Chapter 308: Exploding Ovaries
*Something about bad boys with babies makes the ovaries go boom. – Tammy*
The group of women watched Chance with both envy and admiration. None of them ever imagined him being such an attentive father. Especially to a child that was not his. Nor his wife’s. And yet, Michael was unquestionably theirs.
“Oh hell.” Bambi said as she stepped out of the bar and saw what the women were looking at.
“Hey! Did your ovaries just explode?” Yvonne yelled and there was a chorus of yes from around the room. “Molly, I want another baby!”
“I will get right on that!” Molly replied.
Somewhere Karan’s voice echoed around the room with a single demand. “Cookie! I want a baby!”
“Come here, darling!” Cookie yelled back. “Let me plant a milk chocolate baby in that belly!”
As everyone around them laughed Chance tipped Rye’s face up to him. “Did you ever make an appointment for your birth control?”
“No.” she said softly as tears filled her eyes. “He’s so perfect, even with everything. I just… are you mad?”
“We talked about it. About your fears and your family history. But no, I’m not mad. I would love to plant a vanilla baby in your belly.” He smiled at her before kissing her. Michael whimpered in his sleep. “Get over it, buddy, I like kissing your mom.”
“Not to rush you two, but I have at least one pretty that I could impregnate.” Molly said with a grin.
“Gross, dad.” Priscilla said as she snuggled up against him.
Laughing, he placed an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close to his side. “And just how do you think that you got here?”
“I’m adopted. Amazon prime.” She replied looking up at him.
“Smart-ass.” Molly chuckled as he hugged her close.
“Priss, can you go get Deuce?” Chance asked.
“No. Cowboy called, he left about twenty minutes ago. Something about fences and the damned lotion goats.” she said giggling. “The flowers are going to make sure he doesn’t kill their goats.”
Chance chuckled. His uncle put on a front saying that he hated the goats. But he was the one staying up all night when one had a complicated birth.
“Molly Lowery, Sebastian Lynch.” Chance introduced them.
“That name sounds familiar.” Molly admitted.
“I sold you my portion of the Faulkner farm. I believe you still maintain Ryanne’s portion.” Bass said standing up and offering a hand. “Forgive me, I thought…”
“Happens all the time.” Molly admitted shaking his hand. “I legally changed my name several years back. I enjoy watching people work it out in their heads.”
“What do you mean by my portion?” Rye asked.
“It’s all yours now.” Bass said looking down at her. “I never enjoyed the farm. Your dad did. I like the city. It was supposed to be split between you and Leigh Anne. Now it’s all yours.”
“I don’t understand.” Rye said softly.
“Our mom came from Monroe. Josephine Faulkner, her brother died without any children. Everything that she was to inherit came to us when we came of age. My kids have no interest in farming, so I sold my half and as executor of your estate, I’ve rented it to, what I thought was Mr. and Mrs. Alan Lowery.”
“Alan is my uncle.” Molly said.
“My mom’s twin brother.” Chance added.
“Deuce?” Rye asked and Chance nodded. “Oh! Deuce, two. I get it.”
Molly and Chance both gave a little laugh.
“Yes, and no.” Molly grinned.
“My dad was technical sergeant, Allen, A L L E N, Lowery and my uncle was staff sergeant Alan, A L A N, Lowery. They were in the same unit but different platoons at the same time. Were constantly getting each other’s mail and orders.”
“They hated each other at first. Coon would do something, and Deuce would get in trouble for it and vice versa.” Molly added. “But eventually became friends and Coon came home with Deuce.”
“Mom had just graduated high school and already had Werewolf. One thing led to another. They got married before dad and Deuce returned to the army. Pops was *not* happy but went with it.”
Molly chuckled. “He carried a picture of his best friend’s little sister for over a year counting down until she was eighteen. Pops and Grandy were married the day she turned eighteen and were together until her death. He didn’t have any rights to object and Grandy reminded him of that.”
“Grandy, that’s her picture in the living room at home, right?”
Chance nodded and gave her a smile. “That’s her, Duchess.”
“What land?” Rye asked, turning back to Bass. “I mean, where is it?”
“Across the street.” Molly said. “We use it for hay production and cut it down in the fall before we use the fields for fundraiser events. Charity events, the food bank, toy drives.”
“What do I do with it?”
“Whatever you want.” Bass smiled. “We’ll get together with your lawyers to go over everything.”
“My trust.”
“Yes. And setting up Michael’s.” Bass said and saw the wave of anger that flashed across Chance’s face. “I get it. I would be pissed to find out that she had family that didn’t do anything.”
“We tried; we really did.” Johanna whispered. “We offered everything from a place to stay, to even adopting the girls. I think Anthony and Tilly did too.”
“We sent money every month.” Bass added. “There was a set amount that we could give her every month. It was all set up long before Mike died. He loved his wife. And was trying to help her with her demons.”
“The monthly checks weren’t from the Marines?” Rye asked slowly and quietly.
Both Bass and Johanna said no. Bass shook his head and his wife gave a sad smile.
“What happened to it? I know she got money from the Marines.”
Bass looked at her with complete sadness. “I don’t think that’s a conversation for today.”
“It sure as hell is.” Rye hissed out.
“Maybe we should have it somewhere a little more private.” Chance suggested and motioned for Celt.
