Read Always (Family Justice Book 1) for Free Online Page B

his parents’ universe. The lack of atta’ boys and good job high fives in his past meant Draegyn sometimes came across as cold and detached without a lot of warm fuzzies. She could only sigh.
    Inside the house, Stephanie stopped and marveled at the glorious masterpiece Draegyn designed. The wood. The windows. The open spaces. The light. The stone fireplace. It was all just so perfect. So organic. It was going to be a terrific home in which to raise a family. Their child was one incredibly damn lucky baby.
    Keeping a supportive arm wound around Tori’s waist, Stephanie watched, bemused as Drae and Ben commandeered her mountain of bags down a hallway next to the dining room.
    “That’s new,” she murmured to Tori with a question in her voice.
    Victoria laughed and shook her head. “Damn. You noticed the change. I keep trying to tell Draegyn the slight alteration in the space isn’t that big a deal. Don’t let him know you saw right away,” she giggled.
    “Understood, baby girl, but what’s that all about?
    “It’s so cool, Mom. We got a small elevator. With the layout of the addition, we have three levels now, so…elevator. That’s why they dragged your bags down the hallway.”
    To say Tori waddled wasn’t entirely accurate when in actuality what she did was a sort of shuffle shuffle shimmy that mimicked walking. Seeing firsthand how difficult it was for her to get around, Stephanie was delighted to learn about the elevator. Tori must have been channeling that exact thought ‘cause she chimed in. “I’d never be able to move up and down steps so the elevator has been a blessing. Without it, I’d be trapped on one floor. Ugh . What a thought.”
    By the time they’d crept along the hallway to the elevator door, Tori was winded. “ Shugah , darling,” Stephanie drawled. “What this situation needs is a rolling chair! Remember how we used to take Daddy’s old desk chair and use it to stack our grocery bags on? Get yourself a twenty dollar chair that you can scoot around on.”
    “Aw, Mom. Shit. I’m so glad you’re here. The chair idea probably sounds hare-brained, but you’re so right. After all, it’s only for a few weeks. Know what? Let’s get two and we can have rolling chair challenges. Just like when I was a kid.”
    As the elevator door closed and she pushed the button for the second level, Stephanie kissed Tori on the forehead. “Look at you. Already thinking like a mama. You’ll be making those sorts of memories with your own child real soon and then all this will have been worth it.”
    Victoria slumped against her and murmured, “God, I hope you’re right.”

    AFTER A BRIEF TOUR OF the new baby suite that Tori declared the coolest fucking nursery on earth , Draegyn scooped Tori up in his arms. He motioned to Stephanie to go ahead of him and up a short rise of steps at the far end of the hallway. At the top of the wide stairs and after a quick pivot to the left, Stephanie was faced with a wide-open space. It was laid out as a sitting room with a sectional sofa, some easy chairs, and a flat screen TV mounted on a wall.
    After he’d settled Tori onto the sofa, Stephanie reached out, grabbed her son-in-law’s forearm, and squeezed. “Draegyn,” she sighed, gratitude and amazement in her voice. “This is beautiful.”
    Tori snorted in amusement saying, “You ain’t seen nothing yet, Mom. Check out the kitchen and the deck. My husband really outdid himself.”
    Seeing Draegyn’s actual man-blush was just as cute as could be. He was the blink of an eye away from scuffing his foot on the ground, hanging his head, and muttering, Aw shucks. Stephanie was definitely starting to grade him on a curve.
    “It was nothing, really,” he joked. “I knew Victoria would want you to be part of our baby’s life, and the casita is nice and all but too far away. This way, you’re right here but have all the privacy you need. Behind this room is a bedroom with a walk-in closet and a full bath.