Reid glanced away, trying not to laugh.
I looked at AJ and Brock. It was like staring into my own face. The hair, their hazel eyes, even their stubborn jaws and the shape and size of their bodies. I could tell them apart because they were my sons, although on occasion, even I messed up. But Brock had a little scar over his left eyebrow from a tumble when he was three, so that was the best way to make sure. Right now, they looked uncertain and worried.
“You get time with Reid. Time with your computers. You are also going to help me on the grounds. You’re going to stop the antics and the escaping. Or, as I told you last night—it all goes. No more computers, no more anything with Reid. You’ll go to summer school.”
They looked horrified. Nothing was worse to them than being in a classroom.
“It’s your choice.”
Reid nodded. “I agree with your dad. I love teaching you boys, but if you’re only causing trouble with the stuff I show you, I’ll stop.”
They nodded in unison. “We’ll do it.”
Reid narrowed his eyes. “If you lie, I’ll figure it out. You play me, it’s done.”
“No, we’ll do it!” AJ said. “Promise.”
“Yeah, Dad. We’re sorry. We’ll do better,” Brock begged. “Honest. We just get bored.”
Reid laughed under his breath. “Not anymore.”
I returned to the house and headed to the kitchen. Paige and Lucy were at the table, drinking coffee. I poured a cup and sat down, rubbing my face.
Lucy grinned. “The boys with their new master?”
I had to chuckle. “Reid wanted to talk to them in private.” I took a sip of the hot brew, enjoying the intense flavor. “He’s been dying to spend more time with them. Now’s his chance.”
Paige smiled. “You were pretty stern.”
Lucy grinned, her smile as wide and bright as it was the day I met her. “Still thrilled to have sons, Daddy?”
I had to laugh. They teased me about it all the time.
“I should have stopped at you girls,” I admitted. “You were far easier.”
Beth and Ronan had two children, Paul had two, and Jeremy had one. On days like today, they seemed the sensible group.
I looked at Paige. “Why’d we have so many kids anyway?”
She laughed as she stood to get more coffee. She stopped by my chair, leaning close. “I think your cock had a lot to do with it, Liam darling,” she whispered in my ear.
“Hmm,” I murmured, grabbing her and kissing her. “I think you were part of the problem. Always too damn sexy.”
Lucy groaned. “Can the two of you not? Please?” she asked, but there was another smile on her face.
I let Paige go and focused on Lucy. She looked pretty and polished—grown-up. I still wasn’t sure how that happened so quickly. She looked like Paige, although she was a little taller. She was sweet and funny and incredibly smart. I was very proud of her—we both were. She tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear with her hand, her prosthesis now simply an extension of herself. She had come so far. She was studying to be a children’s psychologist. She was going to be a great one.
“Summer classes today?”
She nodded. “I only have two, Daddy. I like school.”
I loved the fact that she still called me Daddy, not Dad. All the girls did, but the boys preferred Dad. I also loved the fact that she chose to live at home while going to school.
She stood and dropped a kiss to my head. “I’ll see you later. We’re still doing movie night, even if the boys are in trouble, right?”
“Yeah, we are.”
She passed Erin on the way out of the kitchen. My little bee hadn’t changed much, except now she was a little taller but still tiny. She was the quiet one, she preferred plants to people, and me to everyone else.
Dressed in overalls, with her dark hair in pigtails, she was adorable as she bent and kissed my cheek. “I just need some breakfast, Daddy, then we can head out. I’m so excited to start!”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm.
Her future was set. The earth and flowers were what she loved the most, and there was no doubt who would be taking over Branching Outward one day. She knew more about plants and landscaping than I did. She had a hive of bees on the edge of the property and spent hours with her little namesakes. She kept everyone in delicious honey and beeswax candles that she loved to make with Paige.
Today, we were creating a new garden at Ava’s. Erin had designed the entire thing, and we would begin the process this morning.
“Where’s Shannon?” I asked. “I thought she said she wanted to help.”
Erin chuckled. “She will—later. She’s still sleeping.” She met my eyes with a grin. “You know she’s not a morning person.”
Paige laughed as she sat beside me, sliding a plate of toasted bagels on the table. “If it were an Olympic sport, she’d get a gold medal.”
She did love to sleep—always had. As she was still a teenager, it seemed to be her favorite thing. That and hanging with her friends on the beach. But she was a good kid, did well in school, and still loved to spend time with us once in a while. I was good with that.
None of the girls had ever given us any trouble.
Our sons made up for it.
Paige touched my face, bringing me back from my musings.
“The boys will be fine.”
I smiled and captured her hand, holding it to my face. She always knew what I was thinking.
“Reid will keep them busy,” I agreed. “Dad had given him a heads-up, and I think he had some plans.”
She nodded. “I’m sure he does.”
Eight years later, I watched my boys walk across the stage and accept their diplomas. Tall, handsome, and broad, they stood head and shoulders above most of their classmates. They were easier to tell apart these days. AJ wore his hair longer and liked pants and polo shirts. Brock kept his hair short and was constantly in jeans and T-shirts.
They’d changed after a summer of Reid’s tutelage. They were still a handful, but they were focused—at least as focused as nine-year-olds could be. The boys were still mischievous, and I was certain a lot of the pranks at school could be traced back to them, but they were better at not getting caught. They kept me on my toes, and I had to admit, they kept me laughing. Ronan got them into working out as well, which helped channel some of their restless energy.
They were planning on opening up their own company. No university for them. Reid was behind them, saying they had surpassed him in their expertise with computers. AJ could write programs that boggled my mind. Brock could build a computer that made my head spin with its capabilities. I could only imagine their future.
I slipped my arm around Paige and tucked her close. Beside her, our daughters watched their younger brothers with wide grins. My parents beamed with pleasure.
The boys had grown and matured, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Brock and AJ stood tall, both wearing the same shit-eating grin as they looked over the crowd. The back of my neck tingled, recognizing those matching troublemaking expressions. I met my dad’s gaze over the girls’ heads, both of us knowing something was up. I noticed AJ slip his hand inside his robe, and then it happened.