“Okay.” She grins. “I’ll call Jules, and she and I will just gang up on you.”

“I will tell the doctor to keep you here another day.”

“You’re mean!” she exclaims.

I laugh and lean in to kiss her cheek. “Don’t forget it.”

She cups my face in her hand and says quietly, “I love you, and I’m a good listener if you need one.”

I smile gently and kiss her cheek one more time before pulling away. “I love you, too. Thank you. You just work on feeling well and cooking that boy in there, and I’ll be happy.”

“He’s cooking,” she replies and rubs her hands over her belly.

“How are you, man?” I ask Luke. He looks tired, sitting with his laptop on his lap, keeping an eye on his wife.

“Better now that she’s on the mend and the baby is safe,” he replies. “I think we’re both looking forward to going home.”

“He’s going to make me rest.” Nat pouts. “And no more photography until after the baby’s born.”

“You Nazi,” I exclaim in outrage, making Natalie laugh. “How dare you take proper care of your wife?”

“I know, I’m evil.”

I laugh as I back toward the door. “I love you. Rest.” I give her the stink eye. “I’ll look in on you in a couple days.”

“Yes, detective.” She waves and giggles as I leave and almost bump right into my mother.

“Hi, Mom.” I give her a big hug.

“Hi, darling.” She pulls back and smiles up at me and then sobers. “Oh, we need to talk.” She turns and walks with me down the hallway to the waiting room.

“I thought you were here to see Nat.”

“I’ll see her after you and I talk.”

“What are we talking about?”

“Don’t be a shit,” she scolds me and sits in one of the plastic chairs, motioning for me to sit opposite her. “Now, tell me what happened.”

I frown at her and then laugh, looking up at the ceiling. “Am I seriously having this conversation with my mom?”

“You are,” she confirms. “Come on, I know something is up. Of all of my children, you’ve always been the hardest to read.” She rests her chin on her hand and watches me for a moment. “So sober. So serious. But it’s when your eyes look sad that give you away. You had that look when Asher’s wife died. When Brynna and the girls were hurt. Let me help.”

I clear my throat and am shocked when the whole story begins to flow, minus the Shibari, of course.

“So, she’s decided that because she can’t have kids, and she thinks that I deserve to have kids, that she’s not the right person for me.”

“Did you point out to her that there are several different ways to add children to your family?” Mom asks, tapping her chin with her finger, deep in thought.

“No, I was too surprised, and admittedly pissed, to bring that up.”

Mom nods and sits back in her seat with a sigh. “I’m sorry about her health concerns.”

“She manages them well.” I shrug. “She’s not on medication, and she takes good care of herself. She’s actually quite healthy.”

“Good.” Mom grins, her eyes shining. “And you love her.”

“Against my better judgment today, yes.” I laugh again and rub my hands together. “She challenges me. She’s funny and smart, and it’s easy to be with her. She knows things about me that no one else in the world knows and…”

“And she loves you anyway,” Mom finishes softly.

“Yeah.”

“It sounds to me like she’s a bit scared, son. It sounds like this relationship is still young, and happened quickly. Falling hard and fast is exhilarating and scary all at the same time.”

I nod again, and then she hits me with, “Do you think Nicole wants children?”

I think back to how great she was with Casey, with Maddie and Josie, and how naturally she snuggled Olivia in her arms and rocked her back and forth.

“She’d be an awesome mom,” I respond softly.

“You know, it can’t be easy for a woman who believes she’s infertile to spend a lot of time around pregnant women and couples with children. I’m not saying she doesn’t enjoy being around the whole gang, but it might have played with her emotions a bit, too. Each time she sees Nat, Jules and Brynna and their men hovering over them, it’s a reminder that she might never have that.” She leans in closer and takes my hand. “And it’s a reminder that she might not be able to give that to you.”

“Shit,” I whisper.

“Indeed.” Mom kisses my cheek and stands. “She’ll come around.”

“I hope you’re right, because the thought of being without her leaves me hollow.”

“Oh, darling, that’s wonderful.” She laughs when I frown at her in frustration. “It means it’s real.”

“Oh, it’s real all right.”

“Give her a little time to talk to her friends and miss you a bit.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“That’s what I’m here for, dear.” She winks and leaves me to go check in on Natalie, the daughter who didn’t come from her body but couldn’t be more hers if they shared the same bloodline.

Chapter Eighteen

Two weeks later

~Nic~

“Thanks for your help today, Tess.” I grin at the young woman as she gathers her purse to leave for the day.

“My pleasure, as always, boss,” she replies with a happy smile. “No wine with Bailey today?”

I shrug and shake my head as though it’s no big deal. I just can’t face her, or anyone really, right now.

“All you’ve done for the past two weeks is hole up in this shop and then sit at home,” Tess points out with a frown. “You’re starting to wig me out.”

“I’m fine,” I reply, irritated. “Have a good evening.”

“You, too.” She sighs dejectedly.

I follow her to the front door to lock it behind her, but just as Tess leaves, Gail Montgomery approaches, smiling warmly, dressed in casual denim capris and an orange T-shirt.

“Hi, Mrs. Montgomery.” Good God, what is she doing here?

“Hello, dear. I know you’re about to close. I was hoping for a moment of your time. Privately.”

“Of course.” I raise a brow and motion for her to come inside and lock the door behind her. “Have a seat.”