“Then you need to give him time to adjust, too, and to like Ghost and Ford just as much. Maybe do some activities together, just you, Kenny, and the guys?”
“I think there’s a lot more to be done before that. I’ll need to face the others and explain that I need time.”
“They’ll understand. Just be honest with them and ask that they be honest with you.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t want to screw this up. Getting involved with Caden was a huge mistake and it nearly cost all our lives.”
“Hey, we got out of it just fine and that’s all in the past. None of it can come back to hurt us. Our hands are clean.”
Valentina saw Lois’s eyes widen and then she looked away, but before she could ask her what that was about, Kenny opened the bedroom door and came running inside. “Mommy!” he exclaimed and jumped onto the bed and snuggled next to Lois.
“I’ll finish making dinner and leave you two to snuggle.”
“We’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Val smiled and headed out of the bedroom. She saw Sparrow sitting at the island in the kitchen while Grace played in the playpen with her toys.
“Everything okay?” he asked her, opening his arms. She went right into his embrace. She squeezed him tightly and smiled as she watched the kids reading books on the rug and looking so happy.
“Everything is perfect,’ she said, hoping that her sister found love with Sparrow’s cousins.
* * * *
Lois held Kenny close and caressed his blond hair.
He looked up at her with his big blue eyes and her heart soared with love for him. She smiled softly. All she wanted in this world was for him to be safe and feel loved. To know that she would always be here for him to help him succeed in life.
“Do you feel better now, Mommy?” he asked her. He caressed her waist with his little hand. He had been worried that she’d gotten caught out in the thunder and lightning storm. Recently he had taken on this role of trying to be a big boy and be in charge of the family, like the man of the house. He especially did it when Ghost and Storm were around, like he was the man. It was cute and she knew he was protective of her. She wondered how he would feel about her getting involved with the men. Would he be just as worried about her getting hurt as she was? It made her gut clench with such shame.
“Yes, the shower warmed me up. I was safe, buddy. I knew to get to shelter,” she told him and thought about the shelter of Ghost’s big, strong arms. A woman was more than safe in his arms. She felt the twinge of sadness like she missed him and wanted him close. It wasn’t too smart to fall so fast.
Four men? What in God’s name am I thinking?
“Sparrow said that you were with Ghost and he was protecting you from the storm. I’m glad you weren’t all alone ’cause that be real scary.”
“I was with Ghost and we rode out the storm together in his truck.”
He stared at her and then nibbled his little bottom lip. She could see the concern in his eyes and then he whispered to her.
“He’s big and strong like a monster.”
She smirked at him. “Not big and strong like a monster. Big and strong like a man should be. Like a soldier who is capable of protecting people and making sure they’re always safe.”
“Daddy wasn’t as big as Ghost and he hurt you badly,” he said to her as his eyes filled with tears.
Instantly Lois felt her eyes well up with tears and she pulled him close and hugged him.
“Ghost isn’t Daddy. He isn’t going to hurt me like that.”
“Then why are you always crying with Aunt Val after you spend time with Gh
ost, Ford, Laverty, or Evan? They make you cry. I don’t like when you cry,” he said to her.
She chuckled and tears fell at his little words that weren’t so little but instead hit the nail on the head. She wasn’t being strong. She wasn’t allowing the men to prove their trustworthiness or their care of her because she kept comparing them to Caden and what he did. She was doing that and Kenny was, too. She pulled back and wiped his tears. He reached up and wiped hers.
“Kenny, what if I told you that I liked Ghost, Ford, Laverty, and Evan?”
“They make you cry though?”