Page 58 of Fierce-Michael

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Because your kids all talk to me,” her husband said. “You don’t know the right way to play things.”

“Do you know what is going on?” she asked, hopeful.

“Not a clue other than you’re being a nuisance,” Gavin said, smiling. There were a lot of laughs around the kitchen over that. Even a few coughs.

She turned to her nephew Liam who was working by his wife, Margo. “Hey, you two should be thanking me too.”

“Remember, we knew each other before you got involved,” Margo said.

She was reminded of that a few times. “But I lent a hand and you both know it.”

“Fine, Aunt Jolene,” Liam said. “We thank you every night before we go to sleep.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“Let’s go, Jolene,” Gavin said. “Everyone is just yanking your chain.”

She turned to her husband. “I know that. I’m just playing back with them. They know that too.”

Sometimes her husband was so slow!

18

STRESSFUL AND COMPLICATED

“Will you stop worrying,” Michael said to Alex the following week. “I’ve got everything under control.”

“I know,” Alex said. “You did a great job when I was out with the twins five years ago. I’m not sure why I seem so worried this time around.”

“Because in five years the business is more than five times bigger,” he said, laughing. “Not sure we can even put a number on it.”

“My CFO can put a number on it,” Alex said, laughing.

“I’m sure Tony could,” he said. “And you never thought you’d have a CFO or any of the other positions that make up your admin office, did you?”

“No,” Alex said. “This is thanks to you. I know it.”

“Not really,” he said. “You had to be willing to put the risk and the money up. I had the idea to expand and the timing was right. But ideas don’t pay the bills.”

Cade had put in a lot of money, he knew that. And the business wasn’t just Alex’s anymore because of it. He didn’t think his cousin minded all that much about it either.

Though Cade tried to be hands-off, as he was too busy helping to run his family’s business.

“No,” Alex said. “My father saw that when the business was failing. I came back and started slow and conservatively. I’d still be doing more local orders if you didn’t come here.”

“Don’t get all sappy on me,” he said. “That is what family is for.”

“Yeah, but your returning home didn’t turn out the way you thought it was going to either.”

Michael grinned. “No, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Is life more stressful and complicated? Sure. You’ve got kids. You’re having your third tomorrow morning. But you know, kids are a joy in life. Ty is my world.”

“He is,” Alex said. “You’re so good with him. Better than Cade ever was with the twins, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”

He laughed. “Cade is a great fun father. You two balance each other out. And we know Cade’s weak stomach. Do you want him changing nasty diapers and then you’ve got to pick up puke on the floor?”

“You make a good point,” Alex said, rubbing her belly. His cousin looked extremely uncomfortable, yet she was still here before lunch talking to him about work when she should be home getting everything ready for her C-section in the morning.