Undefeated (Unexpected Book 5) (24 page)

“I
think you were right, College Boy,” I admit, as we step inside the house and look at all the packages we’ve been mailing to the house for the past three weeks. “We might have overdone it this time.”

“You doubted me?” He laughs, taking the bags I carry and setting them down before he takes me into his arms. “The credit card receipts never lie. I’m surprised you didn’t buy the pony for Gracie.”

We decided to take a few weeks off without our children, Gabe’s parents, or my favorite—our grandchildren. Added to that down time was Christmas shopping for the entire family. When it came to our five little ones, we bought more than one thing for each. I even considered buying them pets. That’s when the idea of the pony came, as AJ always asked for one and we never bought it for her.

“Would you have let me buy a living creature?”

“Probably not.” He kisses my neck. “We’d need to move back to the compound and everyone has settled here in Seattle—where you said you’d move your entire life after you were done with Dreadful Souls.”

“Told you you’d like the place and dig the music,” I whisper remembering what it was like to move into a new city. Even when I liked the new scene, I missed my old routine and the only one who kept me going until I found my footing was Gabe. “We can fix this shit later, let’s go to bed.”

“We have to wrap some of them,” he mumbles, gliding his arms up and down my back, as bodies rub against each other.

“Oh for fucks sake.” I hear Matt’s voice and my dick goes flat right away. “You were alone with each other for three fucking weeks and you still have to come home and . . . Fuck?”

“What do you need, Mattie?” My question sounds like a grumble. Gabe and I release each other and when I look toward the backyard door, I find my four sons standing next to it. “Does anyone know the concept of knocking on the fucking door? Using the phone, the intercom, or at least yell that you’re coming in as you slide the glass door open.”

Gabe rubs his face with one hand, shaking his head. “The four of you coming over with long faces and Matt trying to lighten up the mood isn’t helping. What happened?”

“Porter,” Mason announces, breaking the formation they have and marching toward us. He hands me one of those folders he prepares once he has run a background check on someone. “Kendrick tried to get in touch with you a couple of days ago.”

“He made an appointment with Dr. Decker,” Matthew takes over. “Guess which Dr. Decker went to help him, Pops.” My eyes widen, remembering everything that happened to AJ, including the time that I had to run to her house when the sirens began to sound and the lights from the ambulance, fire truck and police cars came through the windows.

“Is Thea okay?” Gabe remains calm, grasping my free hand. Tristan and Matt nod.

“After Thea explained what happened, I set up a team to investigate his life since he left the ranch where he worked at. We’ve been running surveillance on him from that moment and we’re stopping later today. I flew down to Portland—that’s where he lives,” Mason continues, pointing at the folder he gave me. “That’s his life for the past few years in a nutshell. He wants to speak to the two of you.”

Gabe covers his forehead and eyes with his left hand, squeezing my hand with his right. He’s been worried about Porter. No, we both have been. Yes, he put our daughter through a fucking lot, but not knowing if he’s fine is putting us though a different kind of hell. We love our children and wish the best for all of them. The moment we took him under our care, we decided that he’d be part of us, of our family. Our fourth child.

“If you want to give him a chance, it is up to you,” Mason says. “AJ and I respect your decision and ask you to respect our decision that for now, we don’t want anything to do with him. That’s all I have to say. Only know that I won’t let him hurt the family.”

Jacob and Matthew look at each other, shake their heads, and shrug. They’ve discussed something within seconds and came to a conclusion and I wonder what it’s about.

Tristan clears his throat and Matt nods at him. “The same goes for us. I haven’t met him, but he doesn’t sound like someone I’d like to have around my family.”

“As your children, AJ, Matt, and I think that you have to talk to him,” Jacob speaks and I’m fucking confused. Because Mason said something that sounded different. “He was family and deserves to be heard. Now, in regards to my little fam, I don’t want him close to the wife or the twins. I know it’s a shitty position we’re putting you in, but we hope you understand.”

Gabe removes his hand from his eyes, his blue eyes open wide and lets out a breath. “We hear you, we respect you and I’m glad you understand that this is a decision that only concerns us. Porter . . . is he clean, Mason?”

“Yes. Read the report I prepared.” Mason looks around and shakes his head. “Do you need help opening the packages?”

“What do you think, babe?” Gabe asks, masking the feelings that the news of Porter’s return is causing him. “Should we put them to work?”

I nod, because he needs to gather some strength and talk this out. Also, tomorrow his family arrives and we need the physical space to let everyone walk freely around the house. “Yes, find me wrapping paper, boys. We have tons to do before the Colthurst clan arrives.”

“Decorating shit is Thea’s department,” Mason tells Matt and Tristan. “She should coordinate it. I’m going home.”

“Us,” Tristan corrects him. “She’ll coordinate us. I doubt your sister is going to let you go without making you a part of the project. Knowing my bossy wife, she’s going to include your father too. Let’s gather the troops and come back soon.”

The four leave from where they came from and I’m guessing we only have a few minutes before the entire family is here to help.

“What are we going to do, babe?” Gabe asks as Matthew closes the back door. “I’m still fucking mad at him, Chris. The shit he did. But . . .”

The but is what has us both thinking. If any of our children had done the same, we’d open the door for them the moment they came back to say sorry. Should that be the same with Porter? Or not, since he isn’t our biological son. No matter what we decide to do we have to set our anger and worry aside. Think of what’s best for all our kids.

“We are going to do absolutely nothing, Gabe.” I set the folder on the coffee table. “For tonight, we’re going to set Porter and what our children think aside. We have to fix what you did, you let me buy a lot of shit, and now we have to wrap
everything
.”

“My fault?” His body shakes with laughter. “Fuck, I love you, crazy old man. Text the children to come by in a half hour. I need you to take care of me.”

Pops:
Do not come by for the next thirty minutes. Make sure to bring the grandkids when you come, though. Gabe needs a lot of family love.

“Doc, I want your professional opinion,” I say to Thea, as we head to the kitchen to start dinner.

She shakes her head. “About?” I believe she’s stalling, and assume that it’s because she knows the story about Porter and AJ. My girls are like sisters and they look out for each other.

“Porter.”

“From whose perspective?” She ties her loose hair up into a bun and lets out a breath. “Your daughter-in-law, Matt’s wife, AJ’s sister, Mason’s sister, or an outsider? Because from every angle, it looks different.”

“You saw him, can you tell me about your exchange, your impression about him?”

“He was agitated because you weren’t there,” she explains, heading to the refrigerator. “He’s definitely clean. That was Mase’s first question. If he was sober. The answer is yes. Anxious. Lost.” She turns around holding a basket filled with veggies. Man, how does she do that? Bring over all that healthy shit from her garden. I point at the basket and she gives me that sweet smile of hers. “Brought it earlier from the greenhouse. You got to eat healthy, Pops.”

“Give me your honest opinion, Thea. Not as AJ’s sister, Mason’s sister or Matt’s wife. As a doctor.” I walk towards her, grab the basket, and look her in the eyes. “The same way we consult about other patients.”

She rolls her eyes. “Family aside, I’ve been thinking about him after AJ and Matt told me every little detail. Taking into consideration that it’s been a few years since he got clean and his father dying—”

I take a step back, what the hell? “Steven died?” Thea nods. “When?” Fuck, I should’ve read that fucking file.

“Not long ago. According to jail records, Porter saw him only days before it happened. Colon cancer, stage four. That must have triggered a need to look for his family.” She lifts her shoulders and drops them slowly. “You’re the only ones he has left. Unless you don’t see him as family anymore.”

“He’s like a son to us.” She nods and continues listening. “When we found him, I wanted to protect that kid, give him a better life. Make sure he wouldn’t end up like me. But he did.”

My sweet daughter-in-law gives me a hug and a kiss. “As a doctor, I’d recommend that you reconnect with your kid, find out what he needs. Maybe offer him that family support so he can stay on the right track.”

Before I can do that, I have to talk to Gabe. Discuss what he wants and what we are able to offer. The guys came over earlier to say that they support us, but to keep Porter away from them. I’d have to split myself in half in order to accomplish both. Support Porter while making sure he’s far from my family. That’s not really offering him a family, is it? The answer to my next question should come from someone that suffers the same disease that Porter and I do. A person who is always sweet and understanding.

“As my daughter-in-law?”

She looks toward the kitchen door and smiles. “I’ll support you, because I’ve been where he is. Having the Decker bunch behind you is a blessing I wish many could have.”

“Do you think they’ll understand?” I tilt my head as if pointing at the rest of the family.

“I think so. They are as loving as their fathers. But take the first step, Pops. When you have a plan, I’ll be here for you.” She then heads to the freezer and takes out some meat. Thank God she’s going to feed me meat. “Leave the cooking to me, why don’t you head back and have some quality time with Piper. She misses Papa Chris.”

“I can’t believe you ruined my trend, Abuelo sounded better.” She rolls her eyes and her attention is now focused on whatever she’s planning on cooking.

Thea is right. I have to take the first steps. That includes discussing with Gabe what we want to do. That might not happen soon, but perhaps we can look into this in the coming year.