Going Down Easy (Boys of the Big Easy #1)(56)

“That’s really cool,” Cooper said. He wiggled out of the space again and went to climb up on the window seat. “Lightning is electricity,” he said, to no one in particular. “So it’s like when you hear a pop when you touch something with static.”

Gabe couldn’t help his smile. God, he loved his kid. Gabe would have never been able to explain to Coop what made thunder, but he sure could have looked it up. It seemed that Cooper had a new interest. A weather fascination might be cool.

Stella had turned her attention to Cooper and the window. She made no move to join him, but she was no longer shaking.

“If I turn on the light, the lightning won’t seem so bright,” Gabe said, still trying to figure out how to make this situation better.

“No!” Cooper protested. “I want to see the next one really good!”

Stella gave a little shiver. “I don’t like it when it’s super loud and surprises me.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Gabe told her. “Do you want me to turn on the light?” Cooper would deal with it. There would be more lightning. When there wasn’t a frightened little girl in his bedroom corner.

But Stella was still watching Cooper. “No,” she finally said. “It’s okay for him to see it.”

Gabe felt his heart thump. These kids. He’d always known he wanted more than one, but he’d had no idea what that would really be like. It was damned amazing was what it was.

“Do you want to call your mom?” Gabe asked. “I think she’d want to talk to you if you’re scared.”

Stella looked at him again. “She always talks to me when I’m scared. She tells me what the storm is and that it’s just air and not to worry.”

Gabe nodded. That sounded like Addison. Take the fear away by being practical.

“People can die if lightning strikes them,” Cooper said, almost as an aside as he continued to stare out the window, waiting for more lightning. The rain pounded against the window, and the wind wailed.

“Coop, that’s not helpful,” Gabe chided.

“Not if you’re inside,” Stella told Cooper.

Cooper shrugged. “But outside.”

“But if it’s raining outside, you should be inside,” Stella insisted.

“Sometimes you can’t help it,” Cooper replied.

Stella frowned at him. “But lightning doesn’t hit you automatically when you’re outside.”

Cooper finally turned. “I know. But it can.”

“But thunder doesn’t kill people,” Stella said, still frowning and going up onto her knees.

Gabe thought about intervening in the argument, but he was fascinated by the interaction.

“I know that,” Cooper said, as if that were the dumbest thing anyone had ever told him. “It’s just air shaking.”

“You know that because I told you,” Stella said.

“Yeah, I know,” Cooper said. “But thunder can’t hurt you. Just the lightning. And not if you’re inside.”

“I know,” Stella returned.

“So why are you scared if you’re in here?” Cooper asked.

Gabe turned wide eyes on Stella. He hoped that the little girl could tell that Cooper was honestly curious rather than teasing her.

Stella scowled at him. “Because it’s loud.”

Cooper thought about that, then nodded. “Yeah. That can be scary.”

Gabe wasn’t sure he’d ever been prouder of Cooper. He turned to Stella. “What would make you feel better?” he asked. “Should we call your mom?”

She sat back on her behind and nodded. “Okay.”

“Coop, will you go get my phone off my table by the bed?” Gabe asked. He finally gave in to the urge and reached out to stroke a hand over Stella’s head. “I want you to feel safe with us, Stella. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She nodded.

Cooper came running back into the room with Gabe’s phone as Caroline poked her head into the room, blinking sleepily. “Everything okay?”

Gabe nodded. “The storm has us a little spooked,” he said.

“Ah,” Caroline said. “Do you need anything? Cocoa? Cuddles? I’ve got both.” She gave Stella a smile full of affection.

Again, Gabe felt that grab in his chest.

Stella shook her head, though. “I’ll talk to my mommy.”

“Oh, that will fix everything,” Caroline agreed. “Okay, well, you let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Gabe said.

Caroline shot him a look that was full of affection and pride as well. Gabe had never appreciated his mother as much as he had since becoming a parent himself. Their dad had passed away when Gabe was only four and Logan two. He didn’t remember Tom Trahan well, and that made him sad, but his mom had done an amazing job, especially going it alone, and Gabe made a note to be sure to tell her that more often.

Gabe dialed Addison’s number, feeling his heart thump in anticipation of hearing her voice, even if the reason for the call wasn’t entirely sunshine and roses. And it was two a.m.

“Gabe?” she answered huskily a moment later. “What’s wrong?”

He thought about teasing her about the fact that a two-a.m. call could be for phone sex, but the kids were right there, and Stella really did need to talk to her. “It’s storming here,” he said. “Stella needs to talk to you.”