“Why don’t you go and take her into the lounge, and I can get the bags?” I tell Tilly who looks up at me with tired eyes. I’m glad she is finally out of the hospital and home. The new baby has been struggling to sleep with the noise of the hospital ward, and I’ve been by her side, trying to help. She still hasn’t chosen a name for the beautiful baby she is holding, but we have all taken to calling her ‘baby girl’ for now. I know it’s difficult with a new baby, just from helping Maisy and Sebastian with Jake.

“Okay,” she nods, walking off, and I open the door to go and get her maternity bags out of the car. I stop in my tracks when I see a man and an older woman standing at the door. The man is a little younger than me, with dark-brown hair and a serious expression. The woman has long, red hair up in a ponytail, and she must be in her late forties as her roots are going grey. When she looks up at me, I know who she is straight away from her eyes.

“You’re Tilly’s mum?” I ask, and she nods, putting her hands on her hips.

“Where is my bloody, runaway daughter?” she asks.

“Tilly!” the man shouts, looking like he wants to try and push me out of the way, but that’s not happening until I know who he is. If this is Tilly’s ex, I’m going to kill him for turning up here, and I’m sure he can tell my thoughts from the strange expression he gives me.

“Devon?” I hear Tilly ask behind me. I move slightly, so Devon can walk into the house, and he hugs Tilly. I look behind her to see the lounge door open, and I know Tilly must have put the baby in the Moses basket for a nap.

“Don’t you dare run off on us like that again. It took me ages to find you, sis,” he says, and she moves away. I watch as Tilly and her mum stare at each other for a long time before Tilly walks over and hugs her mum.

“I don’t believe a word you said over the phone, not a word, Matilda,” she scolds her daughter, and I finally learn her real name.

“Don’t call me that. Jesus, it’s Tilly,” Tilly says, rolling her eyes and making her brother laugh.

“We need to talk, and you have some explaining to do,” her mother says, and Tilly sighs. I walk over, placing my arm on her shoulder. She doesn’t stop me.

“I’m Harley King,” I offer a hand to Tilly’s mum, who shakes it firmly.

“Linda Fox.”

“I’m Devon Fox, and are you dating my sister?” Devon asks walking over. Something about his name sounds familiar. I remember Izzy telling me she dated one of Tilly’s brothers before we met her.

“Yes, and I believe you dated my sister, Izzy? I remember her saying your name,” I reply as we shake hands.

“You’re one of the new brothers,” Devon comments, but I doubt he wants an answer as a baby’s cry fills the room. Tilly moves away from me and walks into the lounge. We all follow, watching her walk over to the baby, who is in the Moses basket.

“Whose baby is that?” Devon asks, stopping by the door in shock, and their mum is just standing staring at Tilly, who rocks her baby gently. I’m pretty sure the red hair and the way Tilly holds her baby are all the answer he needs, but they both seem to stay quiet, waiting for Tilly to actually say the words.

“My baby,” Tilly says quietly, and Linda makes a small, sobbing sound. She walks over and stands next to Tilly, looking down at the baby. I watch as she lifts a shaky hand and touches the side of the baby’s face gently. Linda reaches into her pocket pulling out a tissue and wiping her face.

“Is the baby Daniel’s? I mean, he should know!” Devon says, and a look of panic fills Tilly face as she glances at me. I can actually see her thinking about running away already, and I can’t let her do that. I won’t let her leave.

“The baby girl is mine,” I say and walk over to Tilly, wrapping an arm around her waist as she tries to hide the shock that she is clearly feeling.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry I didn’t, but I would appreciate it if you don’t tell my ex about where I am. It would only upset him, Devon,” she says, and Devon nods, looking between us. I don’t know if he believes what we are telling him, but something seems to change as he looks at me. I stand firm as we stare at each other, wondering if he is going to attempt to punch me or do something.

“Fine. He is still not over you, but as long as you’re happy,” Devon eventually says, and some part of me is furious that he is sticking up for that asshole. But, I know he doesn’t know what Daniel is really like; what he tried to do to his sister.

“I am.”

“Well, I want a hold of my niece then, what’s her name?” Devon asks, but Linda doesn’t say a word as she stares at me for a long time. Her stare seems to be figuring something out, and I doubt she is as quick to believe our story as Devon is. I’m just wondering if she is going to say something now, or later.

“Can I have a moment alone with my daughter?” Linda asks, and Tilly nods. Devon takes the baby off Tilly, and I lead him out of the room, shutting the door behind us.

“Fair warning, I promise to shove your head up your arse if you hurt her,” Devon says, his voice low as he speaks, so he doesn’t upset the baby, but the protectiveness makes me like him already.

“Funny, I said the same thing to the guy dating Izzy, now,” I say, and he chuckles.

“She happy?” he asks me just as the door opens. Izzy and Blake walk in, and Izzy stops in her tracks when she sees Devon.

“I wondered when you lot would turn up,” Izzy says, and Devon laughs. Blake doesn’t look happy as Devon walks over, and slides an arm around Izzy's waist, giving her a side hug.

“Blake, this is Devon, one of Tilly’s brothers,” Izzy introduces them, and Blake just nods.

“Nice to meet you. Izzy, you could have called and let us know about, well . . .” he looks down at the sleeping baby in his arms.

“It wasn’t my secret to tell, Dev,” she replies.

“It’s still a big one. Dad is going to go mad when he finds out. So, will Ace and Grayson,” he comments, and I guess they must be Tilly’s other brothers.

“How is Grayson? I heard he got married and had a kid,” Izzy asks.

“Yep and divorced. He has full custody of my nephew, now, and is moving here soon,” he says. It looks like the Foxes are moving to town. I hope they realise how much of a fucked-up town this place is. They may regret moving here after all.

“And, Ace? Is he, what . . . fifteen now?” she asks.

“Yeah, and an asshole,” Devon replies, making Izzy laugh.

“He was always like that, even as a kid,” Izzy replies. The baby starts crying lightly, and I hold my hands out, watching as Devon slides her into my arms, and I head to the kitchen to sort out a bottle.

“Isn’t it weird that we now share a niece?” Devon comments.

“My daughter is lovely, isn’t she?” I say to Blake and Izzy who give me wide-eyed, confused looks. Thank god, they quickly realise and blank their expressions.

“Yes, lovely,” Izzy says, and Blake shakes his head, with a small smirk.

“I would stay, but the moving vans are coming today, and I can’t leave Ace to sort the stuff out by himself. I doubt he will even answer the damn door,” Devon comments.

“It’s nice to see you again, Devon,” Izzy replies, and he nods, looking between Blake and Izzy for a second, but I see it.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” he says and then walks to the door.

“She is,” Blake says, his words possessive, and Devon gives him one nod. Some kind of understanding between them.

“Tell Tilly I will be over tomorrow,” he tells me. I have a feeling her family are going to be around a lot now.