“Only by blood.” Riley couldn’t help himself; he needed to hug her, so he did. In his arms she was so small, and he felt absurdly protective of his sister-in-law. “I forgive you, and if Luke and Annabelle knew what had happened and why, they would understand and forgive you as easily.”

“You think so?” She hiccupped against his T-shirt.

Riley held her close. “I know so.”

They stood that way for a while until the fresh air made Lisa shiver and they moved back indoors.

“I like Ed,” Riley said conversationally. “He seems like a good man.”

“He is, Riley, I promise. Now admit it, when did you get a background check done on him?” she teased.

“The same day you told me you were dating him.”

Lisa stood on tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You always were my second-best brother-in-law.”

Riley laughed, and then it hit him. “Hang on, you only have me and Sean.”

She opened the door to the kitchen and smiled at him as he hovered on the porch. “Exactly,” she said.

The rest of the visit was calmer. Riley felt like he’d gotten to a new place in his head. A place of acceptance about his brother, and hey, he was going to be an uncle. Well, kind of.

They left before eleven with a promise to visit and an open invite for Luke and Annabelle to come and stay in the summer if they wanted.

“I want to be a good uncle,” Riley said, as the lights of the retreating car disappeared around the corner to the main road.

Jack tugged him inside and shut the door. “You already are,” he said.

“You think one day she will tell the kids?”

Jack shook his head. “I have no idea.”

Together they cleared up the kitchen and made their way to their bedroom via the children’s rooms to check in on them. They met Hayley on the landing. She was coming from the bathroom and her hair was sticking up every which way. She hugged them both without saying a word, then went into her room, pulling the door shut.

All Riley could think was that if he were keeping a secret from his daughter, it would burn.

“I like Ed,” Jack said as they undressed for bed. He lay back on the bed, and Riley covered him like a blanket. He snuggled in as Jack pulled up the covers.

“Me too,” Riley said.

That was the last thought before he fell asleep: I like him because he makes Lisa happy.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The first day of May was important for two reasons; the first being that Jack turned thirty-seven, and the second that it was the first time Hayley had her heart broken.

When Jack woke, it was to the sunshine, presents, and breakfast out on the porch. Hayley didn’t make it downstairs in time to eat, Jack had his hands full with the twins, and Max was happily coloring in a horse for him. He drank hot, bitter coffee, and ate toast, with Riley at his side, and his world was complete—apart from Hayley.

“Beth called at six,” Riley said.

“She did?”

“Wished you a happy birthday, and I was going to wake you, but she started talking about Hayley.”

Jack yawned. “What about her?”

“She said when Hayley stayed, she seemed to be drinking a lot of water, but she was off her food and she’d lost weight, that maybe we should get a physical.”

“She said that?” Jack answered. “She’s tall like you, like a string bean.” Beth wouldn’t have said anything if she hadn’t been worried, though, and Riley was frowning. “Did you book the appointment?”

“Soon as I got off the phone with Beth. Two fifteen if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is.”

“She’ll be down soon,” Riley said. “I called again.”

Jack yawned and stretched. Lexie clung to his arm like a baby sloth and giggled as she flew with his arm. He buzzed her tummy with his stubble, and she slapped at his nose in defense. The twins had bought him The Idiot’s Guide: Puppies, and the book sat on the table next to his coffee.

“So, why the book?” Jack asked as Lexie asked to be let down. When they built the porch, Robbie and Liam had constructed a kid’s gate to block off part of it so that Lexi and Connor could crawl around without anyone worrying.

Riley tried and failed to look innocent. “They told me they wanted a puppy.”

“Uh-huh, so the twins, who have about ten words between them, asked for a puppy?”

Riley smiled. “Yep, sounds about right.”

“And this would be their puppy, not yours?” Jack knew damn well Riley was angling for a dog, as he put it, as a way of completing the family. “What about having another baby?”

Riley raised his eyebrows so far it was comical, and his mouth fell open. “No. I want to love the ones we have the best we can.”

Jack couldn’t help but tease. “So, you won’t love the dog?”

Riley wrinkled his nose and scooped up Connor from where he was attempting to climb Riley’s legs. He buried his face in Connor’s neck and blew a raspberry, then sneaked a look at Jack over Connor’s head. “Of course I’d love the dog,” he admitted.

Jack picked up the book. “Guess I’d better read it, then.”

“Well—” Riley cleared his throat. “—I read that having a pet is good for children with autism.”

Jack laughed. “You don’t need to convince me. Robbie already has his eye on a litter of Australian Shepherds, apparently. They’re due in July.”

“July? Around-my-birthday July?” Riley sounded so hopeful, and Jack melted inside.

“In time for your birthday.”

Riley grinned and lifted Connor high. “Well, it’s important I tell you I like Labradors. And look at your pappa being all sneaky,” he announced. Connor answered with a flail and a giggle, and the wafting scent of diaper hit Jack. Riley apparently caught the same scent. “I’ll even change diapers all day.” And with that, he left.

Jack enjoyed his coffee, looked out on a bright day, fussed Lexie, and played trains with Max. He spotted Hayley before she saw him. She was looking out at the same view, one hand clutching the doorjamb, the other holding her phone.

“Mornin’, sweetheart,” he called.

She turned slowly, then crossed to sit at the table. “Happy birthday,” she said.

Something wasn’t right. She looked tired again, gray, like she was coming down with something. They had an appointment with the family doctor for a health check. She’d not come down with the same virus as Jack had after the barbecue, but she was often tired.

“Thank you,” Jack answered. “Is everything okay?” Hayley was clutching the phone like it was a lifeline to something.

“Cory broke up with me,” she said. She didn’t sound sad, or angry, or anything remotely like emotional.

“Oh, hun, I’m so sorry,” Jack said. He glanced over her shoulder to the door, hoping to hell Riley would come back downstairs. Their daughter’s proper first broken heart was surely something they should be handling together.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m pleased with him, I promise. He’s told his parents he likes boys, and they were mostly cool with it. He sent me a text.” She waggled her phone.

“So, um, you’re okay?”

She nodded, pressed her fingers to her temples. “I’m good, I just feel hot. Where’s dad?”

“Changing Connor. Hayley, I wanted to talk to you. We’ve been worried about you.”

She looked right at him but said nothing.

“I made an appointment for you to see Dr. Bannin this afternoon.”

She nodded. She didn’t get defensive, or angry, or any one of a million telling signs that she was hiding anything. If anything she looked resigned.

“I’m not feeling so good,” she said.

Was it just Jack’s imagination or were her words slurred? Her eyes unfocused?

“Hayley?”

“I’m going to get a drink.” She wobbled a little as she stood. With no sound, nothing, her eyes rolled back in her head and she crumpled to the floor.

Jack reached out and attempted to catch her, but she’d hit the floor before he got anywhere near her.