Page 48 of Get A Fix

“Thank you,” he said, smiling at her.

Apparently, they had brought the kids their meals early, so we got to eat with Ainsley and Jeff—after Ash cut up my chicken filet into manageable bites—share some wine, watch Taylor sleep, see the boys go pick their desserts from the table, and listen to Gemma snore. She was passed out on my shoulder.

“I have never seen her take to anyone like she has to you,” Ainsley told me. “I was shocked when you said you didn’t have kids of your own, but knowing now how many nieces and nephews you have, it makes sense.”

“How many do you have?” Ash asked me.

I told him about my sisters and their kids and how I was the baby whisperer.

“Really?”

“He is,” Jeff assured him and then explained how he and Ainsley had been separated and how she didn’t even have her stroller when she landed. “I wasn’t there to see the saving, but I heard it was epic.”

I really liked the way Ash was looking at me; it flushed my whole body with heat.

“I would still be crying on the floor if Cooper hadn’t been there.”

“Well,” Ash said, “I suspect he enjoyed spending time with you and your family as well.”

“I did,” I said, smiling at her. “It was a good start to the day.”

She shook her head. “You’re insane, but in a wonderful way.”

Ainsley and Ash figured out how they were related. She was the daughter of Coleman’s fifth wife, Judith, which made them half-siblings.

“I’m very excited to be related to you,” she told him. “Expect us for the holidays from now on.”

“I think that might be a lot of fun,” he assured her.

“Oh, you’re very charming,” she said with a sigh.

“Was your mother invited?” I asked her.

“She was, but she had no intention of coming,” she said, chuckling. “She has no desire to see any of the other wives, and more than anything, she didn’t want to see my grandmother.”

“Not a fan of Sophia?” Ash asked innocently. “But whyever not?”

I enjoyed seeing her wicked grin and gleaming eyes. “My mother hates my grandmother, and I can’t blame her. My mom doesn’t come from money, and that was always a sticking point. She was always made to feel less than.”

“Well, at least you’re legitimate,” Ash pointed out.

“I dunno if that’s such a great thing in this family, though I do appreciate knowing that should Joey or Timothy want to, there’s money for college, and if not, money to help fund whatever their dream happens to be a few years later. That way we only need to save for Gemma and Taylor.”

“Actually, I signed off on Taylor’s trust just a couple of weeks ago,” Ash said. “And Gemma has one too.”

She appeared startled. “What?”

“What?” he repeated.

“No, you did not.”

“Yes, I did,” he said, looking at her oddly. “Coleman Walder’s blood runs through their veins, he was their grandfather, so yeah, they get a trust fund.”

“Are you—are you kidding?”

“Why would I kid about that?”

“I just, I was told that only the first two kids are given trusts. We were informed of that in writing,” she said, turning to Jeff, then back to Ash. “I remember getting the letter right after the paperwork for Timothy’s trust came in the mail.”