Never Been Ready (Ready #2)(43)

"Hey, Short Stack! What are you doing out here? It's freezing!"

Maddie's little nose was bright red, and she was bundled up in a puffy pink jacket with matching gloves and a hat. "I was waiting for you at the inside at the window, but you didn't get out of the car. So, Mommy said it was okay if I came out and got you."

"Well, we're ready to go inside. Think you could show us the way?" Leah asked.

Maddie nodded her head with enthusiasm. We got out of the car and all headed toward the house. I bent down and scooped Maddie up in my arms as she giggled. I was pretty sure it was the first time I'd ever picked up a kid in my life. They didn't break easily, did they? She seemed happy, so I went with it.

"Hey, you. I think you asked me a question about your Aunt Leah the last time we met. You remember?" I asked Maddie.

"Um..." She thought about it while scrunching her nose and lips together as if it helped her concentrate. "Oh, yes! I remember!" she said, getting excited as she looked at her aunt.

"You want to ask me that question again?" I chuckled.

She looked at her aunt, and Leah just shrugged in response, which caused Maddie to giggle.

"Okay, but first, I'm just going to say that you're silly."

"Duly noted," I said, straight-faced.

"Declan, are you my Aunt Leah's boyfriend?"

"Why yes, Maddie, I am Leah's boyfriend. Aren't I lucky?"

She just giggled again as we made our way into the house. I set her down gently, and she ran off into the house, announcing that Leah and her silly boyfriend were here.

"You're insane," Leah said, shaking her head.

"About you," I answered before kissing her cheek.

"God, that was awful. You need better pick-up lines."

I laughed. "Why? Who am I trying to pick up? I already got what I wanted."

"That was so much better. That one kinda makes me want to hump you right here."

"That can be arranged. I'm sure we could find a closet," I teased, remembering our almost indiscretion in the closet at Clare and Logan's house.

She grinned at me as we rounded the corner of the hallway into the family room where we found Clare and Logan huddled together in a tight hug. They looked up, and my heart fell. Clare had been crying, and Logan was visibly upset.

"Oh God, what's wrong? Please say it's not what I think it is," Leah said in a panic, gripping my hand tighter.

"No, no, I'm fine. Cancer treatment is exactly on schedule, and things look good, great even," Logan said.

Leah's death grip on my hand loosened a little, and I felt some of the blood rush back to my fingers.

"Oh thank God. So, what is it? Why are we upset? Whose ass does Declan need to kick?"

"Whoa, why I am being thrown into this?" I asked, throwing up my hands in defense.

"Logan's father called this morning." Clare said.

"Oh," we both answered in union.

That would explain it. Logan's father was like mine, only the upgraded model. He was richer, meaner, and crueler. His idea of love was sending checks on birthdays and graduation. He hadn't spoken to Logan since the day his previous marriage went public in a very embarrassing way and he'd made no attempts to meet Logan's new family since he'd married Clare. He'd never spent one second of his life caring about his family, and Logan had spent his feeling like a shunned outcast.

There was only one reason Mitchell Matthews would be calling.

"So, how much is cancer going for these days?" I asked.

"A quarter of a mil apparently," Logan answered absently.

"So, the man called you up, after years of nothing, only to offer you money because he'd heard that you have cancer?" Leah asked.

"Yep, pretty much."

"So, did you take the money?" I asked, grinning.

"Declan!" Leah scolded.

I brushed it off. Logan and I were friends for a reason. We thought the same way, and I bet he was thinking the same thing I was.

Logan grinned back and nodded. "Yep, sure did. It's being wired on Monday. I will then take his guilt money and donate it anonymously to as many cancer societies as I can find. My family and I will spend the rest of the holidays in New York with my mother, knowing his money is going to hundreds of other families in need. It's a win for everyone."

I probably would have thrown in something with a little more vengeance, like sending out a party invite with my father's address to the entire population of Facebook and then watching from afar as they all descended on his house. But that was where Logan and I differed.

"It's still pretty messed-up that your father calls only to send you money. Did he even ask about your wife and child?" Leah asked.

"Nope."

"Well, I'm pretty sure the motto we used for these situations back in high school still works," I said.

He chuckled, nodding his head in agreement.

"What motto is that?" Leah asked.

"Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em all."

~Leah~

I'd spent Christmas with Clare's family for as long as I could remember. Years ago, ever since Clare's mother had asked about my plans for the day and I'd sheepishly mentioned my father having to work, I'd been here. I thought she had known it was a lie, but she never asked. She'd just opened her home and family to me, like she always had...like she did this night with Declan.