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Aspen’s body language said she was as curious as she was confused. “What do you mean, your daughter?” Her dark eyes darted between Harper and Mason. “Were you married before?”
Harper pinched her lips between her teeth. She didn’t want to overstep her bounds by answering–after all, it was Mason’s story–but Aspen was Harper’s best friend. She looked at Mason, who gave her a half grin.
“Layla is actually my niece,” he said, turning back to the visitors.
Maeve fell backward, her tense posture relaxing. “Oh no.”
Mason nodded. “My sister was killed in an accident a few weeks ago.” He paused and took a deep breath, the words obviously still causing him pain.
Harper rubbed his shoulder. She knew it would take a long time for him to get through this grief. The biggest problem was, he hadn’t been able to grieve, he’d been too busy adapting to becoming a single father.
“In her will, she asked that I take Layla.” He rubbed the child’s back, who had promptly gone to sleep on his chest.
Harper bit back her jealousy. She knew exactly how good that chest felt and it was supposed to be her time right now. It’s life, she reminded herself. If I’m going to be with Mason, I’ll have to get used to it.
“Fact is, I, uh, didn’t even know Layla existed.” He scowled. “My sister had a falling out with my mother and ran off as soon as she graduated. Her passing was the first any of us have ever heard from her.”
“Oh my goodness.” Aspen’s hand came up to cover her mouth. “How sad. And now you’re her guardian.”
Harper and Mason nodded.
Aspen rubbed her forehead. “I feel like I just fell into a telenovela.”
Mason chuckled. “It sounds like it, doesn’t it?”
“But he’s doing great,” Harper inserted. “He’s a wonderful father, or uncle, or whatever you want to call him.”
Mason gave her an appreciative smile.
“Why haven’t you told anyone?” Aspen pressed. “We’re all your friends. We would’ve helped.”
Mason sighed. “I wasn’t really trying to keep anything a secret. I was just...” He looked around as if searching for the right words.
“Too busy trying to survive,” Harper offered.
“Exactly.”
“I can’t even imagine.” Aspen leaned in. “But you’re set up now? You have all the equipment you need? Your house has been child proofed?”
His big shoulders shrugged. “As much as it can be, I suppose.” He looked at Harper. “Harper helped...a lot.”
Heat crept up her neck and cheeks as she tried to shrug off his compliment. “Basically, I shoved my way inside until he realized how much help he needed.”
Aspen slapped the arms of the chair. “Good.” She turned to Mason. “Come over for dinner tonight. At the family house.” She grinned. “Mine and Austin’s apartment is too small, but we’ll feed everyone and they can meet Layla.” Aspen tilted her head to the side. “It’ll be short notice, but I’ll bet most everyone can come.”
Harper felt the sting of tears in the back of her eyes and she blinked rapidly. She had never doubted that Aspen and the others would help out, but she’d been so busy helping settle Mason, and then her own work with the art competition, and then trying to figure out how to date while still taking care of Layla...they just hadn’t gotten around to announcing her existence to everyone else.
Mason cleared his throat. “Are you sure?” he asked. “No one expects you all to take on any of this responsibility.”
Aspen stood, Maeve right behind her. “Did you or did you not step in to help when I was having love life troubles with Austin?”
Mason made a face. “Uh...I guess we did.”
“Right. And why did you do that?”
Mason relaxed and Harper smiled. “Because friends help each other.”
“And so does family.” Aspen walked over and lightly brushed her fingers over Layla’s hair. “This little beauty is about to learn that she has a dozen aunts and uncles that will spoil her rotten given half a chance.”
Maeve leaned around her sister. “I get to hold her first!” she squealed quietly, so as not to wake the child.
“Yeah, well I get to feed her cake,” Aspen argued.
Maeve scowled. “Says who?”
“Says the aunt who actually bakes,” Aspen shot back.
Mason held up a hand, laughing softly in that wonderfully deep tone of his. “I get it, I get it,” he said, stopping the fight before it got too crazy. “Lesson learned. We’ll be there.”
“What can I bring?” Harper asked, trying to make herself useful.
Aspen looked to Maeve, raising her eyebrows.
“A salad, maybe?” Maeve offered. She shrugged. “I have no idea what Estelle will want to cook.”
“Fair enough.” Harper stood and hugged her friends. “You two are the best.”
“I know,” Aspen said with a laugh.
Maeve smacked her sister’s arm. “So conceited.”
“Confident,” Aspen threw back.
Maeve rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how Austin handles you.”
Aspen made a face. “If I had a marriage where my husband had to handle me, the marriage would never have happened.”
Maeve muttered under her breath. “There’s a reason the Lord put you as the middle child.”
Harper snorted, then made an innocent face when Aspen glared. “So...green salad or fruit?”
Aspen shook her head. “Just because glasses here,” she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder, “is afraid to speak up, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be.”
Maeve tugged on her sister’s arm, all while pushing up her fake glasses. “Come on before you wake the baby with your arguing. It would serve you right if she’s totally cranky when you have her tonight.”
Aspen followed, grinning. “Yeah, but then I’ll feed her cake and I’ll be the favorite.”
“Until she’s bouncing off the walls,” Maeve argued.
Aspen held the door open for her sister. “Easy.” She winked at Harper. “That’s when you give her back.”
“Oh my gosh,” Maeve moaned. “How in the world are we related?”
Aspen gave her sister a playful shove. “You know you love me. Don’t try to pretend otherwise.”
“Only because life would be boring without your antics.”
“Perfect. You get a front row seat without any of the repercussions.” Aspen waved and started to close the door behind them, but not in time to keep Harper and Mason from hearing Maeve’s screech of outrage and adamant denial.
Mason turned to Harper as soon as they were gone, his eyes wide. “What just happened?”
Harper laughed quietly. “They’re quite the pair, aren’t they?”
*****
MASON RUBBED THE BACK of his neck. It was getting stiff from slouching on the couch with Layla. “They’re something, that’s for sure.”
Harper stood and walked toward the kitchen. “Just wait until you see them in action with Estelle. She actually tries to keep them in line.” Harper smirked. “It’s a losing battle, every time.”
Mason shook his head, his brain still swirling. “I can’t decide if I’ve been helped or pranked.”
“Helped.” Harper disappeared. “Definitely.” Her voice carried from the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”
Mason looked down at the sleeping child. He wasn’t going anywhere for a while. “Sure,” he said, careful not to shout. Layla was out, but he was positive his voice could snap her out of it if he wasn’t careful.
Harper came back with a cold bottle and loosened the lid before handing it to him. She again sat beside him. “So...” She gave him a small smile. “Maybe I’ll grab my paint supplies and try to get some work done?”
Mason nodded after taking a drink. “It looks like I’m stuck.” He gave her a wry look. “And it looks like the playpen isn’t going to work.”
“Apparently, our climber isn’t held back by mere walls.” Harper stood. “I”ll bring my stuff in here. We can talk while I paint.” She paused at the hall entrance. “Or do you want to sleep? I’ll bet you could scooch down and close your eyes. I’ll just work in the other room for a while.”
Mason debated his choices. The friendly interruption and then Layla’s appearance had ruined any chance they had of spending time alone. That little voice in the back of his head that argued this was why he’d avoided a relationship to begin with tried to come out of its corner, but Mason shoved it back. They could make this work. He didn’t want to do it alone and Harper hadn’t complained once. She understood his position...for now. “Come talk to me,” he said with a smile. “I’d like to watch you work.”
The blush on her cheeks let him know it was the right choice. Without a word, the beautiful artist nodded and walked down the hall. Mason waited eagerly for her return, wanting to do all he could to show how much he appreciated her. It wasn’t much, but he was doing his best, and hopefully it would be enough.
It has to be.
The afternoon flew and soon they were loading Layla in the car to head to the Harrison home. The driveway was filled with vehicles, letting Mason know that Aspen’s prediction had been correct.
As he unloaded his charge, he had a moment of hesitation. “Do you think it’s okay to introduce her to so many people at once?” he asked Harper.
She gave him one of her gentle smiles. “She’ll let us know if it’s not. But Aspen was right. They’ll all love her, and you and her both are going to need that.”
Mason nodded, staring at the house. “I know, but...I just want to do the right thing.”
“You are.” She tugged on his free arm. “Come on.”
“Hang on.” Pulling on her hand, Mason brought Harper back and gave her a short, but fierce kiss. “Thank you,” he whispered when her eyes fluttered back open.
“For what?” Her blue eyes searched his.
“For being so positive all the time,” he whispered. “And for helping me figure all this out.”
Harper laughed a little self consciously and tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s far from figured out, but I’m glad I could help even a little bit.” Together they walked up the front porch.
Without knocking, she opened the door and the noise of chatty adults came to a screeching halt. “Hey,” Harper said, waving and drawing attention away from him and Layla.
Mason was grateful she was taking the lead. These were his friends, but his life had changed so drastically in the last couple weeks that he was feeling a bit awkward and anxious. How would everyone react to Layla? Would they understand what he was going through? Now that he was a parent, was he too different to get along with them anymore? Would Layla like his friends? Would he have to find new ones?
“Yay!” Aspen said, walking through the crowd. “Me first!” She held her hands out with an inviting smile. “Hey, sweet girl,” she cooed. “Want to come see Auntie Aspen?”
Layla increased her grip on Mason’s neck and his worry shot up a notch.
“Let her breathe,” Estelle said, stepping up next to her sister. She smiled kindly at Mason and her gaze softened even more when it turned to Layla. “She’s beautiful,” Estelle said softly.
“Thanks,” Mason muttered. He looked around. Everyone seemed frozen, like they weren’t sure how to handle having a child here. His concerns were right. This wasn’t going to work. Not that any of his friends were bad, just that he wasn’t really a part of them anymore. He took a step back, ready to say he was going home.
Before he could move, another person slipped through. “Hey, Mase.” Ethan’s grin was easy going and wide as usual.
Mason breathed a little easier. He and Ethan had been good friends for a long time.
“Mind if I try?” Ethan raised his eyebrows and nodded toward Layla.
Mason hesitated, but Harper was nodding at him encouragingly. “Sure.”
Ethan turned that wide smile to Layla. “Hey, beautiful.” He bent over. “I’m your Uncle Ethan.” He winked. “Your favorite uncle.”
A groan came from the crowd even as most everyone chuckled.
“Are you hungry? Want to grab a snack?”
“She likes cheesy things,” Harper whispered.
Ethan acknowledged the help. “Want to get some cheese?”
Layla perked her head up.
Ethan held out his hands. “Come with me and I’ll get you all the cheese you can eat.”
Layla stuck her middle fingers in her mouth and considered him. The whole room seemed to hold their breaths as they waited for her response.
Her mind apparently made up, Layla fairly leaped across the space into Ethan’s arms.
“Whoa.” Mason had to shift his hold to keep her from hitting the ground.
“Got her,” Ethan said, tucking the little girl onto his arm, supported by his chest. “Alright, pretty lady. I promised you cheese. Let’s get to it.”
Mason watched, his heart pinching slightly as Ethan walked away with Layla. She was staring at the surfer with an adoring look on her face and it took Mason off guard. A heavy slap to his back brought him quickly out of his thoughts.
“It’s the smile,” Jayden said with a laugh. “The women can’t seem to resist it.”
Mason’s smile felt tight, but he appreciated the attitude. “How are ya, Jay?” he asked.
Jayden squeezed Mason’s shoulder. “Doing better than you, I think.” His smile faltered. “I’m sorry about your sister.” His eyes drifted to Ethan and Layla. “A part of me wants to say congrats on becoming a father, but...” He shrugged.
Mason nodded. “Yeah...I get it.”
“If it helps, I think you’ll be great at this.” Jayden grinned again and walked away, heading to the kitchen area.
The next half hour was filled with food, laughter and a releasing of Mason’s tension. The longer he was there, the more he realized how much he needed this. How much he needed them. First, it had been Harper, but even that wasn’t going to be enough. Apparently, when they said it took a village, they were talking about a group just like this.
Layla was smiling and laughing and being passed from person to person as each adult took the time to get to know her. It didn’t matter that she was a baby. It didn’t matter that Mason’s life had been turned upside down. They accepted him just as he was and were all willing to help.
His own family might have fallen apart, but Mason was quickly realizing it didn’t matter. He and Layla had everything they needed right here.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out. “Excuse me,” he said to Gavin, a friend he’d been chatting with. “It’s my brother.”
Gavin nodded and stepped aside.
Mason rushed outside, the only quiet place he could think of. “Crew?”
“Mason!” Crew shouted. “Where the heck are you?”
“I’m at a friend’s house,” Mason explained, frowning at the frantic tone in his brother’s voice. “Why?”
“Man, you need to get home. I’m in your driveway.”
“Crew,” Mason said firmly. “What’s going on?” Why would Crew have shown up without any warning? Something wasn’t right.
“Mom got herself a new lawyer...and she’s coming after Layla.”