Chapter Nine

Sunday morning Aralyn could barely move her shoulder, and she hobbled into the kitchen on one crutch.

Brian had been called to look her over at Trixie’s request.

“This isn’t really my area, Sis.” Brian studied the x-rays that had been taken the evening before. “But it does look like a separation. I think she’s going to be out for the rest of the year. She’ll probably be okay to play in the Spring.”

Trixie winced. Aralyn would not take that well.

Brian was a pediatrician, but between Aralyn and her brothers, he had made more house calls to them than all the other cousins combined. He didn’t mind; he was still single and childless, he doted on his nieces, nephew and cousins. Sean was one of his favorites, and he was always willing to babysit or read him a story.

Cam arrived at one, and they headed to Manor House in Sleepyside. The monthly birthday parties were usually held there, with plenty of room for the kids to run, and during the summer, the festivities were held down at the lake.

Cam was surprised by everyone’s friendliness, and Aralyn was right, no one seemed to mind or really notice another person. They sang happy birthday to Aralyn, Brian, Luke, and the younger Regan, Jim and Hallie’s youngest son. A full sheet cake was brought out, and Cam was amused that it all got eaten. Leif and Logan kept slipping up for more after everyone had received their initial piece, and since they were dressed alike, no one seemed to know who was whom. Cam noted Bo and Trixie didn’t really seem to care, and even Aralyn had a second piece of the moist chocolate cake with buttercream frosting.

When the party wound down, Cam and Aralyn went off for their own celebration. Aralyn knew he was driving her somewhere near the park.

“Close your eyes.” He smiled as he shut the car off.

With a grin she did so, but he stared at her hard for a second.

“Are you peeking?”

“Of course not,” she said sweetly.

“Uh huh. I’m going to blindfold you.”

Aralyn laughed as he tied something soft and silky around her eyes and head. Taking her hand after removing something from the car that sounded suspiciously like ice rattling around, he led her a little ways away from the Jeep. Chirping crickets and bird calls alerted her that they were somewhere in the park, and then she heard the river. Patiently, she followed until they stopped and he told her to stand still.

“Okay, you can look,” he said, untying the blindfold.

“Oh, Cam,” she murmured, staring at the small clearing that opened up right next to the river. “It’s beautiful!”

The small clearing was right next to the water and heavily guarded with trees for privacy.

“I found it a couple years ago,” he said shyly. “It’s so quiet and secluded, I could bring a book or write for hours. Sometimes the ducks swim down from the pond.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me,” she turned and smiled at him.

“You’re welcome. I’m very glad too. Sit.” He motioned to where he had spread the blanket.

Grinning eagerly, she did so, as he brought out a gift-wrapped box and a thin envelope.

“Which should I open first?” she asked.

“Up to you.”

Aralyn started to unwrap the box carefully, fumbling with the tape.

“Oh, rip it off, you know you want to.” He grinned, leaning back on his elbow.

Aralyn grinned and quickly tore into it and her eyes lit up as she recognized the small silver box.

“These are my favorites! How did you know? Let me guess.” She laughed. “Tiffany.”

“I was given some advice,” he admitted with a smile.

“I’ve been wanting to try these forever!” she squealed, her eyes roaming over the golden box of chocolates.

“So open it.” He smiled. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he brought out small bottle of milk. Aralyn realized that had been the noise she heard as she had stood by his Jeep.

“You think of everything.” She giggled.

“Your eating habits are legendary,” he replied dryly.

Laughing, Aralyn opened the box and stared at them.

“She even told you which ones I like best,” she murmured. “I just can’t decide which to try first!”

Cam sat up. “Close your eyes.”

Aralyn did so.

“Open your mouth.”

Her eyes flew open. “You tell me that knowing who my brothers are? The last time I fell for that I was eight, and Leif tried to feed me worms.”

“No worms, I promise.” He smiled.

Aralyn obeyed, and he gently placed a piece of chocolate in her mouth. She bit down slowly, reveling in the thick cream that was encased in milk chocolate. The sweet, vanilla-cherry flavor mixed with the chocolate, and she chewed slowly, ecstatic.

“That’s so good.” She finally her opened eyes and found him smiling at her. “Here, you eat one.”

Cam shook his head. “No, Goddess, they’re for you.”

“But I want to share them,” she protested.

Cam gave her a sheepish smile.

“I can’t eat them,” he said gently. “I’m diabetic.”

“Oh!” Aralyn looked startled. “But you ate cake earlier!”

“Just a bite, and I requested a very small piece,” he told her.

“So that’s why you never eat dessert or anything,” she said.

Cam nodded. “I have it under control now, but for a long time I didn’t, and I was hospitalized once for it. I have to be careful.”

“I would simply die if I couldn’t eat chocolate!” she exclaimed. “Though my hips might thank me for it.”

“I like your hips the way they are,” he said boldly, leaning over and kissing her.

Aralyn pulled way in alarm, “Will you get sick if you kiss me after I’ve eaten chocolate?”

“No,” he said patiently. “Kissing is perfectly safe.”

“Good,” she grinned, leaning over to kiss him again.

Moments later, she slid open the envelope and pulled out to tickets.

“Rangers tickets!’ she squealed. “The New York Rangers against the Detroit Red Wings! I thought this game was sold out?” she demanded.

Cam grinned. “I know a few people.”

Aralyn threw her arms around his neck, knocking him over backwards onto the ground.

“You are the best boyfriend ever!” she said with a laugh.

Cam laughed in response and pulled her close.

***

The next two weeks were a frantic studying session for midterms. Aralyn was panicking over her chemistry and algebra midterms, and even with Cam’s tutoring, she was struggling.

Waking up in the middle of night sweating, she sat up and ran her hands over her hair. Her algebra book had been chasing her down a crowded hall of life-size beakers and test tubes full of boiling chemicals, all shouting formulas and equations at her.

Throwing back her covers, she slid her feet into her slippers and went downstairs. Hopefully, there would be some lemon meringue pie left, her and Bo’s favorite. Trixie made Moms’ recipe, and father and daughter loved it. Aralyn was half convinced her other made two, knowing there would be midnight raids on it.

Seeing the light on in the kitchen, she grinned, knowing she would find Bo at the table, enjoying the pie.

“Did you save me any?” she teased.

Bo looked up from the table with a sheepish smile, his mussed blond hair falling over into his eyes. Trixie had been threatening him with a haircut in his sleep if he didn’t get it trimmed soon. She liked to say Bo had gotten as bad as Dan about haircuts.

“Somethin’ told me you’d be down here,” he commented.

“I had nightmares about midterms,” she confessed, dropping into the seat next to him and taking the last piece of pie.

“That difficult?” Bo frowned, knowing his daughter was well above average intelligence.

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve been doing better since Cam’s tutoring me, and the teachers even agree my grades are better, but I get so panicky.”

“Well, can’t say as I blame you.” Bo sighed. “That stuff wasn’t required when I was in school, and good thing. I might never have graduated.”

Aralyn snorted. “Yeah, we know you got through school smiling at the teachers.”

Bo chuckled. “Don’t believe everythin’ Luke and Daisy tell you. Besides, Luke did plenty of flirtin’ himself.”

Aralyn chuckled. “Yes, so we hear.” She rolled her eyes.

She told her father about her dream. “It was horrid.”

“When are they?” he asked. “Algebra II is tomorrow, chem is Thursday.” She sighed.

“Well, sweetheart, don’t borrow trouble just yet. Do the best you can, that’s all we ask,” Bo said gently.

“I know. I just...I don’t see as to how they’re going to help me in the real world.”

“They’ll make college easier, otherwise you would have to take them then. Did you fill out those applications yet?”

Aralyn mumbled an unintelligible answer through her pie, which made Bo’s dark blue eyes narrow as he studied her, but he seemed to accept her answer.

“Any idea on a major?”

“No.” She sighed. “I’m not really good enough at anything to want to do it all my life,” she hedged. “Other than play hockey, and I don’t know that I’m good enough to make the Olympic team.”

“Sweetheart, you’re good at everythin’ you do,” Bo countered. “Besides, I hear them Olympic scouts are on the move, lookin’ for talent. If your coach ain’t submitted your name by now, she’s a damn fool.”

Aralyn rolled her eyes. “You’re my Dad, you have to say stuff like that.”

Bo grinned. “Of course. Besides, there’s always ice hockey.”

“I know I’m not good enough for that,” she replied.

“You are if I say you are,” Bo said firmly, making his daughter smile as she finished her pie.

After Aralyn had finished her pie, she stood up. “Guess I’ll try to get back to sleep.”

“Watch out for mean algebra books.” He stood up as well and ruffled her hair before taking their dishes to the sink.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned against he sink, studying his kitchen. He had everything he had ever wanted. Beautiful, sexy wife, good kids, nice home, and thanks to Matt Wheeler’s business advice years ago, a nice amount of cash in the bank from investments.

Aralyn was his oldest, and while he tried to deny it, his favorite. But he couldn’t help it. It had taken the General to get him to the hospital in time to see her arrive, and Trixie had been ready to kill him. Peter’s hand had almost crushed been from her grip, and Bo had burst into the delivery room as she had been screaming in pain. Within minutes, Aralyn had been there, also screaming at her top of her lungs, covered in birth goo. Bo had known it was a girl when she had been halfway out, to the surprise of the doctor. Holding his little girl, the rush of love that had gone through him had blown him away as he had held the tiny miracle, red faced and screaming, but when he had touched her little face, the screaming had stopped. Bo knew then that his baby was more precious than just about anything else, second only to Trixie herself.

Peter Belden hurried up to the maternity ward to say goodnight to his first grandchild. Even at a distance, he recognized the tall, lean frame of his son-in-law leaning against the nursery window.

Bo stood leaning against the glass, watching his daughter sleep, when a hand on his shoulder startled him. In a pale pink blanket, with a cap on her head, lay Aralyn Elizabeth Duke, kicking her feet as she slept. A baby bracelet with her name was around Bo’s wrist.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she,”Peter said.

Bo nodded. “Who would ever believe I could help make somethin’ so perfect?”

Peter smiled at the son-in-law he was very fond of. “You’re a good man Bo. Trixie never would have married you otherwise.”

Bo nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Finally he cleared his throat. “That little one scares the hell outta me.”

“They do that.” Peter smiled fondly at the memory of another tiny blonde female baby. “But the first time she opens those baby blues and smiles at you, it’s all worth it. You’ll spend the rest of your life worrying about her, but when she throws her arms around you and yells out ‘Daddy’, you’ll know every moment was worth it,” Peter said softly. Bo just nodded again, blinking to hold back his tears.

Now she was growing up, and sometimes, he found it depressing. She had been a bit rebellious at fifteen, but nothing like him, Luke or Daisy. He had even taken her to get her belly button pierced on her sixteenth birthday, one of the few times he and Trixie had argued in recent years. But she had never had the screaming fits and rebellion of her cousin, Timmy, Dan and Daisy’s oldest, who was only a month younger than Aralyn. She was Bo’s girl all the way, from her friendly, easy-going personality to her quick charm, looks and constant thrill seeking. The adventurous spirit came from both parents.

And now she was dating. He wasn’t sure which bothered him more: her decision not to date because the boys bored her, or suddenly finding someone she liked enough to date exclusively. But Bo knew he had to trust her, and then he’d remember how he had been at eighteen, and his fears got even bigger. Eighteen-year-old boys were not on his list of favorite people, no matter how much he liked Cam Kent.

And her reluctance to talk about college bothered him. He hadn’t gone to college—he had joined the Marshals after racing in NASCAR—and he wanted his little girl to have everything he hadn’t. He wanted her to be successful the way Trixie had been when they met. Confident, looking at a good future, and big dreams she knew could tackle. It was one of the things that drew him to Trixie in the first place.

That, and her curvy little figure in jeans and a halter that hot August day when he and Luke had run them off the road by accident. The Belden temper went flying at him, and he had managed to charm her into calming down. But she had charmed her way into his heart.

Smiling as he remembered that first encounter, he thought again about his pretty daughter, who was the same age Trixie had been when they met. Then Bo frowned remembering what else had transpired on that adventure, as he turned out the light and headed back upstairs to his bed and wife.

***

Aralyn bit her lip as she struggled with the last answer of her exam. Knowing she was the last one who was working on her test didn’t help. A quick glance at the clock told her she had two minutes left. She didn’t dare look at Cam, who had been done for quite some time and was reading a book.

Finally, she wrote out the vague thought floating in the back of her head right as the bell rang. With a heavy sigh she took it to the front of the room and handed it in to the teacher.

Cam waited for her to grab her bag.

“Well?” he asked, slinging his arm around her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” she said dejectedly. “I just panicked, just froze up.”

“It’ll be all right. You gave it a shot.” He squeezed her shoulders as they headed to lunch.

By the end of lunch, she had cheered up. Cam’s arm had been around her for most of lunch. Dean had joined their table today and was doing his best to get Tiffany to agree to a date with him. His light blue eyes twinkled merrily as her gave her a winning smile, but she just rolled her eyes at him.

Tiffany half wanted to go to the library during lunch, but she knew Dean would probably follow. Cam would have Aralyn distracted, so her older cousin wouldn’t notice Tiffany’s sudden fondness for the library. It wasn’t her fault Mr. Roth spent most of his lunch period in there.

Tiffany had noticed Callie West’s eyes following their teacher as he moved around the room and felt a hot surge of irritation at the other girl. It was hard not to admire the lean frame and soulful, gentle eyes, but she didn’t like what she expected Callie was thinking.

She was enjoying literature much more this semester. The teacher was lively and animated, and he didn’t make them read the long passages out loud, or else he would read with them, pausing partway through to encourage discussion. And he did involve everyone in the discussion, even the loners that sulked in the back of the room and the airheads who were usually occupied with their makeup.

It was hard not to admire his energy and passion for books. Tiffany liked to read, but she found herself more curious about classic literature than she ever had been.

Thankfully, Aralyn was too wrapped up in Cam to notice Tiffany’s crush on their teacher.

***

By practice that night, Aralyn was worried again and almost missed a pass Tiff made to her. Her shoulder was throbbing, and she knew she’d be icing it again tonight.

“Duke! Get your head out of the clouds and pay attention! You’ll see your boyfriend later!” Coach yelled.

Tiff snickered as Aralyn sighed.

“I wish it was Cam on my mind,” she muttered, taking her position again.

“Don’t sweat it. You either pass or you don’t.”

Aralyn nodded. She wasn’t worried about it blowing her chances to get into college—she had no plans to go to college. She just hadn’t informed her parents of that yet.

***

Even a quick kiss from Cam before her chemistry exam couldn’t cheer Aralyn up as the exam was placed in front of her. With a quick prayer to whoever was listening, she started in on it.

Again, she was the last to turn it in when the bell rang but dared a brave smile to her teacher.

“See, you survived,” Cam said teasingly, hugging her afterwards.

“Barely,” she said as she dramatically put one hand to her forehead.

“It’ll be fine,” he assured her, squeezing her tightly.

“Hey, Mom wants you to come for dinner Sunday,” she said awkwardly.

“Sure,” he agreed easily. “Need I expect twin trouble?”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll try to spike your food,” she answered cheerfully, happy that he hadn’t cringed and made excuses not to come.

“I can handle them,” he said confidently. “We still on for Friday?”

“Sure.” She grinned up at him and he brushed his lips against hers. In the hallways, that was about as much as they could get away with.

Cam headed for journalism, but Aralyn drifted towards her Foods class, where Tiff was rolling her eyes.

“You two give me toothache,” Tiff grumbled.

With a grin, Aralyn sat next to her. “Dean’s been after you for weeks! Years, actually.”

“No thanks. You can’t get a word in with that guy.” Tiff sighed. “I must be the only girl in school who dates less than you.”

“With good reason.” Aralyn said, looking over their supplies for that day’s project. “Most of them are losers.”

“You got the last good one.” Tiff smiled sadly.

Aralyn shrugged. “Dean’s a good guy, Tiff, just...chatty. Someone will come along, don’t worry. We’re so young!”

Tiff grunted as she picked up the recipe card, her mind on the one man had come along—but was off limits.

***

“Is there any way to make the twins behave?” Aralyn asked pleadingly.

Cam was due to arrive in the next few minutes.

Trixie just looked at her daughter. “You’re asking me?”

“I suppose they’re a good test,” she said admittedly.

Trixie chuckled. “Very true. I knew if I couldn’t bring a boy home to survive your uncles, he’d never last.”

“Guess it’s a good thing they got on with Dad, huh?” Aralyn grinned.

Trixie smiled fondly, remembering when the Dukes showed up in Sleepyside, surprising everyone, and making her realize that maybe, just maybe, Jim Frayne wasn’t meant for her after all.

“Very,” she said firmly, checking the broccoli.

The doorbell rang ,and the twins answered it before Aralyn could.

“Cam! Good to see yer, mate!” Leif boomed in his British accent.

“Come in, old man, come in!” Logan said cheerfully.

Smiling, Cam stepped into the Duke household. He knew the twins would be in full prankster mode, and he wouldn’t let them scare him off from their sister. He still couldn’t tell them apart, but he was beginning to suspect that Logan was bit more eager to push the boundaries. Logan often favored darker colors and black, where Leif seemed to have a preference for green and blue, Aralyn had told him. But they also liked to switch clothes to prank people.

Aralyn appeared, and his eyes moved over her quickly. Tonight she wore a pretty, rust colored sweater that buttoned down, and her usual jeans that displayed her full hips nicely. And her old, beat up Western boots that made him smile every time.

“Hi.” She smiled at him, kissing his cheek.

“Hi. You look nice.”

“So do you.” She couldn’t help but smile at him as the twins made vomiting noises. “You two can get lost any time.”

One twin turned around with a mischievous grin and an English accent and said, “Just ducky of you, mate, to be the first date I think she’s ever had. We were startin’ to wonder if she even liked boys or spent a bit much time with her hockey team!”

He dashed through the doorway laughing as Aralyn took a swipe at him, mortified, but Cam was smiling.

Aralyn stepped closer as he slid his arms around her waist, kissing her gently when a throat was cleared. He pulled away instantly, alarmed.

“Uh, hi, Mr. Duke.” Cam paled slightly as Aralyn giggled.

“Hi there, Cam. Am I interruptin’?” Bo asked causally, his dark blue eyes fixed on his daughter’s boyfriend.

“No,” Cam said quickly, releasing Aralyn so he could shake Bo’s hand.

“Yes.” Aralyn laughed, snuggling closer against him.

“Uh, I brought this for you and Mrs. Duke. My mom seemed to think you’d like it.” Cam handed him the bottle of wine, which made Bo raise an eyebrow.

“You do realize you can get into trouble for havin’ this on you, considerin’ your age?” he asked mildly.

“Daddy, stop it.” Aralyn laughed at Cam’s suddenly distressed look.

Bo grinned. “I’m just messin’ with you, son. Be sure to thank your mama for this. C’mon in and watch out for the twins. I’ll check on dinner. You have a seat.”

Cam and Aralyn sat on the sofa as one twin—Cam wasn’t sure which but suspected Leif—perched on the arm of the sofa, while the other lingered in the doorway. The one on the couch eyed Cam slyly, and when he spoke, he had his English accent. Cam wondered if they’d keep it up all night.

“Awfully good of you, old chap, to be comfortable dating our sister, what with her condition and all.”

Aralyn’s eyes narrowed as Cam hid his smile. So it was beginning.

“The only ‘condition’ around here is going to be your neck that gets wrung, Logan Duke,” Aralyn answered.

“Hey, the spots from the rash went away,” Logan continued with a charming smile. “At least, the visible ones.”

Cam squeezed Aralyn’s hand. They had switched their colors for the night, he figured.

“Leif’s got the door covered old chap, in case you decide to run,” Logan added in a stage whisper.

“Now why would I run?” Cam asked, amused.

“Well, when Dad there comes back with the shotgun for knockin’ her up of course,” Logan deadpanned.

“For—” Cam chuckled but Aralyn’s mouth dropped open.

“Logan Cash Duke—” Aralyn started.

Sean appeared with Trixie in the doorway and eagerly hurried to sit between Cam and Aralyn, as Cam rose to greet Trixie. Aralyn was grateful for Sean’s presence, hoping the twins would tone it down.

At dinner, Cam sat next to Aralyn, chatting with Bo and Trixie. The twins exchanged a few sly glances. Cam had been warned not to accept anything from either twin and to be leery of being offered salt.

Aralyn eyed her brothers suspiciously. They were behaving. Behaving too well.

“Here, Cam, have a roll.” The twin Cam thought to be Logan handed him the bread basket. “I dropped a few of them earlier but brushed them off. I’m sure they’re fine,” he added helpfully.

“Logan,” Trixie said sternly.

Cam just smiled and took the rolls as he noted Aralyn turning pink. Cam knew better than to touch the salt shaker until he saw Bo use it. One of the twins had set a glass of iced tea in front of him, which Aralyn promptly grabbed and switched with hers. Sure enough, there had been a fake ice cube with a fly in it, which she fished out.

“Mrs. Duke, this lasagna is great. This has to be the best sauce I’ve ever had,” Cam told Trixie, who smiled.

“Well, thank you, Cam. Nice to have some one appreciate my culinary efforts.” She smiled at him.

“Dad’ll show his appreciation later,” Logan muttered into his glass, and Cam tried not to laugh. Aralyn just rolled her eyes as Bo frowned at his son. Trixie hadn’t heard.

“The tomatoes are from my parent’s farm in Sleepyside. Moms still does huge batches of canning, and we often go on the weekends to help her,” Trixie explained. “It’s a lot of work and she’s getting a bit older.”

“It’s really amazing, the difference.”

“Crabapple Farm always did turn out amazing produce. I try to feed them as much fresh food as possible, which is how I grew up.” Trixie smiled at him. “And I do stress the word try.”

Cam grinned.

“Hope you don’t mind mushrooms, Cam,” Leif said. “There’s a few in there, but Logan thought it needed more fungus so he took Aralyn’s pumice stone thing to rub his foot.”

Cam paused, his glass halfway to his lips as Aralyn choked on her tea. Bo set his coffee down.

“Boys, that’s enough. One more word about tryin’ to make Cam think you did somethin’ with the food, and you’re both grounded till you’re sixteen. Don’t worry, Cam, the only thing those two do in a kitchen is eat everything they can.”

The twins went silent but exchanged a glance that let Cam know they weren’t done. Trixie changed the subject quickly.

“Make sure you save room for dessert.” Trixie smiled at Cam. “Aralyn told me you’re diabetic, so I made a special cake.”

“Wow, thank you, Mrs. Duke.” Cam smiled at her, surprised and pleased. “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Some of the members of this family would be better off eating less sugar.” she glanced meaningfully at her husband and daughter, which made Cam grin.

“I’ve seen her lunches,” he admitted.

“She gets it from me,” Bo said sheepishly.

“Along with a few other traits,” Trixie said dryly.

“Did you know Aralyn used to run naked after her bath?” Leif asked.

Aralyn almost choked on her tea as Cam grinned.

“Does she still?” he couldn’t resist asking, earning him a slap on the arm from her and slightly narrowed eyes from Bo while he hid his smile.

“I was eight,” Aralyn said loftily. “I believed in air drying.”

Cam just grinned.

“She used to have big Barbie weddings too,” Logan added.

“So did all of my sisters,” he said casually. “I think it’s a relatively normal girl thing.”

“And played with them in the bath,” Leif said brightly.

Cam glanced at Aralyn who didn’t look too pleased, but he knew this was just a warm up for the twins. Sean ate methodically, his big blue eyes on Cam.

“She used to have this huge crush on that Lance guy from N’Sync,” Logan added.

“Logan!” Now Aralyn was embarrassed.

“Eh, I used to think Britney Spears was hot,” Cam shrugged.

“But you did write about it in your diary?” Leif asked slyly.

“You read my diary?” Aralyn demanded.

“Boys, that’s enough.” Bo stepped in. “If you repeat anythin’ you read in there, you’re grounded until you’re eighteen. And Manor House will need shoveling of the driveway through winter. We’ll discuss the fact that you even read it later.”

The twins fell silent, exchanging dark glances. A moment later, Leif started smacking his lips as he ate, first softly, then chewing with his mouth open and smacking his lips louder. Logan took his clue and started making slurpy noises as he drank. Sean set his glass down and frowned at the twins.

“You two keep it up, and you’ll eat outside like Reddy used to,” Trixie warned him. With a sulky expression, the twins resumed eating normally.

Cam grinned at Aralyn, who had turned red.

“I think it’s time for dessert.” Trixie stood.

Cam jumped to his feet to help clear the dishes.

“Cam, sit. You’re our guest. The twins will take care of it,” Bo said firmly, giving them a stern look. Silently, the twins rose and began clearing plates.

Trixie smiled as she watched her daughter’s boyfriend. Her and Bo’s courtship had been a little unorthodox, but she wouldn’t change it for anything. And she was grateful Bo didn’t shirk his responsibility as a disciplinarian with the twins, the irony of which never ceased to make her smile. His Uncle Jesse would be having a good laugh at his wild nephew, now a solid family man.

Cam was clearly taken with Aralyn, and Aralyn seemed plenty happy with the handsome young man. Trixie was also very aware of what could happen between hormonal eighteen year olds. But still, she had trusted herself at eighteen, and she had to trust Aralyn. Besides, her faith in Bo had given them twenty wonderful years of good marriage and four beautiful, happy children.

After dinner, Sean brought Cam a thick photo album, which made Aralyn groan. Smiling, Cam let Sean sit with him on the sofa, pointing to pictures, which Bo was all too happy to tell Cam about.

“That was Aralyn right after she was born,” he said proudly. “Even then, she was just damn impatient to get where she wanted. Broke her mama’s water and was out two hours later.”

“Really? My mom is forever going on about the sixteen hours I put her through.” Cam chuckled.

“I almost didn’t make it,” Bo looked a little misty eyed.

Bo was snapping cuffs on their victim and slapped Dan a high five.

“Good work, guys.” Luke hauled the man to his feet.

“Hey, Duke! One of your women called, said you need to get home pronto!” One of the others called, “Just came over dispatch!”

“Which one?” Luke yelled back.

“Dunno, I think it’s Trixie.”

“The baby,” the men chorused together.

It was a race to the house, which was dark.

“They must already be at the hospital.” Bo groaned.

“C’mon, I’ll drive,” Dan offered. They got two blocks when Dan’s old car sputtered and died.

“She’s gonna kill me if I’m not there!” Bo groaned.

“Let’s get back to the house, grab the General,” Luke ordered. The three men ran the two blocks and slid into the General Lee. Bo started the engine and peeled out of the driveway.

“They’ve got construction on Baker, go down Cornell,” Luke reminded him.

“Luke, that’s way out of the way of the hospital!”

“The construction will slow us down— it’s only got one lane open.”

Bo jerked the wheel and swung the General to the left.

***

“He better hurry the hell up, or he’ll be sleeping on the couch for the next year!” Trixie moaned, crying out as another contraction hit. “I’ll kill Bo!”

“Keep breathing,” the doctor ordered. “The baby’s crowning.”

The doors burst open, and Bo came flying in.

“Thank goodness,” Helen sighed. “We were afraid you were going to miss the big event!” She was gripping Trixie’s hand, smoothing the damp curls back with her other hand.

“I’m here sweetheart.” Bo took Trixie’s hand.

“You got me into this,” she panted. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Chasing fugitives. Keep breathing, sweetheart.”

“Don’t sweetheart me!” Trixie snarled. “You squeeze this baby the end of your-!”

“I would if I could, sweetheart, deep breathe,” Bo said quickly. Empty threat or not, it wasn’t a pleasant thought.

“Here we go, Mrs. Duke. Push, push hard!”

Trixie screamed as she felt the baby sliding out.

Bo let go of Trixie’s hand when the doctor summoned him to his side and Helen let her grip hers. Honey and Daisy weren’t allowed in the delivery room, being too close to their delivery dates.

“Sweetheart, we got ourselves a girl,” Bo said excitedly.

The doctor glanced at him. “How do you know? The business end isn’t out yet.”

“I just know,” Bo murmured.

“C’mon, Dad, come catch her,” the doctor said. Bo swallowed hard as he reached out and helped the doctor catch the slime-covered baby.

Sure enough, it was a girl, and she let out a loud wail.

“Trixie’s all right. Screams just like her,” Helen quipped, a dirty look from his daughter, who had tears leaking from her eyes.

“Here, Dad, cut the cord.” The doctor handed him the scissors, and Bo snipped the umbilical cord. The baby was wrapped in a blanket and a heavy rush of love raced through him as he looked at his screaming little girl.

“Let me see her,” Trixie pleaded weakly. “Is she ok?”

“She’s perfect,” Bo said softly, his dark blue eyes shining.

Bo handed their daughter to his wife, lovingly watching the two women he loved most in the world.

“I should have known if the first one was easy, the next wouldn’t be. Don’t believe the theory that the labor time cuts in half with each one,” Trixie said dryly, eyes drifting to her twin boys. “They took almost thirteen hours.”

“Had to make sure the world was ready for us.” Leif grinned.

Sean tugged on Cam’s arm and pointed to another picture. There were many pictures of Bo and Aralyn, learning to walk with Bo coaching her, birthday parties with large pieces of cake in front of her and gap toothed smiles, learning to ride a bike, her first hockey team.

“They have an album for each of us,” Aralyn said, wishing they weren’t looking at her baby pictures. Especially her chubby years. “Sturdy” her Grandpa Peter had said early on, but in Aralyn’s eyes, she was just plain chubby.

“Except us,” Leif said.

“We share one,” Logan continued. The sly looks on their faces vanished when they realized Bo was watching them sternly.

Sean seemed especially pleased of the photos with him and Aralyn, and Cam couldn’t help but like the little boy even more. Sean was an affectionate boy and seemed quite happy to sit on Aralyn’s lap.

Finally, Aralyn excused them, Cam thanked the Duke parents for dinner and they went outside to sitting on the porch swing.

“God, that was so embarrassing!” Aralyn sighed as she snuggled next to him on the swing.

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad. I was expecting more from the twins.”

“I think Daddy had them under control by threat of being grounded until they were eighteen.” She snickered. “Or else snow shoveling at Manor House.”

Cam kissed the top of her head. “Your parents sure are nice. Do they ever fight?”

“Oh, sure. Mostly disagreements, but they don’t fight in front of us. There was once though—” she stopped.

“Go on,” he gently urged.

“This is between us, okay?” She looked up at him.

“Of course,” he promised.

“When I was about four, maybe five, and the twins were really little, I remember a lot of shouting, some things breaking, and then we didn’t see Dad for what seemed like ages, but I think it was a couple weeks. I know I stayed with Luke and Honey for a while. It wasn’t too long before we moved up here.”

“You think they separated?”

“Yeah. I think Mom got overwhelmed with the twins and me, and Dad was still being sent out on a lot of out-of-town cases, which left Mom with the three of us. There was another time, where I kind of remember Mom having a breakdown of some sort, and then she was gone for a few days, but I don’t know if that was before or after. It’s pretty hazy in my mind.”

“I can’t imagine how rough that was,” he said sympathetically, squeezing her shoulders.

“I don’t know what really happened, but somehow they worked it out, and they’ve been solid ever since. You’ve seen them together—they’re still crazy about each other.”

“I think it’s marvelous. Not too many parents are so affectionate openly,” he said wistfully.

“They give me a toothache.” She laughed.

“I think it’s sweet. You’re a lucky girl,” he said softly.

“I know. They might make me sick sometimes but I’d rather have that than daily screaming matches.”

Cam smiled at her, tilted her head up and gave her a sweet kiss.

“I’m lucky to have you. Two years ago I never would have thought I’d be having dinner with Aralyn Duke and her family and kissing her on her front porch.”

Aralyn giggled. “Me, neither. I never knew you liked me,” she murmured against his heavy sweater, snuggling closer for warmth.

“From the very first day I started school,” he said quietly, his finger tracing her jawline. “You smiled at me, and it was all over. I was ruined for life.”

Aralyn giggled. “You’re funny.”

Cam just smiled. She had no idea how serious he was.

“It’s late, Goddess. I gotta get home,” he said gently.

“Okay.” She sighed, as they stood. He wrapped his arms around her for a long kiss.

“Thank you for having me over,” he said quietly.

Aralyn giggled. “Daddy likes you. Expect to be here a lot.”

“I look forward to it.” He kissed her again and gave her a small push towards the door. “Go warm up.”

Aralyn smiled as she watched him walk to his Jeep. She hurried inside, where Bo gave her an understanding smile. Blushing, she dashed up to her room to fire off an email to Tiffany.

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