Page 102 of Night Prey
“I should probably warn Londyn.”
“I would if I were you.”
They sat in silence for some time, just watching the family interact. Malone’s heart overflowed with the happiness in her brother’s life. He loved being a dad and being married to the amazing Sierra. God had given him his dream, even though Reed hadn’t known that a familywashis dream.
God could be doing the same thing for Ian. Maybe next year at this time, they would be married.
Four-year-old Karlie came out of the kitchen and marched across the room, her adorable focus pointed their way. She tossed back her blond pigtails and fixed her big blue eyes on Ian. “I’m Karlie, and Nana said you were new here, so I’m s’posed to take you to the table.” She tilted her head. “It’s my ’sponsibility today. I’m almost five. How old are you?”
Surprise flashed on Ian’s face. “Thirty-three.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow! You won’t take my drumstick, right? The big kids say they get to have it, but Nana says it’s for me. She didn’t tell me if the old people would want it.”
Ian held up a hand. “I promise not to touch it.”
Karlie looked at Malone. “You promise too?”
Malone gave a serious nod. “We’ll stay far away from it.”
“We’re going to have pie too. Punkin with whip cream. I helped whip it. Nana says I’m going to be a good cook like her. I love Nana and want to be just like her when I grow up.” She lifted her arms above her head and stood on her tip-toes. “Then I’ll be this big.”
Her expression turned serious, and her arms fell to her sides. “Nana wants you to find your places first ’cause you’re new. But don’t be afraid. I love all of my new family. Even if we keep getting new people. They’re nice, and I love them. I’ll love you, too, soon as I know you. C’mon.” She spun and skipped across the room.
“Please tell me I don’t have to skip,” Ian whispered to Malone.
She laughed. “That child is destined to have a job that involves public speaking and diplomacy.”
Ian took Malone’s hand, and they crossed the room. Karlie skipped over to Brendan and grabbed his hand.
He smiled at her and ruffled her hair. “What are you up to, little bit?”
“Nana told me to bring them to dinner.” She pointed at Malone and Ian, then fixed her big eyes on Brendan. “He’s old, Daddy. Your age. That’sreallyold, right?”
Ian snorted and looked like he was struggling to curtail a laugh.
“It is.” Brendan chuckled.
Karlie turned her focus on Malone and Ian again. “He’s my new daddy. He married Mommy. I love him too. Lots and lots.”
Brendan scooped her up in his arms and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I love you, too, little bit.”
She cupped the sides of his face and kissed him back. “He’s the best daddy. Even when he has to punish me ’cause I did something wrong. But I try not to. Sometimes it just happens.”
Brendan opened his mouth to say something, but Peggy entered the room carrying a golden brown turkey on a large white platter. “Okay, everyone. Let’s get seated. Just look for your name card on the turkeys the children and I made.”
Karlie squirmed down. “We get our own table with the turkeys we made from leaves. Not the ones from outside. Nana said those would be dirty, so she bought leaves from the store. They look real. I like them.”
She bolted toward the card table set up with four place settings on an autumn tablecloth and colorful gourds in the center. Each setting had a small turkey with leaves for the plumage, an acorn head with googly eyes, and a walnut body. They held small name cards. A few other touches with felt and ribbon made them look very realistic. At least the ones at the grownup table did. The kids’ turkeys were much more free-formed.
The Byrds’ three foster children scurried from the kitchen and took their seats too. Eight-year-old Willow helped two-year-old Sadie into a booster seat. Their brother Logan took a seat between them and Karlie. He was about the same age as Karlie, and Peggy had once said they were great friends. Malone smiled at how happy the Gentry children looked. She’d had a part in getting them away from their dysfunctional parents and bringing them together with the Byrd family a few months before.
Thank You. What a blessed day that was. And thank You for Peggy’s and Russ’s big hearts for these children.
Brendan looked at the kids’ table. “Our little chatterbox loves just about everything and expresses her love very vocally. I only wish kids came with a user manual. I’m either winging it, asking my wife, Jenna, or calling my mom. But I guess I’m doing okay. Karlie’s been with me for nearly a year, and I haven’t broken her yet, so there’s hope for me. Might even mean we’re ready for another one.”
Jenna came up from behind him and slid under his arm. “Another one of what?”
Brendan secured his arm around her shoulder. “I was just saying we might be ready for another child.”
