Page 34 (1/2)

Jess murmured and stroked Tucker’s cheek His eyes opened

“Whoa He’s lookin’ at ht he’d be”

“Heya, buddy Welcoood, Mama He’s perfect And so little”

She snorted “He didn’t feel little when I was tryin’ to push him out”

Tell chuckled

“Do you wanna hold hionna mess with him”

Jessie frowned

“Has Dalton been by yet?”

“He’s on his way Now that Tell’s here to keep you coonna fill out that paperwork” Brandt softly closed the door behind hi all right?”

“No Brandt… He…” She shook her head “This is gonna sound stupid, but I don’t think he likes Tucker”

“Why would you say that?”

“Brandt was great during the delivery He stayed right besideat him”

“Really?”

“Yeah It didn’t faze hih the next contraction After I delivered Tucker and it was just the three of us alone in the room, Brandt was so quiet When I finally made him hold his son, he just looked at Tucker like I’d handed hi to slap his stupid fking brother right upside the head when he got him alone

“What if he didn’t really want this baby? What if Brandt just said he did to rets it—”

“Hey” Tell wrapped his hands around Jessie’s face, wiping away her tears “I proet it outta your head, right now, Jess, that he doesn’t love this kid”

Silence

Then Tucker squirrunted and hed

Three knocks and the door swung open

Keely McKay Donohue sauntered in, holding a shiny blue bag covered in rocking horses “Thank God that baby is finally here” She hugged Tell and then hip-checked hi in on his spot

He knew Keely would stick around awhile and he considered tracking down his shit-for-brains older brother But he opted to stay in case Keely needed encouragement to leave because Jess was too nice to point her toward the door