Page 65 of Slap Shot Surprise
Do your brothers still want to murder me in my sleep?
Austin has actually stopped growling when your name comes up. Progress!
I’ll take it.
At Vivian’s party that weekend, Austin came over and sat down next to me on the couch.
“How are you?” he asked. “Everything going well?”
“Yes. The dizziness has subsided. The morning sickness went away. And I have a little more energy.”
“That’s good.” He folded his arms. “I wanted to ask you if you’ve bought a crib yet.”
“A crib?”
“Yeah.” He cocked a brow. “You know, where your baby will sleep?”
I laughed and slapped his arm. “I know what a crib is. But no, I haven’t bought one. I’m going to turn the second bedroom at my house into the baby’s room at some point, but I have to get my desk and bookshelves and office stuff out of there first, then get the walls painted. Why do you ask?”
“I thought I’d make you one.”
My jaw dropped, and tears welled in my eyes. My oldest brother made gorgeous furniture out of reclaimed wood, mostly dining sets, but he could do anything. His work was featured in design magazines and showcased in high-endgalleries throughout the Midwest. He had a waiting list a mile long. “Oh, Austin. Really?”
“Yes. We just need to talk about what kind of wood you’d like.”
“I’d love that so much.”
“When you’re ready, I’ll come over and help you clean out that room. Don’t move any furniture on your own. And don’t paint it by yourself either. You shouldn’t be around the paint fumes.”
“Okay.” Slipping my arms through his, I tipped my head against his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said gruffly. “I’m happy to do it. But you know, it shouldn’thaveto be me.”
“Austin, be fair—he doesn’t live here.”
He grumbled under his breath.
“And he’s being so generous. Did I tell you he sends me enough every month to pay my mortgage plus my car payment plus utilities and my health care premium?”
“No.”
“Well, he does.”
“Is he going to move up here when the season is over? At least for the summer?” Austin wasn’t giving Joe an inch.
“We haven’t gotten that far,” I admitted. “But I’m not asking him to.”
“He shouldwantto. You’re going to need help. A baby is a lot of work, trust me. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I’ll be fine. Look, I know you’re my big brother and you’re protective of me, but ease up on him a little, okay? He’s in the NHL. It’s not like he’s a mechanic or lawyer or something and could work anywhere. He has to live where he’s contracted to play. But he’s going to be here as much as he can. He promised he won’t let me down.”
Austin harrumphed, jerking his chin. “He better not. Or he’ll have to answer to me.”
I smiled. “Believe me, he would like to avoid that.”
At the end of October, Kelly gave birth to a third daughter she and Xander named Dakota Mae. I went to visit them a few days after they got home from the hospital and found Xander in the kitchen, tiny Dakota nestled in the crook of one arm as he rooted around for something in the fridge.
“Here, let me take her,” I said, quickly washing my hands at the sink before reaching for the sleeping baby.
