Either way, no one could call it fault because the result was Hollis, and no one wanted to think about what life would be like without him.

I caught Alyssa stealing another glance at Hollis in the rearview mirror.

“Any updates on Tommy?” I asked.

“No,” she said, but I could tell she was holding back.

“None?” Ellie asked, suspicious.

“None that I can relay.”

“That’s messed up,” Tyler said.

“That’s the way it is.” Alyssa shrugged, unapologetic.

We sat in silence the rest of the way to Eakins, but a new energy filled the van when we pulled into the hospital parking lot. Tyler unfastened Gavin, who was finally awake, and Falyn scrambled to open the door. I met her and the kids at the back of the van, anxious to get our luggage and see our family.

Once everyone but Gavin had weighed themselves down with backpacks, bags, and roller luggage, we ran to the hospital entrance and straight for the elevator. I was the last to step in, but then Alyssa stepped in behind me.

Falyn wasn’t happy.

“I have to accompany you upstairs,” Alyssa explained. “Then you’ll be rid of me.”

Falyn blinked. “Thank you. For getting us here safe.”

Alyssa seemed genuinely touched. She looked down at Hollis and mussed his hair. “My pleasure.”

The elevator doors opened to reveal our family standing on the other side.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

TYLER

“YOU MADE IT,” Dad said, beckoning me in for a hug. He’d picked up his cane, and I was so happy to see him, I failed to let go of all three roller bags that I’d been lugging around all day as I swung my arms around him. Dad pulled Taylor in too, shaking because he was so happy to see us.

After Dad finally let us go, we took turns hugging Jack and Deana, Trenton, Shepley, and America, and they all hugged the kids.

“Where are the boys and the twins?” Falyn asked.

“All asleep,” America said, “in the waiting room with Agent Blevins. We made them pallets on the couches and floor, and then turned out the lights. It’s been a long day.”

Dad gestured for us to follow him, a pattern of taking a small step, limping, and using his cane for support, and then picking it up and starting over. “This way. Fair warning. Agent Blevins is a giant.”

“Bigger than Uncle Travis?” Hadley asked.

Dad hugged Hadley to his side. “Bigger than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Hadley’s eyes widened, and Dad chuckled.

“How’s Abby?” I asked.

“Getting close,” America said. She smiled, but I caught a spark of worry behind her eyes.

“She’s early, isn’t she?” Ellie asked.

America nodded. “Seven weeks early. But they decided not to stop her labor.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but Ellie and Falyn weren’t happy about America’s answer.

I knew which room was the waiting room because a dark-skinned giant was standing outside the door. His hands were clasped at his waist. He looked more like secret service than FBI. He spoke, his voice abnormally deep. “The nurse is on the way with more blankets and pillows.”

“Th-thank you,” Hadley said, stretching her neck to gaze straight up.

Agent Blevins winked at her as she passed by.

Ellie and Falyn ushered the kids into the dim waiting room, followed by a nurse with short blond hair and a Crest smile. She was holding a stack of blankets and pillows, thanking Agent Blevins as he held the door open for her.

“Where’s Cami?” Taylor asked.

Trenton glanced at his watch then at Agent Blevins.

“Five minutes out,” the giant said, acknowledging Agent Davies with a nod. I was glad he was assigned to the kids. The Maddoxes were almost all together, and even though we were a force to be reckoned with, Agent Blevins was his own army. “Heard you made a pit stop.”

“I did,” Agent Davies said.

I couldn’t stop looking at her. Not because she was beautiful—although she was—but because Hollis looked so much like her. I was curious, wondering how she could carry him for so long and just walk away. Then I thought about how selfless it was of her to offer that to Taylor. Most guys didn’t get a choice. She could have just had an abortion, and he would have never known. None of us could imagine a world without Hollis Maddox. He was smart as a whip and way too good-looking and charming for his own good. Knowing his biological mother was a lethal federal agent made perfect sense.

Falyn and Ellie snuck out of the waiting room, and my curious staring ended. I pulled Ellie to my side and kissed her temple. “Gavin went back to sleep?”

“I know,” she said. “I can’t believe it, either. He must be growing.”

“If he grows any more, he’ll be in the NFL soon,” Dad said.

My chest puffed out. I couldn’t help it. He was a good-sized kid. Reminded me of Travis when he was his age. If he didn’t slow down, even Agent Blevins would be looking up at him soon. I hugged Ellie tighter. “And Ellie lugged him around all day. I’m surprised her arms didn’t fall off.”

“I’m used to it,” she said.

She was right. Long before Gavin came, she was following around my crew of wildfire hotshots into the mountains to document the fire season for the local magazine, The MountainEar. Not long into her second season, she was lugging equipment miles into the wilderness and onto helicopters like the rest of us. She’d worked so hard to get her life back, and she made sure to appreciate the second chance she’d been given by the Alpine Hotshot Chief to tag along with her camera. She’d had a couple of setbacks, but we’d gotten engaged pretty quick after she got back from rehab and then married not long after. A wedding, living together, and working together were a lot for her to process in one year, but I was glad we didn’t give up. It hadn’t been perfect, but I wouldn’t have traded one moment of my bad days with my wife for good days with anyone else.

It took a long time for her to believe she was ready or deserving to be a mom, but once Gavin arrived, she was a natural. She started staying home full-time when he was born, playing the part of both parents when I was gone on the job.

“Can’t wait ‘til morning,” Dad said. “Travis and Abby’s son will be here, Liis will be here with Stella, and all my grandkids will be in one place for the first time in a long time.”

“You’re sure it’s a boy?” I asked.

“That’s what Abby said,” Dad said with a shrug. “I’m betting she’s right.”

“I know better than to bet against Abby,” Trenton said, glancing at his watch again. He looked at Agent Blevins. “It’s been five minutes, boss.”

The elevator opened, and Camille stood there with who I assumed was another agent. Trenton jogged over to her, throwing his arms around her middle and lifting her feet off the ground. He planted kisses on her mouth for a full minute, and then they joined us in the hall.

“Here, Dad,” Camille said, directing him to sit on one of the benches pushed up against the wall. No arms or back, they were just long seats covered in green, fake leather, sitting on silver legs.

Dad sat, his belly covering half his thighs. He was wearing a jacket over his pajama shirt, slacks, and suede moccasins. He looked tired but happy.

Just as we all found a seat, a doctor rounded the corner and paused at our sheer number. Even with the kids and Shepley’s parents asleep in the waiting room, we were a good-sized group.