The Shepherd (The Game 6)

“One for me.” I brought a big spoonful to my mouth and made yummy noises that made her babble and squeal. “And one for you.” She got the little spoon, and I scraped it gently across her lips to get everything she liked to spit out.

A loud affair, and yet, this was where I found my peace, my energy, my excitement to face a new day.

I caught Archie and Sloan glancing at me every once in a while, just like I did with them. Because I’d been right. Our dreams were three parts of a whole, and this was the completion. We all felt as if we needed to pinch one another to make sure it was real. Our dynamic wasn’t the type where one was lovingly referred to as “the glue,” because that was all of us. This was our project, our life’s work.

It was taking Sloan the longest to realize what he brought to the table, though Archie and I were getting through to him, little by little.

We had time.

“All right, five minutes,” Sloan declared, checking his watch. “Then I want all the kids upstairs brushing their teeth and getting dressed.”

“When you come back down, don’t forget to grab your lunch boxes on the counter,” Archie reminded.

“Your lunches are the best,” Emma-Jo gushed. Baby girl had a crush.

But she was totally right too. This was where the domestic slave in Archie got to shine.

“I’m not even gonna pretend to be offended,” Sloan drawled.

I smirked into my coffee mug.

Archie chuckled and flashed Emma-Jo a quick wink.

“Daddy, I want uggh!” Loki couldn’t reach the bowl of apple slices.

Sloan smiled and pushed the bowl closer. “What do you say, baby?”

“Fank you.” The boy crammed the fruit into his mouth.

Before long, it was time to get going. Sloan stood up and began directing the children toward the stairs to help the youngest get dressed, and Archie said he’d left the car keys on the hallway table.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Sloan caught his slip and went stiff while he gauged the children’s reactions. There were absolutely none, and I couldn’t help but laugh. As if the kids would care who Sloan called sweetheart.

“You’re welcome, darling,” Archie teased.

Sloan shot him a mock-glare before he disappeared.

Kyla wanted to get down, so that left me alone at the table to finish my coffee while Archie started clearing the table.

“I’m going back and forth on whether we’ll need a third car,” I thought out loud. We’d discussed it in passing a few days ago, considering Sloan didn’t have one but needed to be able to drive the kids to school and whatnot. “Five kids, three adults, one puzzle.”

“We need a bus,” he joked. Or not joked. “Imagine if it’s six kids.”

I sat back and raked my teeth across my bottom lip, and I didn’t know what to think, to be honest. At this point, I was so happy that I felt another good thing would tip the scale and…yeah, that was ridiculous, but that was me.

Archie glanced back at me after returning the milk and some other things to the fridge. “Did I plant that seed subtly or what?”

I laughed softly.

“Well, there are SUVs with nine seats.” I threw that on the table. I was never gonna say no to another kid in my home; I just didn’t feel the need to get into the nitty-gritty of it so soon. For once.

“Sounds wonderful and terribly expensive,” he mused.

I shrugged.

Years ago, I’d had an actual need for my utility truck. I’d been balls deep in renovations, building the chicken coop, and other types of work around here. But today, I could as easily borrow a truck from work if I needed to.

“It wouldn’t be that much if we traded in the truck,” I said. “Besides, gas will be a hell of a lot more if we head out on a camping trip in two cars.”

“True.”

When something nipped at my toes under the table, I pulled out my chair and extended my hand to the most recent addition to the family. Little Bandit was a fighter. I picked him up and was treated to puppy barking, a wagging tail, and kisses.

Funnily enough, it was Odin, my old Great Dane, who had in some way adopted this little one. When things got too rowdy, he would usher Bandit out of the way.

“You’re Daddy’s good boy, aren’t you?” I scrunched my face together when nose-nuzzling quickly turned into a potential trip to the hospital. Puppy teeth, man. “No, don’t bite my nose, you little shit.”

I was happy to feel he was gaining weight. He’d been a scrawny fella when he’d arrived.

My original plan had been to work less for a few weeks—and take advantage of Katie a whole lore more—to help Bandit adjust to his new home. Alas, Archie had saved the day, and the two were already thick as thieves.