“I missed you too, bro. Every day.” He looked at me and made a face. “But I knew you’d get them, Zane. I knew it wouldn’t be forever. You’ve always been there for me. I didn’t doubt you’d come through for me this time as well.”
“I was f**king going to get Braydon if it cost me my life.” I croaked out a laugh. “I wasn’t going to stop until his sorry ass was in jail.”
“I knew you would do whatever it took. Even when we were children, you thought about me first.” He looked up at me with admiration. “You were like a mom, and a dad, and a big brother to me, dude. You were always the one I went to, the one I could rely on, the one I pestered when I was bored.”
“You were a pest all right.”
“I knew you’d come through for me, Zane. I knew that it wasn’t forever. I knew that I’d see you again.”
“Just don’t ever do that shit to me again.” My voice was gruff and I turned away from him quickly. “This last year has been hell for me.”
“But at least you got to meet Lucky.” Noah’s voice was soft. “If you hadn’t been working the case you never would have met her.”
“Yeah.” I nodded and thought about everything for a moment. “I love her you know.”
“She’s good for you.” There was a wistful look in his eyes. “You should be thanking me, man. If I hadn’t gone away, you never would have met her. And right now, it would just be you and me here. You wouldn’t have a beautiful girl upstairs in your bed, waiting for you.”
“She’s not exactly waiting for my loving, Noah, she’s taking a nap.” I laughed.
“Hey, she’s in your bed right? If I hadn’t gone away and if you didn’t think I was dead, you would never have met her. In fact, you should be thanking me.” Noah grinned at me.
“That’s some twisted thinking, bro, but thank you.” I laughed. “I’m thankful every day for meeting Lucky.”
“She loves you bad, man.” Noah laughed. “I’ve never seen a girl so kooky over you, not even those girls in high school. What did you do to her? Drug her?”
“Very funny.” I punched him in the shoulder, but I was pleased at his words. I knew that Lucky loved me, but it felt great to see that other people could tell as well. “I asked her to marry me.”
“Well, I should hope so.” Noah laughed.
“Oh?”
“She’s the love of your life. She’s gorgeous. She’s kind. She’s nice. She sings like an angel. You don’t let a girl like that go.” Noah smiled at me weakly. “When you meet a girl like that, you don’t let her go.”
“I won’t ever let her go.” I knew that I had never spoken any truer words. Lucky was my life, and as long as she was in it, I knew that everything was going to be okay. We may have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start, but I knew that I was going to be the best husband and father that I could be.
“I’m glad I’m home, bro.” Noah reached his hand out to me. “I missed you like hell.” I knew that was his way of apologizing to me. I knew that an awful lot must have gone on while he was away and I could tell that there were things he wasn’t telling me, but I was patient. When Noah was ready to talk, I’d be here for him. No matter what. Because that was what family was really about: being patient, being loving, and being understanding.
“Me too, bro.” I gave him a hug. “You, me, and Lucky. We’re one big family now. And I’m not going to let either of you go again.”
Epilogue
Lucky
“So I guess we’re going to be parents then?” I was dumbfounded as we walked out of the doctor’s office.
“Looks like it.” Zane’s voice was nonchalant and I turned to him to make sure he wasn’t overwhelmed. I looked at his face and tried to look into his eyes, but he was too busy fumbling around in his pocket.
“What are you doing?” I frowned.
“I’m getting my phone out.” He grinned at me and his eyes were jumping for joy. “I’m calling Noah to tell him we’re having twins.”
“Zane,” I shook my head and laughed at his excitement. “So, you’re not mad?”
“Mad that I have super virile sperm?” He winked at me and I punched his arm. “Of course not, I’m probably more excited than a guy my age should be.” He put his phone to his ear and almost shouted into the phone. “Bro, guess what? We’re pregnant. We don’t know the sex yet. But guess what? There were two heartbeats. We’re having twins. I know, bro.” Zane laughed and passed the phone to me. “Noah wants to talk to you.”
“Hey Noah,” I smiled into the phone, wondering what he was up to.
“Hey sis,” his voice is warm. “So Zane tells me I’m about to become an uncle.”
“Well, you know.” I giggled. “I hope you’re ready.”
“I guess that means that there is no chance that we will ever be together now.” He teased me and I giggled. I had only known Noah for a week, but I already loved him like a brother.
“Sorry about that.” I laughed.
“You should be.” He growled. “But fair is fair, Zane found you first. I guess I’ll just be the bachelor uncle, babysitting every Friday night while you and Zane go out and party.”
“You got it, I’m glad you’ll be our on-call babysitter.”
“Try and get rid of me.” He laughed, but I knew that he was finding it hard being back in this world. He had hardly talked about where he had been while in the witness protection program and Zane and I were a little worried about him.
“We don’t want you to leave ever.” My voice was soft and earnest, I wanted him to know that he would never be an unwelcome guest in the house. I saw Zane staring down at me with tender eyes and I reached over and grabbed his hand.
“You’ll make a great mom, Lucky.” Noah’s tone was serious. “I’m so glad you came into our lives.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad I am in it as well.”
“I gotta go, but I’ll see you both soon.” Noah’s voice caught, and I hung up the phone and handed it back over to Zane as we walked to the car. “I can’t believe we are having two babies, we have so much to do.”
“Like getting married?” Zane raised an eyebrow at me. “I assume we’re going to do that before the babies come.”