Page 97 of Derecho

“Oh, yeah. You gotta get in line though, bro. Happily-ever-after-less Hayes and No-Girlfriend Nate. What a sad team we make.”

Reid started to fuss, and I closed my eyes. Twenty-eight minutes. It’d been just twenty-eight minutes since I fed him. Thankfully, I’d had enough time to sit at the table and eat my own meal, feeling lighter than before as I listened to all the conversations going on. Juniper and Connor were sitting next to each other, Birdie and Violet laughing every time one baby reached over for food on the other’s tray.

But here my son was, rooting once again against my chest. My boobs ached, and his whimper was all it took for a letdown to start. I felt like I was going to throw up.

The table had gone quiet, all eyes pressing hard on me. Everyone in this room knew I was struggling. My skin crawled from the weight of that knowledge. They want to help you. Just let them help.

Lach’s chair scraped next to mine as he pushed back to stand. Before I could say a word, he pressed a kiss to my temple and scooped the baby out of my arms.

“Come on, son. Let’s give your mama a break. What do you say?”

If I thought the room was still before, every molecule of oxygen felt frozen in the air after what he’d just said. Because Lachlan had just done something wild and wonderful, and I didn’t know it was possible, but I fell even more in love with him in that moment.

He winked at me, his free hand running across my back until it reached out to grab his cane. He was calmly claiming my son as his own. If his family had any negative thoughts about it, they didn’t say them out loud. But as I looked around the room, I saw that same love that was so clear in Lachlan’s eyes every time he looked at me…or Reid…reflected in each of the Ford’s eyes. Even Jessie, who I was still walking on eggshells with, had a glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes watching Lachlan hold Reid as he rocked him back and forth.

“Why don’t you give him to me, honey? Take Lainey out for some fresh air?” Dolly smiled at me as she stood up from the table. “Would that be alright, sugar?”

I sighed. “That would be great, Dolly. Thank you.”

“His formula is in the diaper bag. We won’t be long⁠—”

“You just go right ahead and make sure Lainey’s okay. We’ve got it from here. Take as long as you both need.” Dolly winked, Lachlan’s ears turning bright red as his brothers all snickered. “We’ll bring him home and sit with him if you need some extra time.”

“I feel like I’m missing something…” I said as we walked out the front door.

“Nope. We’re just taking a walk. You doing okay?”

I shook my head. “I think I’m ready to stop nursing Reid.” I planted my feet in place as soon as we landed on the dirt at the bottom of the stairs.

“Whatever you want to do, sweetheart, I support. You know I love getting to feed him, and I hate seeing you in pain.” His fingers swept over my cheek.

“Am I being selfish? I could push through…”

“Reid deserves a happy, healthy mom, Lainey. And more than that, you deserve to be healthy and happy. He’s going to be just fine on formula, and it’s going to make you feel so much better. There’s nothing…nothing…wrong with that.”

I nodded, slipping my hand back into his. We walked silently around the house, and down the path towards the barns.

At first, I thought Lach was taking me to the main one. My stomach flipped, remembering what had happened to my sister there.

“I don’t think I can go in,” I said, clearing my throat.

“I know. I wouldn’t take you in there. Beau’s been talking about tearing it down, building a new barn in a different spot.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

I shuddered as we walked past it, down a winding little path I’d never been on before. Not that my knowledge of the ranch was all that extensive, but by the time another building came into view, the main house felt miles away. My heart jumped into my throat as Lachlan’s hand wrapped around mine. We stepped into the smaller barn, my breath leaving in an instant.

“What? What is all this?”

This barn didn’t look like a working barn. The floor was swept clean, the tables I’d expected to see covered in tools, gloves, and feed were all cleaned up and covered in flowers. Old fashioned Edison bulbs were hanging from the rafters, and George Strait was playing on a small radio in the corner opposite of us, surrounded by lots and lots of candles. Flameless candles.

A sly smile filled Lachlan’s face. “You told me you were sad you’d never be able to go out two-stepping again now that Reid is here. I can’t…I’m not ready to go into town for something like that. I might never be, Trouble, unless it’s to make sure your stubborn, gorgeous ass is safe.”

“I’m perfectly capable⁠—”

Lachlan’s laugh filled the whole barn. I swear I hadn’t seen him smile that big since Reid was born, and it made my heart melt. “Goddamn. You’re really going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, aren’t you?”

“I fear I know no other way to be, but exactly how I am. Are you saying you plan on dealing with me for that long?”