Page 26 of Protecting Addison
Addison giggled. “Not joking. That’s really her name. Although she goes by Chrys.”
“Now I feel a little sorry for her,” Maggie said.
“Addy, pee!” Little Yana had approached when they were talking.
Addison started to stand, but Cheyenne shook her head and said, “I’ve got her.” She held out her hand to the girl and said, “I think I saw a cookie leftover. After you use the bathroom, maybe we can grab it before the guys can steal it.”
“Cookie!” Yana exclaimed happily, as she took Cheyenne’s hand.
Addison was surprised all over again at how trusting the little girl was. How well she’d taken to the strangers she’d met today. But right before she and Cheyenne disappeared inside, Yana looked over her shoulder, back toward where her brothers were playing. Artem paused to wave at her, letting her know everything was all right.
She was adjusting well, but some things—like relying on her brothers to keep her safe—were obviously deeply ingrained in her psyche. Which wasn’t a bad thing. The thought of how she would’ve felt if she’d been separated from them hurt Addison’s heart.
Two hours later, Yana was zonked out in Ricky’s arms in Caroline’s living room, and almost everyone had left the party except for Cheyenne, Dude, their daughter Taylor, and Addison and her family.
Her family.
Those two words were foreign, and yet they sounded so right in her head.
Artem and Borysko were at the table, having another snack. They could definitely pack in the food, but since they’d been deprived for so long and were active, growing boys, Addison wasn’t worried. She was sitting next to Ricky and Yana, while Caroline and Wolf were across from them on a love seat. Dude was in an oversized chair with Cheyenne draped across his lap. Ellory and Taylor were in the basement, watching a movie.
Addison was tired, but in the best way. The day had been better than she could’ve imagined. She’d been nervous and worried to meet Ricky’s people, but everyone was welcoming and so darn nice to both her and their kids. It felt as if she’d finally found what she’d been looking for her whole life. True friends.
“So…I don’t know about the rest of you, but I feel as if the day was successful,” Caroline said with a smile.
“It was perfect,” Wolf countered, leaning in to kiss his wife’s forehead. The obvious love the couple shared was beautiful.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Ricky said.
“Of course. The more the merrier. And I mean that. Ice and I may have made a conscious decision not to have kids, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love them and don’t love having them around. We just like being able to send them home too.”
They all chuckled.
“You guys good?” Wolf asked Ricky, sounding serious. “You need anything? Food? Clothes? Bedding?”
“We’re good. Thanks.”
“Any word on the adoption?” Cheyenne asked.
“Not yet. Tex got us emergency approval to be foster parents, but there are still a lot of hoops to jump through before we’ll be allowed to adopt. Visitations, psych evals, interviews with people at work, things like that,” Ricky said.
“Well, it’ll be fine,” Dude said firmly. “Anyone who’s around you all for more than a minute or two can tell that you’re meant to be together. Those kids are in good hands.”
“Thanks,” Ricky said. “On that note…before Artem and Borysko eat Wolf and Caroline out of house and home, we should probably get going.”
“Already?” Caroline said with a pout.
Addison couldn’t help but laugh. “We’ve been here for hours.”
“I know, but the house is going to be so quiet when you go. You know, if you wanted to have Ellory sleep over sometime…maybe when Taylor is here, since they’re getting along so well…we would love that.”
“That sounds awesome,” Dude said. “We could have the house to ourselves.” He raised and lowered his eyebrows suggestively at his wife.
Cheyenne smacked his arm but giggled.
“Really?” Addison loved the thought too. Her parents lived too far away for her daughter to have a close relationship with them. Ricky’s parents were closer, but she still wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable letting Ellory be a few hours away from her. Of course, it would be up to Ellory if she wanted to have a sleepover at Caroline’s house, but based on what she’d seen today, Addison was pretty sure her daughter would love it.
“Of course, really. She’s a doll.”
