Her Texas Family by Jill Lynn Page A

Olivia had mentioned they weren’t sharing the news publicly yet. Cash and Olivia both looked over the moon, and Graham was happy for them.
    The memory of finding out Brooke was pregnant slipped into his mind. After he’d got over his initial shock, Graham had pored over parenting books. He’d thought he was ready for Mattie to be born. Until he’d held Matilda Grace Redmond in his arms for the first time.
    Nothing prepared a father for that moment.
    His heart hadn’t been the same since.
    Speaking of his heart, Graham should probably get Mattie and head home. The girl looked as if she’d been dipped in a puddle of mud sometime today and could very much use a bath tonight. But she also looked happy. Sometimes Mattie was so serious, so grown-up, that Graham forgot she was five and should be playing in mud puddles.
    That was the kind of stuff he’d done as a kid. He’d ridden bikes with the neighbors and his sisters, and had stayed outside playing until dark. He’d come home dirty. And happy. Brooke had been raised differently, though. She’d been an only child, and the Wellings had been strict. When he’d first met her, Graham had thought Brooke would never go for him. She’d been raised with money, and he’d been raised somewhere in the middle class.
    But Brooke hadn’t been like her parents. She didn’t have the same sense of importance they sometimes had. The kind the Wellings had communicated, probably without realizing it, when they’d met Lucy.
    Graham wasn’t a fan when they acted that way.
    Lucy had said she forgave him and them, and Graham hoped it was true. He didn’t want her offended. He owed Lucy for today. She definitely brought out a side of his daughter he loved to see. Sometimes he didn’t know how to make that same little girl appear himself.
    He should thank her, but she was with Olivia and Janie, cooing over the Smiths’ newborn daughter. Graham didn’t want to interrupt. Instead, he headed upstairs to find Mattie. She and Tucker had been tearing through the house all night.
    He found the kids in a bedroom, a basket of toys spread across the floor.
    â€œMattie, time to clean up.” His daughter looked at him and then went back to playing. Graham knelt beside her. “Did you hear me?”
    She nodded. “I don’t want to go yet.”
    â€œIt’s late, honey, and you’ve been here all day.” It wasn’t like Mattie to argue. She must be exhausted. Graham had heard about all of her activities earlier. She’d been flying high when he’d got here for dinner.
    Graham started picking up the toys, and Tucker joined in without being asked. Mattie didn’t.
    â€œMattie, you need to help.”
    She made a little effort, picking up a couple of things. After they’d tidied everything, Graham scooped her up. He offered Tucker a ride, which he refused, instead running ahead of them out the bedroom door.
    Mattie’s head rested against his shoulder on the way down the stairs. What would Graham do without his little girl? God had known what He was doing back when Brooke got pregnant. Having a piece of her left behind went a long way toward healing Graham on a daily basis.
    He paused between the living room and kitchen. “We’re going to take off. Thanks for everything.”
    Everyone called out goodbyes.
    â€œI’ll walk you out.” Lucy came over, meeting them by the front door. She slid on a zip-up sweatshirt, then grabbed their coats, draping Mattie’s over her shoulders. She opened the door for him and they stepped outside. The dark night sky twinkled with countless stars.
    Cool air nipped at them, and Graham snuggled Mattie closer. “Can you thank Ms. Lucy for the fun day?”
    Instead, his daughter lunged into Lucy’s arms.
    Traitor.
    He grabbed his jacket from Lucy, slipping it on as they walked. At the car, Graham opened the back door and Lucy put