Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

Quinn

"You boys quit eating my brisket!" Georgia yelled. Hearing the clatter of pans hitting the floor, and the speed Derrick and Tyler just ran out of the kitchen I'd wager she was throwing the pots at them. "And stay out!"

The two grown men, laughing like loons, headed straight for the front door. Both of them had a mouthful of brisket and a beer in hand. Some things in this family don't change. Every get together at least two of the men try to steal food before it's time to eat, there's at least one fight between the kids or the men and one dramatic incident.

One down, two to go.

"That's mine! I had the Grave Digger! You had the Blue Thunder! Give it back, Sawyer!" And there's two as the two small boys wrestle over the floor because of two hot wheels trucks.

They crashed into the building blocks, sending a third child into tears and moms rushing in to break up the ensuing chaos. Emma dealt with Sawyer and Blake easily calming the boys by holding out two new hot wheels still in their packaging.

"I want Raminator! He's awesome!" Sawyer's eyes gleamed when Emma handed over the truck.

"Maximum Destruction! He's the best! Thanks Emma!" Aiden tugged on her arm until Emma leaned down and accepted his kiss. Not to be outdone, Sawyer jumped up to do the same.

Breathing a sigh of relief that the disaster was avoided, she smiles going back to her seat by Hunter. The little ones with the building blocks had already begun building another tower that once erected would get ceremoniously knocked down.

"Good lord, what is all the screaming about?" Georgia comes out wiping her hands on a towel.

"The Grave Robber took on Blue Thunder." Sawyer informed her.

"Oh my! Should we run for cover?" Playing along with the game sends Aiden into a fit of giggles.

"Nah, The Raminator and Maximum Destruction broke up the battle. Everything is cool now." Sawyer shows off his newest find.

"Well, I know who to call the next time I'm in trouble." Georgia teases admiring Aiden's truck too.

"They're only toys, Grandma. They can't actually do anything." Aiden whispered like this was a big secret.

"Dad says you don't need someone to defend you cause you'll kick ass just fine on your own. But he'll be there to take pictures and watch the show." Sawyer repeats his father's words.

"Your Daddy is right. I'm capable of kicking ass all by myself but that doesn't mean that a gentleman doesn't step in to defend me." Georgia reminds him of his manners.

"Mama says you are the strongest smartest lady she knows. And you deserve respect. I'm always gonna defend you, Grandma. Cause you're special." Aiden sweetly brings his grandmother to tears.

For all her strength and toughness the woman has a soft heart for her family. "So are you, my darling boy. Both of you are very special boys."

Giving both boys kisses on their heads she whispers something to them then reaches into her apron pocket and pulls out two chocolate candies for them before she heads back to the kitchen.

Georgia refused to change her plans for tonight. Her Mayor election kick off party is going as planned. She said by backing down, by pulling out of the race, Lindsey will win. She refuses to let that happen.

The entire family has flown in to support her. Even Vivian and Alan have left their sanctuary of the vineyard in Napa to help rally the troops. Emma and Chelsea, Isabelle and Chloe are busy decorating the Inn. Brynn, Aubrey Paige and Georgia are in the kitchen cooking up a feast.

Blake and Matt, Cade and Lance and arranging a football match at the park this afternoon. Tess and Grace are herding the little ones that are running around the Inn. Everyone is busy. I feel very out of place.

I'm not a cook. I don't play football. The one place I can help is with the kids. Which is probably best. Hope has been clingy since the hospital last week. I think it scared her. It scared me. Since getting my stomach pumped we have moved out of Georgia's home and back into Inn.

Safety first.

Leo, not fond of the idea, agreed only with the stipulation that he joined us. I couldn't refuse him. So with us back on the third floor we were home.

Sitting in the library, Bri and Hunter are coloring at the coffee table with Isabelle. Aiden is playing with his hot wheels with Sawyer Emma. Harper is smashing his blocks on the floor, Emery is in a bouncer as is Colby with Chelsea. Landon and Wyatt are fighting over Buzz and Woody, Roan is in the corner drawing quietly and Sarah is somehow sleeping through all the noise in Chloe's arms. This is my family or part of it. The rest aren't here yet.

"Hey! There are my girls!" Leo walks in and Hope, who was almost asleep on my shoulder, perks right up to reach for her favorite guy in the world.

"She needs a nap." I warn him as Leo scoops Hope out of my arms.

"I think her mama needs one too. It's busy in here." He grins looking around the room at all the little ones doing their own things. "And loud. How is Sarah sleeping through this?"

"Baby's can sleep through pretty much anything." Jake informed us as he took a soda from the ice chest. "You should see us at Georgia's at Christmas. It's fucking nuts!"

"Language, Jake!" Grace scolded him from across the room.

"What do we do with the kiddos during the party?" Leo began rocking side to side as Hope settled her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"They're with us. Georgia is about family. Family values, family relationships, family matters. That's her platform. She's about family and friends coming together in the community and helping each other, celebrating each other. She won't do this without her family by her side." Cade explained.

"And when Lindsey strikes again? Because you know she will. And this, all these kids and the women who are important to Georgia being so accessible, Lindsey won't be able to help herself." Leo points out the obvious that everyone has avoided talking about.

"She'll be dealing with more than she can handle. No one goes off alone. That has been drilled into everyone. The buddy system every second even to the bathroom." Cade continues. "We've been through plenty over the last several years. We know how to do this. Lindsey doesn't know what she started when she chose to take on this family."

I hope he's right. I've seen Lindsey get away with too much lately. And it seems she's only getting bolder.

With Hope sound asleep, Leo passes her back to me. Giving me a kiss on the forehead, he heads back out to recruit more people for the football game.

Cade goes over to Isabelle and I watch them for a moment. He's always so serious. He's a lawyer and has taken over his father's position at Bradford Drake. When he is with Isabelle he's different. There's a gentleness to him, an innate kindness that he reserves just for her and his children. It's nice to see that a man has that capability and still be strong enough to protect them.

"He reminds me of Leo." Turning I find Paige next to me. "They're a lot alike, Cade and Leo. Both strong, tough guys who don't back down or take any crap from anyone. But when they find that person who fills his soul, who just fits, he is the gentlest, kindest, most loving man for her and the children they have. You are a very lucky lady, Quinn."

Thinking about her description of Leo, I have to agree with her. He is all of that and more. "Can I give you some advice from an old lady who has seen more broken hearts than she likes to admit."

"Of course." I don't see Paige as old at all.

"Set the date. Marry that boy and cherish him every day. You got yourself a real prince, so did Aubrey and Brynn. There's a lot of women out there who take that for granted. Don't be one of them. Set the date and marry him." She repeated her words.

"March. The end of March. I want spring. New life, flowers and the green." Telling her this a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

"Tell him that." She squeezes my shoulder in a one arm hug.

"Paige, can I tell you something I haven't told anyone else?" I'm scared especially after what just happened.

"Of course you can. Cross my heart I won't tell a soul." She made a cross over her heart with her finger and mimmed locking her mouth shut.

"I'm pregnant. I had the doctor check me out when I went to the hospital last week. We're okay. That's why I didn't think about being so sick. I thought it was just morning sickness that lasted all day and night." I explained, detailing what the doctor said to me at the hospital and that the baby was just fine.

"So Lindsey really was hurting you and your baby. Honey I'm glad you're okay but you have to tell Leo and you have to tell the family. They need to know. And they need to protect you." Paige insists on this and I know she's right. I've been trying for a week to figure out how to tell them the news.

"Would you mind watching Hope for me?" It's now or never.

"I thought you'd never ask. I need practice for Aubrey's baby. And I know you have Georgia but you can never have enough mamas to babysit for you." Paige grinned during the gentle handoff.

Hope didn't make a peep as she settled into Paige's arms. "I won't be long."

"Take your time, honey. We're just fine." Sitting on the couch, Paige smiles at Hunter as she climbs up to snuggle with Hope too.

Taking the moment, I went outside and saw all the men at the park. Just like they did at Thanksgiving, they included people from Moss Bluff on their teams, not that there aren't enough Bradford's and Drake's to make two teams, but they alternated playing together and made sure everyone was included.

Going over to the sideline, I went straight to my brother. "Hey kid! Where's Hope? Tackle him, Ethan!"

"She's with Paige. Can you switch with Leo for a minute? I need to talk to him." His head jerks around to look at me. Giving me his full attention now.

The overly concerned brother is now in front of me. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I'm fine. Hope is fine. I just need to talk to him. Please?" He isn't going to know this before Leo. I told Paige because she's like a mom to me like Georgia is. But I want to surprise Georgia and Leo needs to hear this first.

"Okay." There's a hesitation in his voice but he calls out to Leo and runs out to the playing field. "Quinn wants you. It sounds serious."

Leo looks over, a deep frown on his face before he jogs over to me. Grabbing a towel and a bottle of water he comes to me wiping the sweat from his face.

"What happened? Are you okay? Hope? Is she okay?" He asks without giving me a second to speak.

"Come on. Walk with me. This is between us." Taking his hand I pull Leo away from everyone else.

"Okay. Quinn, you're starting to worry me." I led him away in silence, over to the gazebo where it was just us. "Quinn? What's going on?"

"Spring." The confusion on his face made me laugh. "I want us to get married at the end of March."

"You want... spring? Really?" The slow smile came to his lips and went straight into his eyes. "I can do spring."

"Are you okay if I gain weight? Like about this much?" Rounding my arms in front of my belly, I bit my lip wondering if he would catch on.

"I care what you weigh, Quinn. I love you." He starts to reach for me but I put my hand on his chest stopping him.

"No, you don't understand. It wouldn't be permanent weight. Just for six months or so. Just until May." He frowns at me like he isn't understanding me. The wheels turn in his head, I can see him thinking it over, calculating the time, wondering about it then it hits him.

"You?... Are you? Are we?" The fact he can't complete his sentence tells me he figured it out.

"Yes. Are you okay with this? The last time I was pregnant it didn't go so well. I'm really hoping this goes better. But you're starting to freak me out, Leo. You don't seem like you're..." I couldn't finish my sentence.

His mouth crashed down to mine and ended the questions and worry. I shouldn't have worried. Leo is nothing like Fitz. He loves us. Having a baby, getting married to him it's exactly what both of us want.

Lifting me off my feet, Leo spins me around in a circle. My laughter giggles out and he holds me tight. "March sounds awesome and May? Perfect. We're having a baby?"

"That's what the doctor said last week." His expression changed immediately remembering our visit to the hospital and why we were there. "We're fine. I told the doctor that I suspected I was pregnant but hadn't gotten tested yet. He ran the test before they pumped my stomach. Everything is okay. The baby is fine. I'm fine. We're okay."

"Does Georgia know? Beckett?"

"No. Paige, she's watching Hope. She was talking to me and I had to tell you now. I don't know why but it was important that you know now." And something felt off, wrong. As if a dark cloud was hanging over us.

"We should go in. Tell Georgia and the others. Come on." Taking my hand and kissing it, we no sooner stepped away from the gazebo when there was a loud BOOM!

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