Thick as Thieves (The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts #3)

Chapter 50

50

Xander

London

We let Dr. Theodore know we’re going to be late and she pushes the appointment back to 5:00 p.m. I’m a mess. My brain is getting no further than Kitten asking me if I want a baby with her. I never thought I’d have any children biologically. I never thought she would want any more. She has three—well, four if you count Bucky. And we certainly do. And I already think of the twins, James, and Bucky as mine.

I can hardly put a sentence together. Bug has no idea what’s going on, but he’s sat in the back of the car with Evie and I, laughing at me. “What the feck is wrong with you, Xan?” he asks me. “Jase, what’s wrong with him?”

He starts on my friend and bodyguard. Jase shrugs at us all, grinning at me from the front of the car with Tommy. I just shake my head, smirking like an idiot.

Evie just keeps smiling smugly and patting me, checking I’m still coherent.

Jesus, mine, my own with her and Kell.

I think about how he’s shared his children, opened his world up to me for us. Never a word about whose children they actually are. Never a bit of jealousy if I’m picking them up first. On calls when we were in Mexico, I rang home first every time. Evie would put the kids on FaceTime to me, never one word said in complaint. My heart beats faster when I think about how much love the man must have for us all.

We split off from Bug, who wants to do some shopping, and I decide to tag along to the doctor’s with Evie.

“You’ll be so bored, it’s a doctors clinic.” She’s trying to put me off, pushing me towards Bug.

“If Tommy has to go, at least we can be bored together. Oh, and Jase,” I grin at her.

“Dr. Theodore will think we’re the mafia. What with Jonno and Jude turning up every time I go.”

“They don’t,” I say, horrified. “Jonno is a nightmare. Is he back from Ireland?”

“He texted that he’s landing in about ten minutes. ￡100 says he comes straight to the doctors.”

“He wouldn’t,” I say, amazed.

She laughs at my face. “Pfft, he will. He likes to check I’m in one piece.” She’s still smiling, and I’m amazed she takes it all so well, knowing she’s followed around, fussed over. Never any privacy.

The surgery is like a nice hotel reception, the uniforms the only giveaway it’s a doctors’ clinic. The walnut and white contrast and accents are all over the rooms. We have coffee from a barista-style machine. Evie has nothing, just in case they want to take blood or other stuff.

“They’re like a vampire cult, she always wants blood,” she tells me as her name is called and we’re all left sat in the waiting room.

I can see the receptionist staring at me. She’s looking at her phone and then at me. Yep, been recognised. Her face gets flushed, and she’s fiddling with her hair.

Jase and I sit talking about schedules and all things LA. A text update from Marcus tells me things are better with Vanity—one of the bands signed by our label. They imploded, with the lead singer Marty walking out. She’s a fiery woman and has had enough of ‘the bullshit men.’ Marcus needs to support her and sort things out. Tim’s dealing with the three men she’s in the band with. Or maybe not. I actually think she’s better on her own. Not my call, but that was my input.

“Excuse me, but are you Xander Barclay?” The young nurse has built up enough courage to come over.

I just look at her from under my lashes, but then say, “Yes, that’s me. All ok?” I ask, as we are in a doctor’s office.

“Yes, sorry. I just wondered if I could get a picture or autograph?” Her voice is breathy, and she’s leaning in too close.

“Well, no pictures, as I’m sure patient confidentiality is paramount to your job,” I add and side eye Jase.

She goes red at that. “Err, yes sorry. I just meant…”

“I’m happy to sign something for you and any friends.” I soften a bit. She’s young, but still, I don’t want anyone to know we’re here.

“No pictures,” Tommy states authoritatively, standing up as a couple of other youngish women nurses come into reception at speed. Clearly the jungle drums have been beating. And they answered the call.

“Do you have a private waiting room?” Jase asks as other clients come towards the door to come in.

“Yes, of course. This way,” the first girl says, flicking her hair at me and moving forward.

Jase smirks as she walks in front of us with extra sway in her hips and arse. I roll my eyes.

Then the true what the fuck moment happens. She turns and says, “If there’s anything at all I can get you, this is my number,” and tries to give me a note with her mobile on.

I shake my head at her, pointing to Jase. “Give it to him.”

“Is that the number for the reception?” Tommy asks her, clearly protective over Evie, and I grin at him. Oh he has my lady’s back.

“Er, well…”

He stares her down and she retreats out of the waiting room, bright red in the face. Jase dumps the number in the bin, ripping it into small pieces first. We sit, going back to our conversation. We seem to be waiting for hours.

“My arse feels like it’s square,” I complain, standing to try to get some blood flow. “My cheeks are numb.”

I’m scrolling Marcus’s messages as he’s texting from the plane, clearly bored. But he’s nearly here and has Tim, Levi, and Gabe with him. They’re all headed for the studio but will pit stop at Marcus’s for food before we all decide if we’re going home tonight or tomorrow. His face appears on FaceTime as soon as I text and mention the doctor’s.

“What the fuck is wrong with her?” No hello. No, how are you?

“Nothing, she’s fine, just getting sorted out. Women’s medical stuff. No problem, she said,” I placate him. “We’re all good, Marcus, really, really fucking good.” My eyes I know are bright as buttons. The light must be shining from me as he stares intently into my face.

“Really?” he breathes out, picking up on my stellar disposition. “Thank fuck for that.” He closes his eyes, and when he opens them they’re blazing. “Xander, I?—”

“I know, it’s fine Marcus. We can go home.” My voice cracks as I tell him that. I can see the elation on his face. “I’ll see you at your mother’s at eight,” I tell him, grinning like a fool. He nods, and his smile could power the plane he’s coming home on.

“Wow, I can’t believe it,” he whispers out. “Thank fuck,” he mutters as he cuts off.

I smile at the phone and my elation must match his, as I look up and see Jase and Tommy watching me. Jase is smiling, Tommy just shakes his head. “You two are so fucking lucky,” he says to me. Then he grins.

“Don’t I know it Tommy.”

We sit and sit. “Do you think something’s wrong? They’ve been ages.” I stand up again, stretching out my legs. “See if you can find out what’s going on?” I ask Jase, just as the door opens.

“Is it Xander?”—the nurse looks down at her notes—“and Tommy?”

We look at each other. Tommy’s gone a bit pale and now I’m really fucking worried. He never shows emotion normally.

“Yes.” I point to us both.

“Can you follow me, please?” she asks, smiling.

Tommy is now as pale as a ghost, what the hell is up with him?

I walk into the room and Evie is laid on a bed with a gown on. Tommy makes a strangled noise behind me and rushes forwards. “Kiddo?” he squeaks out, in a very unrecognisable voice. What the fuck is going on here?

I stand and stare at her. She looks like she’s been crying. My heart stops beating. What have they found? Oh, God. I feel my heart start up again and start to race at one hundred miles an hour. What the fuck? I look round at Tommy, who’s staring at her, and then at the machinery surrounding her. He’s shaking his head a bit, and her face crumples as she watches him. He moves forwards and takes her in his arms.

“What the fuck is going on?” I shout in a panic. “What's wrong, Kitten?”

Jase then bursts through the doors, clearly hearing me shouting.

“Who are you?” asks one of the medical staff. “I suggest you leave this room if?—”

“It’s fine, Dr. Theodore. He’s with us,” hiccups Evie.

I’m staring between her and Tommy hanging onto her. Jase is as pale as milk, all the blood rushing out of his face. What? What is it?

“Which one of you is Xander?” asks Dr. Theodore, taking charge, as clearly Evie can’t get a word out, and neither can Tommy. “Well, Xander, congratulations. Evie has told me you’re to be a father.”

I’m staring at Evie. Why would she tell Dr. Theodore about our plans?

“Well, thanks,” I say a bit faintly. I look around at Jase who’s staring at the machine. They all look at me expectantly. I’m looking back at them all. What do they expect me to say?

“Shall we see what’s going on?” asks the doctor as she fires up the machine.

It’s then I notice Evie has her stomach gelled up, and the noise starts. A noise I’ve heard before in those messages James sent to Kellen.

A heartbeat. A fucking heartbeat. A baby's heartbeat. I look at Evie, who has tears in her eyes and is smiling at me. I see Tommy touching her hair, telling her it will be fine, with tears in his eyes. I look at the screen.

“Ahh, there he or she is.”

I step back, my heart beating as quick as the one on the sound system. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

“A baby? My baby?” I breathe out. “Evie?” I step towards her and Tommy moves out of the way, patting me on the back as he goes to stand with Jase in the corner of the room. “Evie, a baby?”

She nods, and I’m transfixed. I keep blinking, not saying a word.

“Let’s check the dates for you. Yes, you’re about eighteen weeks pregnant, so that would put your due date at the twentieth of March.”

Eighteen weeks. Eighteen fucking weeks. I’m rubbing my face and running both hands through my hair. Eighteen weeks. That’s nearly five months. How could we have not noticed. I look at the slight bump that suddenly seems evident, breasts huge, but they’ve been like that all the time.

Jase comes forwards towards me. Clearly my disposition has him worried enough he thinks I might collapse on the floor.

“Eighteen weeks,” I repeat.

Evie is crying again and she holds her hand out for me to take. I take it and give it a squeeze, moving up the bed near to her head. “Eighteen.” I don’t think I’m capable of any other words.

She buries her head into my chest and I stroke her hair. “I love you, Kitten. Eighteen fucking weeks.” I kiss her eyes, wiping her tears, and she smiles at me.

“Are you happy, Xan?”

I just look at her. “Happy?” I shake my head. “No, no. I’m fucking ecstatic. Are you?” She nods. “A baby now. Wow, I can’t.”

“Do you want to know the sex?” Dr. Theodore asks us.

I look at Evie and she smiles at me again. “I know it already,” she says as calmly as you like. “Do you want to know, Xander?”

My mind's blank. “I don’t know.” I look at Tommy and Jase. “Err…” Everyone is smiling at me. Am I expected to make a decision?

There’s a knock at the door. “It’s like a football crowd in here,” says Dr. Theodore primly.

Before she can object, Jonno Greystone pushes his way in. He stops dead, staring intently at Evie on the bed. Then his face changes. It's alight with love.

“Not again, baby sis?” he says to her, shoving us all out of the way. “I’m your baby partner though still, aren’t I? He'll be useless.” He points at me, grinning as she bursts into tears. Gathering her into a huge hug, he promises her, “I’m here, Kitten. For you, always, baby sis, always.”

I’ve never seen Jonno show much emotion, but today they’re all on show, his love for his family evident. He closes his eyes, drinking her in. Kissing her head.

“Xander,” he says, opening his arm to pull me into a hug. I’ve never felt as loved as this. All the years of wandering in the darkness, just Marcus and my dad at my side, now the love I have because of this woman and her family is surreal. My tears start and don’t stop. I feel rather than see Tommy and Jase leave. But Jonno and Evie hold onto me, the whoosh of the heartbeat in the background all around us.

“She will love you as much as we do,” Evie says. “I love you Xander. I know we said later, but she’s here now, and she loves you already.” We all look at the screen.

Dr. Theodore smiles. “Yes, it is a girl,” she says, smiling at Evie, who nodded at her to confirm the sex.

“Four boys, Evie, and now a girl.” Jonno laughs at my face. “You better get ready, Barclay. Girls, a whole other breed.” Grinning at us he leaves the room.

The doctor smiles at us. “I’ll leave you to get ready and get some prints for you both. I know it’s a lot, especially given the circumstances of your visit. Seems to be a habit, Evie.” She laughs and smiles indulgently at me. “At least it’s not twins this time.”

I stand there looking at my wife, my brain just coming back on line.

“Are you happy, Xander?” Clearly my face is not showing what I’m feeling.

“Evie Greystone, I fucking love you. I’m the happiest man on this fucking planet. Well, I will be until I tell Kellen, then there’ll be two of us.” I hold her face in my hands. “I’m just a bit poleaxed. What? How?” She laughs, and her tears start again. “Oh, Kitten, I hope they’re happy tears. I’m so, well, I’m so happy. It’s amazing.”

“It is,” she gets out. “A sister for those boys.”

I grin. “God help them.” Then my smile fades. “Fuck. I had you tied….” My mind goes to our night in the workshop.

But she smiles at me. “No wonder I was as horny as the devil. Pregnancy does that.”

“Really? Wow, bonus,” I laugh. “Well, anytime. I’m happy to be used and abused,” I tell her, helping her on with her blouse. “I noticed the boobs, but thought it was due to the twins,” I tell her. “And it’s not, it’s another little one. Oh my God, Marcus is gonna freak.” I can hardly keep myself on the ground. My voice is getting higher and higher.

“Do you think he’ll be okay? I know how worried he is,” she says, her voice wobbling a bit with nerves. “Are we telling him tonight? After his mothers, not before.” She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m not sharing my happy news with Rowena just yet.”

“My dad is going to go wild,” I tell her, imagining what Dad will say. “He will be so fucking happy, he’ll be moving us in with him.” My smile keeps getting wider and wider, my face is aching with it. And I can’t stop touching her.

“Marcus will be fine, I hope. I think it was the guilt of the miscarriages, he thought it was his fault. I hope he’ll be okay.” That thought wipes the smile from my face. “I better speak to the others out there. Let’s go get a cuppa, then we can discuss tactics with Kell.”

I pull her into me and look into the eyes I have loved from being a boy. Eyes that have loved me. “I love you seems too small a thing to say today, especially now in this moment. My whole life I’ve loved you. This gift you have given me, it’s immeasurable, Kitten. No words for it.” I kiss her, caress her, and we stand for an age, making out in this room.

Jonno re-opens the door and peeks in. “Deed’s already done, Xander. We need tea, mate, so put them down.” He grins at us. “Besides”—he walks back through the door—“I need to hug my sister again. You haven’t bumped me off partner duties, have you?” he asks her, pushing at me. “I go with her.” He points to himself. “But I might let you come along if you behave,” he tells me. He’s crazy.

“Jonno you can come, but don’t forget I delivered my sons, your nephews. So I feel like I’m more qualified.” We start to argue back and forth about who is the most experienced and Tommy comes over and ushers Evie away. The man is so protective of her, and in that moment, I know she could not be in better hands. My baby, my world, is in very good hands.