinced Will and Landon easily, and they said they’d bring over Paige and Maddie as well.
Now, Val announced she’d stop by too, with her gang.
“I’ll bring some perfume samples too,” Val said. “You can all try them out.”
My brothers and I carefully avoided looking at each other. Trying out samples was not our favorite activity. I, for one, simply couldn’t pick up on the finer notes. The things we did for our sisters.
“I convince you two to shoulder some work, and this is how we’re rewarded.” I shook my head mockingly. Will gave me a thumbs-up.
“Careful, don’t anger Val before dessert,” Landon said.