Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(152)

Chase knew Quinn was imagining life without his kids after he and Libby tried for so long to have a child. “Can you even fathom how Gavin feels? Finding out your birth mother gave you up, but went on to have three other kids with the same guy?”

“Maybe we shoulda checked to see if he had a clubfoot,” Ben joked.
“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Chase demanded.
“History books claim if firstborn sons had any kind of physical defect, the baby would be abandoned. Back then, even a clubfoot would get you a one-way ticket to the woods. The family hoped the next baby would be perfect.”

“You’re f*ckin’ morbid,” Chase said. “Christ. That’s not even funny. Where do you come up with this shit?”

“Try reading something other than Hustler some time,” Ben shot back.
“Boys,” Quinn warned. “Here’s where I’m at. I have a hard time believing Aunt Kimi and Aunt Carolyn didn’t blab to Uncle Cal and Uncle Carson about this.”

“I disagree. Without sounding like a freakin’ girl, women keep other women’s secrets. Especially when it comes to family stuff,” Ben said.
“So do you think they’ll break the news to the rest of the family about the forty-one-year-old secret McKay baby?” Quinn asked.
“If it’s up to Mom and Dad? Yes. Gavin? No.”

Chase sighed. “Think Gavin will…hell. Sounds stupid.”

“Will what? Want to be part of our family?” Ben supplied.
“Yeah.”

“No.”

Quinn and Chase looked at each other, then Ben. “Why not?”

“Was I the only one who noticed he doesn’t seem happy? And that didn’t have a damn thing to do with him coming here? He’s a bunged-up corporate guy.”

“I got that impression too,” Quinn admitted.
“He’s never had siblings. Can’t miss what you don’t have. He’s satisfied his curiosity, done his duty to his late mother, and he’ll move on.”

“So you sayin’ he’s done with us? After one meeting?”

Ben passed out another round. “One of us, or all of us, will try and develop this meeting into something. Communication is two-way. Be interesting to see if Gavin reciprocates, or if he’ll blow us off.”

“That’s a f*ckin’ sad scene you’ve created, Ben.” Scene. Made him think of Ava, always setting the scene.
Ben shrugged. “Calling it like I see it.”

Quinn asked, “You think Mom has her heart set on us all bein’ a big, happy family?”

“She made her peace long ago. I think she’d like for us to get to know him and vice versa. But she won’t push it.”

“Dad might. If only for her.” Ben lifted his bottle. “To the bright side of today. Neither Mom or Dad havin’ cancer.”

Bottles chinked together.
Chase raised his bottle. “This is f*ckin’ sappy as shit, but I just gotta say it. To us. Gavin don’t know what he’s missing, havin’ you guys as brothers. His loss if he walks away because you guys are the best.”

Neither Quinn nor Ben gave him shit for being sentimental, probably because Chase never was.
The conversation shifted, but it eventually flowed back to the shock of the day. Chase clammed up when Quinn or Ben asked questions about his future with the PBR or with Ava.
Quinn went home. Chase was surprised he’d stayed as long as he had. Maybe his brothers missed hanging out with him.
But the sleepless night, long drive, and the stress caught up with him. He couldn’t keep his eyes open. He mumbled to Ben about finding his cell phone, stumbled to the guest bedroom and crashed.