Carrie Nichols - His Unexpected Twins

Craig pulled out another nail. “That would be awesome. Thanks.”

Liam nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll talk to some of the guys.”

“Miss Ellie says you’re in Boston.” Craig scrunched up his face. “How come?”

Liam took the nail. “That where I live, and my dad and his dad before him were on the Boston Fire Department. That’s why I joined up.”

“My dad’s a lawyer. Is your dad still a fireman?”

“No, he’s retired.” Even after several years, it still felt weird to say that. Liam always thought Mac would be one of those guys who stayed until they carried him out the door. Had his dad let Doris talk him into retirement? He liked his dad’s new wife. It had been awkward at first, seeing him with someone other than his mom, but now he was glad they’d found happiness together.

“What about your mom? Can you ask her? Maybe she can talk to mine and tell her it’s okay.”

Liam shook his head and swallowed. “I’m afraid not, buddy. My mom died.”

“Cancer?”

“Yeah.”

The boy nodded, looking much older than he should have. “That’s a—” He broke off and glanced around. “That sucks.”

“It does.” Liam bit back a laugh. What had the kid been about to say? He caught that because he’d had to watch his language around his niece, Fiona.

“But Miss Ellie says you can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.”

* * *

Liam began cleaning up after Craig left. He’d have to track down some of the guys at the Loon Lake station and see if they could arrange something for Craig. Maybe even something for the boy’s mom to set her mind at ease. Ellie had said how she’d had to fight her parents’ need to smother and hover even after she’d been in remission for the golden five-year mark. Her words, as repeated by Craig, kept coming back to him. You can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.

“I wanted to thank you for pitching in.” A deep voice behind him caught Liam’s attention.

He turned to Brody Wilson. “Hey, man, no problem. Glad to help.”

Brody chuckled. “And earning Ellie’s gratitude probably doesn’t hurt, either.”

Liam couldn’t deny he liked putting that light in Ellie’s golden eyes. “Looks like you have your hands full.” Liam tipped his chin toward the curly-haired toddler chasing another boy around under Mary’s watchful eye. Earlier, Brody had been chasing after his active son.

“Yeah, Elliott’s a handful. When he’s not sleeping, he’s full speed ahead. He has no neutral.” Brody’s love and pride were evident in his voice and the expression on his face as he watched his son.

Liam knew from Ellie that Brody had adopted Mary’s young son from her previous relationship with his half brother, Roger, who had wanted nothing to do with the baby. Elliott may have been rejected by his biological father, but Brody’s love for the boy was obvious. “He’s got lots of space to work off that energy. Meg tells me you’ve got a lot going on out at your farm. Some sort of camp for foster kids to come and enjoy fresh air and animals.”

Brody laughed. “Yeah, believe it or not, I had picked that particular place thinking I wanted quiet and isolation.”

Liam didn’t know much about Brody except what he’d heard from Meg or Ellie. But the guy had been through some nasty stuff during his time in the army, so his wanting someplace to nurse wounds, even the unseen kind, was understandable. “Funny how that sometimes works. What happened?”

“Mary and Elliott happened.” Brody’s expression went all soft. “I know it sounds corny, but they made me want to do what I could to make this a better world.”

Brody had that same look Riley got when he talked about Meg. Ha, maybe it was something in the Loon Lake water. “And so you started the camp?”

“Camp Life Launch started as Mary’s idea, but I guess you could say I took it and ran with it. Some of the guys I served with in the army are pitching in and we’ve even talked about doing something for returning veterans who might want to help with the kids or simply be surrounded by nature. You’d be surprised how calming watching the night sky or a pair of alpacas snacking on carrots and enjoying the sunshine can be.”

Liam nodded and an idea struck him. Something Craig had said. “Sounds like something these kids might benefit from, too. Ellie says it can be hard for them to just be children, even after the cancer is under control.”

Brody wiped a hand over his mouth. “You might have something there. The older ones might even enjoy volunteering as counselors to younger ones, show ’em life-after-cancer stuff. Kevin and Danny, those two boys your sister and brother-in-law were helping out, have turned into a valuable resource helping with some of our youth campers. I’ll definitely talk to Mary about it.”

Just then, Brody’s curly-haired boy toddled up to Liam. “Alley-oop,” he said, thrusting his arms up and balancing on his toes.

“Alley-oop?” Liam shook his head and looked to Brody for help.

Brody chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair. “Sorry, big guy, I don’t think Liam understands Elliott Speak.”

The boy bounced on his toes. “Alley-oop, alley-oop.”

Brody glanced at Liam and laughed. “He’s saying ‘Elliott, up.’ He’s asking you to pick him up.”

“Oh, okay, that I can do.” Liam bent down and picked up the smiling toddler. He settled Elliott on his hip. “Have you been trying to keep up with the other kids? I think James is more your speed since he’s still new to this whole walking gig.”

“Won’t be long before James will be running around, too.” Brody laughed as he leaned over and chucked his son’s chin. “Mary and I have started discussing giving this guy a brother or sister. We’ve been immersed in getting Camp Life Launch going this past year but things are settling down.”

“Alley Daddy.” The boy bounced up and down in Liam’s arms.

“Yeah, that’s your dad.” Liam hung on to the agile toddler. Warmth spread across his chest at the feel of the toddler’s sturdy weight in his arms. Holding Elliott had him thinking of what it would be like to have his own family. “You want to go back to him now?”

Elliott gave Liam a grin and pointed. “Alley Daddy.”

Liam handed him over to Brody and the toddler threw his arms around Brody’s neck.

“Alley Daddy.” The toddler rubbed his face on Brody’s shirt.

“I sure am, big guy.” Brody rubbed the boy’s back and turned to Liam. “He hasn’t mastered his name yet.”

Liam laughed. “I just got Fiona to say Liam and now James is calling me Meem.”

“Meg is practically glowing these days. I’m so glad to see her happily settled.”

“Yeah, I guess Riley has been good for her.”

“Well, I know Mary and Elliott are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Brody shook his head as if in wonderment. “And I have a feeling this camp will be, too. If you ever want to stop by, feel free. Although I can’t promise we won’t put you to work.”

“I may just do that,” Liam said. Brody had the same glow of happiness as Meg. Would he ever be so lucky as to find such contentment? An image of Ellie came to mind and even the specter of her cancer returning couldn’t chase it away.

“Thanks again for all the help. You should come back on carnival night and see everyone enjoying all your hard work.”

Brody strolled over to Mary, who waved to Liam. Brody said something to her and leaned down and gave her a kiss.

“Hey, I see you’re fitting right in.” Ellie came to stand next to him.

“Fitting in?”

“Talking to Craig. He’s been wanting to meet you ever since I told him I knew a real live fireman.” Ellie hooked her arm through his. “Of course I was referring to your dad, but I guess you’ll do.”