Chapter 18

Keith jogged up the steps to his front door and nodded at Crash. He still felt the need to make sure someone was there to watch over Emily even though he was just at the gym on his property. It was probably a little too cautious, but he wasn’t letting anything happen to her.

It had been three days since the explosion, and they were still waiting on the results of the investigation. Ada was still in the hospital but doing very well. Emily and Kim had decided to pay everyone’s salary until they could reopen, which probably took a lot of stress off the women.

Nelson wanted to wait until Lynn was out of the hospital before he met with Kurt to tell him everything. So it gave him and Emily the last three days to themselves. The only time they left his compound was to visit her mother and Ada. Everyone seemed to know that Emily needed peace, and for the most part left them alone.

The rest of his evening would be a different story. Kurt was dropping by to give them the results of the investigation into the explosion. Emily’s mom was out of the hospital, and she and Nelson insisted on coming to Keith’s place to talk to Kurt. They felt it was the safest place for Emily.

“I feel I should give you a heads up.” Crash stepped in front of him.

“What?” Before Crash could answer his door opened, and the noise of a houseful of people made him want to run the other way.

“Keithy, dere you are.” Nanny Betty motioned for him to go inside.

“Good luck,” Crash chuckled and tried to step around Keith, but he was brought to a halt by Nanny Betty.

“Ya get in dis house, Brent.” Nanny Betty grabbed Crash's arm. “We got enough food fer everyone.”

Crash looked almost fearful as he glanced at Keith, but like everyone else, he obeyed the five-foot tall woman.

Keith entered his kitchen and just as he suspected his house had been invaded by all the women in his family. He stood in the doorway and scanned the room for Emily. Not that he would have missed her because he seemed to have some sort of radar for her. His eyes locked onto her on the other side of the kitchen holding his newest nephew.

Emily’s face was glowing as she smiled down at the baby. As if she sensed his eyes on her, she looked up to meet his gaze. It was as if all the din of the chatting women disappeared while they stared at each other. That was until he got shoved into the kitchen by one of his asshole brothers.

“You know blocking the door isn’t going to keep us out.” Mike slapped him on the back as he squeezed into the room.

“Sorry, bro. Nan texts we show up.” James walked in followed by John and Nick.

“Who the hell taught her how to text anyway?” Aaron chuckled.

“You know, I love all of you but why exactly did Nan order this family gathering?” Keith caught Ian as he was about to squeeze by him.

“I think you must be the only one who didn’t get the text.” Ian pulled him aside. “Mom, Dad, and Nan decided that because of the danger Emily could be in, that it wouldn’t be a good idea to have the party where it wasn’t secure. Nan suggested your place. Well, it wasn’t actually a suggestion. Plus, Kurt wanted to talk to you, and from what Marina said, he made the mistake of saying it in front of Nan.”

“I checked my phone, but I don’t have a message from him or Nan,” Keith said.

“As far as I know, it has to do with Emily’s situation.” Ian looked over Keith’s shoulder. “Kurt is on the way here with Emily’s parents.”

Keith twisted around to see what Ian was looking at. Emily was no longer holding Alexander. Now Ian’s little girl Lily was sat on her lap and pointing towards Keith.

“I should warn you, on the way over here Lily asked if your girlfriend was here.” Ian grinned.

“Jesus, Fuck. She’s not…. We’re not…. I don’t fucking know what we are. All I know right now is some crackpot is obsessed with her. Bro, I can’t let the fucking bastard get near her.” Keith kept his voice low enough for only Ian to hear.

“Just so you know, we’re here for that reason. You were there for me when Sandy was in danger. I’ve got your back, bro. All of us got your back, but it is dad’s birthday, and we’ve put off the baptism until Alexander’s god-father can be there too.” Ian clapped his hand on Keith’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

“Thanks, bro. I’d be honored to be the little man’s godfather, and thanks for delaying it.”

Keith didn’t doubt between his brothers and the guys that work for him, Emily would be safe. At least from danger. Being safe from his family was another story.

Keith squeezed his way out of the kitchen and made his way to his room. After a quick shower, he walked out of the ensuite wrapping a towel around his waist, Emily came into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She turned and pressed her back against the door.

“Are you hiding?” He chuckled when she sighed.

“Maybe.” She smiled, and her eyes traveled down his body. “Or maybe I knew you’d be in here naked.”

“I’m not naked, but I can be.” He grabbed the edge of the towel as if he was going to yank it off.

“You do realize there are about a million people outside this room?” Emily hitched her thumb over the shoulder.

“First of all, there aren’t a million people in Newfoundland. So I doubt that number is accurate.” Keith stalked towards her and braced his hands against the door on both sides of her head.

“I think your family is multiplying out there.” Emily slowly slid her hands from his abs up over his chest.

“What do you think we are? Rabbits?” Keith chuckled and kissed his way from her cheek to the crook of her neck.

“Keith,” She moaned softly.

“Princess, as much as I would love to lock this door and toss you on that bed, I know my family. The minute they don’t see us, they will come looking.” Keith sighed when she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his chest.

“Lily wanted me to know that she’s glad I’m Uncle Keith’s girlfriend.” Emily peeked up at him under her lashes.

“And what did you say?” Keith teased.

“I told her I wasn’t your girlfriend.” Emily squeezed her eyes shut.

“Did you say that because you think it’s what I’d want you to say, or do you not see this going somewhere?” He needed to know before he could put a label on what they were.

“I said it because I really didn’t know how to answer it, but I do want this to go somewhere.” Emily cupped his cheek. Keith covered her hand with his and pressed his lips against her palm.

“Me too.” Keith stepped back and dropped the towel. “I better get dressed before the search party starts.”

“God, I love your ass.” Emily sighed when he turned around.

“Leave his ass alone and come out here both of you..” Nick shouted through the bedroom door.

“Stop listening through doors asshole. We’ll be right out.” Keith replied.

“Well, now I won’t be able to face your family.” Emily covered her face.

“Trust me, Nick won’t say a word.” Keith pulled up his jeans and grabbed a shirt out of the closet. “I’ll kick his ass if he does.”

He couldn’t help himself as he pulled her into his arms before they left the room. He brushed his lips against hers, and she sighed.

“I’m pretty sure everyone suspects we’re together.” She whispered.

“You may be right, and I’m fine with that. Are you?” Keith kissed her lips.

“Absolutely.” Emily pressed her hand against his cheek. “I must be because I’m in here with you and there is a huge birthday cake in the kitchen.”

“Well, now I feel really special. If you’re choosing me over one of Nan’s cakes, I must be the luckiest man in the world.” He chuckled as he reached around her for the doorknob.

“I feel pretty lucky myself.” She kissed his cheek just before she turned and left the room.

An hour later the huge pans of food were scraped clean, and the cake had vanished. Keith’s father had recruited the help of all the grandchildren to help him open all the gifts, which ranged from clothes to fishing gear. His dad had a love for fishing that had stemmed from his father.

It made his heart happy that Emily fit in so well with his family. Of course, they treated her like she was one of them.

The house was still full of people, but Kurt was preparing Keith’s dining room for everyone to talk. It didn’t matter that Kurt had only wanted the family that was members of the N.P.D and N.S.S., Nan had deemed everyone on the team.

Keith walked into his living room to grab a few more chairs to see some of his nieces and nephews dancing around in front of the television. He shook his head and headed for the dining room carrying an armful of folding chairs.

“My television is being tortured by a big purple thing on the screen.” Keith chuckled as he leaned the chairs against the wall.

“That would be Barney, and he’s become my best friend,” Stephanie grinned.

“Yeah, don’t be dissing Barney.” Marina pointed her finger at him.

“Barney is a gift from the heavens.” Sandy sighed.

His three sisters-in-law obviously had found something to keep their kids from driving them crazy. He didn’t blame them because his nieces and nephews had a lot of energy.

When Emily’s parents arrived, his mother wrangled all the kids into the living room, and between her and his Aunt Alice, they kept the kids out of earshot. The last thing the little ones needed to hear about was explosions and Emily being in danger. The kids had been around more of all this shit than any child should have.

Kurt began to explain the report he’d received from the fire chief. The explosion hadn’t been meant to destroy the salon. A small box had been attached below the window. The investigator had found the remnants of what was believed to be a small pipe bomb and traces of gun powder. It was set on a timer made with what looked like a standard alarm clock.

“I think it was meant as a distraction to get to Emily,” Kurt said.

“This guy should know by now Emily has security,” James said.

“If he doesn’t, then he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. Keith’s been her shadow for a few weeks.” Mike chuckled.

Although Nelson and Lynn seemed comfortable with his family, Emily’s dad had started to pace the room. More so when Kurt began the story of what had happened all those years ago. It had to be difficult for him to let everyone hear what he had done, even if it wasn’t intentional.

Keith’s heart went out to the man, and he actually owed Nelson an apology. He’d been an ass at the hospital, but it had pissed him off to find out that because of what the family had kept hidden, Emily’s safety was in jeopardy. It still didn’t give Keith the right to be disrespectful. His mother and father would be disappointed.

“There has to be someone that knows the guy’s name. There has to be a record somewhere. Especially if the guy was admitted to the hospital.” Sandy said.

“You stay out of this. You’re on maternity leave. I’ll get Smash to check into it.” The sudden pain in his shin told Keith that he shouldn’t have said that.

“Hope that hurt asshole.” Sandy narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m still better than Smash, and I’m going to be the one to do this.”

“Jesus, woman. You didn’t have to kick me.” Keith complained, but Sandy was the best at digging out hidden information, and if it were out there, she’d find it. Not that Smash wasn’t good.

“Fer de love a da lord, Nelson. Sit down. Yer makin’ me dizzy wit all yer pacin’ around de room.” Nanny Betty grabbed Nelson by the hand and pulled him into the chair next to her. “Now, so far, Sandy’s gonna look on de web net to find dis sleeveen. Wat do we do next?”

Sleeveen was Nanny Betty’s way of saying asshole and leave it to her to say what everyone else was thinking.

“Mudder, you won’t be doing anything.” His father pointed his finger toward Nanny Betty. Would the man never learn?

“Sean, doncha dare try ta tell me wat ta do.” Nanny Betty glared at his dad. “I’m still yer mudder.”

When he tried to reply a hand reached out and covered his dad’s mouth. It seemed Tom knew with Nanny Betty, arguing was futile.

“I’ll have to cancel the Sweet Heart Ball,” Lynn’s soft voice cracked.

“That’s probably a good idea,” Nelson was quickly at his wife’s side.

“Mom, you can’t do that. The children’s hospital depends on that fundraiser.” Emily said.

“Emily, we can’t take a chance. You’d be in danger.” Lynn’s eyes filled with tears.

“Then I won’t go, and Keith will look after the security.” Emily glanced at him for verification, and he nodded. He knew she didn’t want to miss the ball. It meant so much to her family, but the thought of her in a crowd made him sick to his stomach. Especially because they had no idea who this guy was. For all they knew, it could be someone the Bradshaw’s considered friends.

“If ya want, we can give ya a hand wit tings.” Nanny Betty reached out and grabbed Lynn’s hand. “It’ll save ya some money, and ya can give dat to the hospital too.”

“That’s a fantastic idea.” Lynn smiled at his grandmother. Although, he was pretty sure Lynn and Nelson were not worried about what the ball was going to cost. The only thing that Keith was concerned with was how Emily was going to feel about missing the event.

“I’d like to help too.” Pam had been in the corner of the room.

“Won’t you be gone back to the mainland?” Cora asked, but her expression was hopeful.

“Mom, I think it’s time for me to come home for good.” How Pam didn’t get shoved through the wall was surprising. Between his cousins and Cora, she was plastered against the wall with all of them hugging her.

“Pammy, we’ll celebrate ya comin’ home later. Now we got work ta do.” Nanny Betty shouted over the excitement. “Is dat all ya got Kurt.”

“Mudder, I’m seriously thinking about giving you a job at the station.” Kurt chuckled.

“Doncha be so foolish. I got no time fer a job.” Nanny Betty waved her hand in the air. “Tryin’ ta keep all of ya from getting’ killed is a full-time job.”

The room erupted into laughter breaking the tension of what they were facing. Leave it to his grandmother to be the comic relief in an otherwise serious situation.

She’s one of a kind, Grandda.