Delinquent Daddy (Banks / Kincaid Family #2)(21)

I just found out I have a daughter, for God's sake. I need..."

Feeling a little woozy himself, his knees buckled slightly.

He caught himself before going down, but a handful of family surged forward anyway, catching him.

"Let's get him inside," his father said, even as his brothers-in-law started to haul him toward the front door.

Shrugging them off, Boston mumbled, "I'm fine." No one seemed to listen until he shouted, "Hey! I can walk by myself."

82

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

A dozen pair of hands eased off, but they all stayed suffocatingly close as if expecting him to topple over any second.

"Let's head inside anyway," Lincoln Kincaid said, taking charge of the situation. "There's no reason to discuss this on the front lawn."

And so, everyone shifted toward the house. Monty's cell phone rang on the way. As soon as he flipped it open, he was already saying, "She's his. She's really his daughter!" Boston could only guess it was some aunt or uncle or cousin on the other end of the line.

Once inside, Madison ushered him toward a chair as his other two sisters, Cheyenne and Helena, hurried off together to get him a drink.

"Now, tell us about the girl," his mom demanded, pacing the floor in front of him. "Her name's Cassie, right?"

Boston nodded. "Cassidy Diane Trenton."

"Diane?" his mother repeated, falling to a stop and lifting her head. When Boston bobbed his head in affirmation, she blinked rapidly. Lifting a hand to her face, she wiped her eyes. "She's named after me?"

"What's she look like?" Olivia asked eagerly.

"Did you get to meet her?" Shannon wanted to know.

"I spent over four hours with her," Boston reported.

The room quieted, everyone eager for the news.

"What's she like?" Monty asked.

"She's...she's...well, she's perfect," was the only description Boston could think to give. "Absolutely perfect."

The room sighed in contentment.

83

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"She, uh, she's extremely smart," he added. "I saw a math test on the refrigerator, and she was graded a ninety-eight percent."

"She gets that from me," Diane announced, grinning.

"She looks like you too," Boston said.

"Really?" his mother gasped, squeezing Helena's hand when her oldest daughter reached out.

"I mean, she's got Ellie's features: nose, mouth, and the shape of her eyes. And she's got Dad's coloring with his straight black hair and blue eyes...but she still looks just like those pictures of you when you were that age."

"Oh, wow," Diane whispered, fanning her tear-stained face. "This is so amazing."

"She's in a tumbling class," Boston said, mentioning whatever fact came to mind. "And soccer. And her best friend is a boy who lives next door. Ellie says she's his defender when bullies try to pick on him. And she's got a stubborn streak a mile wide. I could tell that immediately when El had her go take a bath. But she's still obedient. Even though she didn't want to do something, she still did what her mom told her to do. And...and..."

As he realized how badly he was rambling, his voice faded.

"That's it," Diane said, "I want to meet her. Right now."

She actually turned toward the exit as if prepared to leave that very moment for Lawrence.

"Whoa!" Boston said, jumping to his feet. "No one bothers them."

Everyone despised that idea, and they all objected...loudly.

84

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Hey!" Boston yelled above the roar. "Do you know how intimidating it would be to have fifty strangers invade them all at once?"

"There's not fifty of us. Thirty tops, counting all the aunts, uncles and cousins," someone said just as another person retaliated with, "But we're family."

"They still don't know you," Boston argued. "So stay away for a while, okay? As soon as I work out custody with Ellie, I'll bring Cassidy out and you can all meet her one household at a time."

"Your father and I get to meet her first," Diane inserted before anyone else could call dibs.

"Oh, oh! Cam and me second," Olivia said quickly, lifting her hand and wiggling her fingers.

"So, when will you be working out custody issues?"

Cameron wanted to know.

"I figure I'll whip up a draft tonight and run the basic plan by Helena in the morning to see what she thinks." He glanced at his older sister, who was also a lawyer.

She nodded in affirmation. "Of course. I'll help any way I can."

"Then I'll approach Ellie tomorrow evening when I go out there again," he added. "Cassie wants me to take her to Chuck E. Cheese's."

"Tomorrow?" Diane gasped. "You're seeing her again tomorrow? Well, good. We'll come with you."

"No! No, I already told you, you're going to scare her."

85

Delinquent Daddy

by Linda Kage

"Hey, it's a free country. If I show up at the Chuck E.