Those darn tears were back and she batted them away as fast as she could. “I don’t expect you to do this all the time.”

“You should. I know there isn’t any hope for us. I ruined that and I accept responsibility for that. But I’m going to be here from now on. You are a strong woman and you could do this all on your own—and have been. But you don’t have to.”

“That’s a big promise.”

“Yeah, well in the long term not so big. They’ve already grown so much.”

She nodded and he took one more step into the room.

“And if you ever need to talk, I’m here. Anything—okay?”

She sent him a curious look, but he didn’t go on. She only nodded and forced a smile.

“Back to the fort. If you need help with dinner let me know. I’ll leave when their baths are done and you’re done reading whatever book you have to read.”

“Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

His brows came together with a crease dimpling his forehead. “Really? That’s the book?”

She nodded with a chuckle. “I have it memorized.”

“I have it memorized and haven’t read it in thirty years.”

He turned and hurried back down the stairs to play in the fort.

Victoria sat on the bed and rested her hand on her stomach. Did he know? How could he?

She let out a long deliberate breath. No matter what he’d just said to her, she wasn’t going to tell him—not yet. Christian had made many promises and she needed to know he’d keep a few of them, before she told him her secret. For now, she’d simply enjoy the moment to breathe while laughter resonated from downstairs.

Christian had helped them with the fort. They’d had a tea party and now they were picking it all up, with some protest, to get ready for dinner. Victoria was standing over the stove boiling noodles, he thought, and he took a moment to walk over to her.

He made sure not to touch her. “You don’t have to feed me. I dropped in uninvited. I’ll catch dinner when I go.”

“It’s only spaghetti with sauce on the side. Sam doesn’t like sauce. But I have plenty.”

He smiled. “If you don’t mind. I’ll bring over some groceries tomorrow to offset some meals.”

He noticed she swallowed hard, but she didn’t turn to look at him. “You’re coming tomorrow?”

“I would like to stop by and maybe I could take the kids to the park for a little bit. I saw a small glove the other day at the store. It’s not too early to get Sam playing catch. Or Ali for that matter.”

Tori continued to stir the pot of noodles, but her jaw tightened. “You don’t just have to suddenly come and step in. They’ve been this long without a man in their life.”

“I don’t think they should be without one any longer.”

“Chris, I can’t let them get used to having someone around to have them just up and leave.”

He knew where she was going and he wasn’t going to let her win this. “That isn’t going to happen. I’m here for the long haul and even if you and Scott get back together I’ll be here to help you out. I promised Dave I’d look after them and I will.”

Her lips softened. “Scott isn’t coming back.”

“Well, if someone else comes along then. The point is, I’m here. I never should have not been here.”

He could see the tear well in her eye, so he turned away and went back to picking up little cars and stuffed animals.

Victoria watched Chris help the kids. Why was he there? This was crazy. And now he wanted to come back tomorrow?

Sure, she felt that warmth she always did when it came to him, but she couldn’t have him around knowing that he was just going to break her heart again. How could he not? And now it wasn’t just her heart he was going to break, it would be Sam and Ali’s too. Luckily Scott had only been around a few times, but Chris—he was different. Ali remembered him. Sam, he didn’t remember much, but he’d obviously attached himself to Chris. She toyed with the thought again; about telling him about the baby. If this kept up, there’d be no choice.

She watched as he carried both of them, one on his back, the other on his waist—which had to hurt like hell—to the bathroom to wash their hands for dinner.

Give yourself some time, she warned herself. He’s probably not even going to show up tomorrow.

Dinner was pleasant. Chris refused to let her serve him until the kids were sure they had enough food. When she did serve him, he was gracious. Not that she’d expected anything less. His mother had raised him right.

After dinner he offered to clean up while she got their baths going, and he’d made it clear he’d like to be there for the reading of Red Fish, Blue Fish. She agreed and, a half hour later, she called down the stairs for him.

She sat on the edge of Sam’s bed, ready to read the book. The moment caught her in the chest when he walked into the room in the dim light. It was too cozy.

This was how it was supposed to have been. She wasn’t going to cry. This crying was getting out of control, but having been around her sister and Sonia when they were pregnant, she knew it was part of the process.

He stood near the door and leaned up against the wall casually. With a nod he gave her a wink to start the story.

Victoria moistened her lips with her tongue as they seemed to have gone dry.

Ali clutched Poppy and Sam’s eyes were already heavy. She started the story, but even the easy rhymes were hard to follow knowing Christian was standing there watching her with those sexy brown eyes.

By the time she was finished, she realized Christian was the only one still listening. Both Sam and Ali were fast asleep.

She closed the book. “I think you wore them out tonight.”

“Trust me, I was fighting it myself. They wore me out too. I don’t know how you do this every day.”

A part of her wanted to tell him that, with him there, the night had been much easier.

She looked down at the little blonde angel clutching the worn out dog. In the past few months, she’d become just too big for her to carry and it had become necessary for her to wake her almost every night to walk to bed.

“I’ll get her.” Christian moved toward her.

“Are you sure? She’s too big for me now.”

He nodded and moved in to scoop her up in his arms. Victoria had to press her hand to her stomach as she watched him carry her out of the room. They were a family, whether he’d stay or not. She had that part of him growing inside her and it was up to her to let him in.