Fortune's Fresh Start. Michelle Major

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       Chapter Two

      “Who knew Callum was such a spectacular nanny?” Steven asked an hour later, chuckling at his own joke.

      Callum fought the urge to give his older stepbrother and business partner the one-fingered salute. Two adorable toddlers watched him from where they sat on a blanket he’d spread out in the pediatric center’s lobby, so he wasn’t about to model that kind of behavior.

      The ribbon-cutting attendees had long since departed, the celebration cut short by the arrival of the pregnant stranger. Neither Parker Green nor the girls’ mother had made an appearance again, and he wondered at the fate of the soon-to-be mom and her baby.

      “We all know Callum is amazing with babies and children,” Marci told Steven. “I’m not sure what I would have done without him when you all were little.”

      Steven was one of Marci’s two sons from her first marriage, but Callum’s father had adopted both boys shortly after marrying his mother. The blended family had felt strange at first, but Stephanie’s birth had solidified the bond they all shared. When Callum’s construction business started to grow, Steven had joined him as a business partner, with Dillon coming on board soon after that. He’d changed the company name to more aptly describe their partnership, and Fortune Brothers Construction was still going strong.

      “He’ll be a great father one day,” Callum’s dad added with a knowing nod, prompting Steven and Callum to share an equally exasperated look. It was no secret their parents were intent on seeing both siblings happily married and starting families of their own.

      Callum hadn’t discussed future plans with his brother but got the impression Steven was as reluctant to settle down as Callum.

      Stephanie walked through the doors that led to the center’s small cafeteria. “I found plastic cups and spoons,” she said. Callum had sent her in search of items to entertain the twins.

      He took the makeshift toys and began stacking cups. The more confident of the girls, Luna, clapped her hands as if encouraging him to continue. He handed her a plastic spoon, which she waved in the air like a magic wand. One of the other nurses had told him the twins’ names and that their mother was Becky Averill.

      He’d asked about calling a husband and had been shocked to learn that Becky was a widow and single mom. It made him feel like even more of a heel for chastising her about breakfast. Becky was clearly an amazing woman, raising two children on her own while balancing a demanding career. No wonder she forgot to eat.

      The shy twin, Sasha, scooted toward him. He held out a spoon to her, his chest tightening when her bottom lip trembled.

      “Don’t cry, darlin’,” he told her softly and then scooped her into his arms. It had been an instinctual move. Callum had held plenty of babies when his sisters were younger. Sasha went rigid in his arms. Had he made a huge mistake? Then she relaxed against him with a quiet sigh, smelling like baby shampoo and oat cereal.

      The front doors opened and two paramedics strode in. A moment later, Becky appeared from the medical clinic wing of the center. She and Dr. Green were wheeling out the pregnant stranger. The woman, a pretty brunette with big blue eyes, kept her worried gaze fixed on Becky, who appeared to be talking the patient through whatever was happening now.

      There was no baby, and the woman seemed stable, so Callum could only assume things were good. Glancing over, Becky’s expression softened as she caught sight of her twins. She said something to the pregnant patient, offered a quick hug and then walked toward Callum.

      “How is she?” Stephanie asked immediately.

      “We’ve given her something to slow her labor,” Becky explained. “The baby’s vitals are good, but Dr. Green thinks it will be better for her to give birth at a facility with a NICU. The paramedics are going to take her to San Antonio.”

      Callum’s father nodded. “So she and the baby will be okay?”

      “They should both come out of this healthy,” Becky told them.

      “Thank heavens,” Marci added.

      Callum stood, still holding Sasha in his arms. “It’s a good thing you and Parker were here for the ribbon cutting.”

      “Dr. Green was essential,” Becky clarified. “Anyone could have done what I did.” She held out her hands, and Sasha reached for her, leaving Callum with an unfamiliar sense of emptiness.

      “I doubt that’s true,” he answered. “You stepped in to help that woman without hesitation.”

      “I also foisted my kids off on you, and I appreciate you volunteering to watch them.” She glanced down at Luna, who was still happily occupied with the spoon and cups, and then gave him a hesitant smile. “I’m Becky, by the way.”

      “One of the nurses told me,” he said, that small smile doing funny things to his insides.

      “You volunteered?” Marci stepped forward, patting Callum’s shoulders. “I’m so proud.”

      “It wasn’t a big deal,” he mumbled.

      “Your daughters are adorable,” she said to Becky. “I’m Marci Fortune.” She gestured to Callum’s father and siblings. “My husband, David, and our daughter, Stephanie.” Her smiled widened. “You know Callum, obviously. These are two of our other sons, Dillon and Steven.”

      Becky’s caramel-colored eyes widened a fraction. “How many kids do you have?”

      “Eight,” Marci said proudly and without hesitation. Callum had always appreciated that his stepmother never differentiated between the children who were hers biologically and the two boys she’d taken on after marrying David.

      “Wow,” Becky murmured. “You must have been really busy.”

      “It’s how we liked it,” Marci assured her. She put a hand on Callum’s arm. “Callum was such a help with his younger sisters. We also have triplets—Ashley, Megan and Nicole.”

      Dillon stepped forward. “Callum’s nickname was СКАЧАТЬ