Page 32 of Finding English

Chapter 13

Before Cassie woke, Henry slid out of bed, treading his way quietly to the kitchen. His mum, who was always awake with the birds, was already in the kitchen pouring coffee for his dad.

She glanced up at him and smiled. “Morning, my boy.”

Henry kissed his mum’s cheek as he stole a slice of bacon from his dad’s plate, causing his old man to grumble and slap at his hand.

“Morning, Mum.”

“Cassie sleeping?”

Henry nodded, fighting the desire to grin like an idiot, and knowing by the look on his mother’s face, he’d failed. “Yeah, she hasn’t been sleeping properly these last few weeks, so I left her to lie in.”

“That girl is a lion, so proud and so fierce. Exactly what you need in your life.”

“Yeah, she’s all those things and more.” He grabbed a takeout mug and poured some coffee in it.

“You love her, don’t you?” His mother came to stand behind his dad, adding more eggs to his plate from the pan, but her eyes were on Henry.

“I do, yes.” Admitting it was easy. He’d thought he’d balk at the idea of love, but Cassie and Micky made it easy for him to love them.

“I’m happy for you, darling.” She grinned as she kissed his father’s cheek with a twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, well, I haven’t told her yet, so keep it to yourself.”

“Of course. Now, are you going to the bunkhouse?”

“Yeah, I need to go over a few things with the team.”

“Well, tell them breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes.”

“You don’t have to cook for them, Mum. I can sort something out.”

Josie frowned at him and held her spatula up. “If you think for one minute I’m not going to look after these people when they’re risking their lives to make my heart and his new family safe, then you’re wired wrong, my boy, and I know that ain’t the case.”

Henry grinned and looked at his dad who shrugged. “Let her do it.”

“Fine, I’ll tell them.”

Henry walked toward the bunkhouse seeing movement inside even at six in the morning. Poking his head in he saw they were already hard at work. Jack lifted his head from where he stood behind Will, who was seated at the foreman’s desk, his laptop in front of him.

“Morning.”

“Good morning,” Henry said as he moved inside to similar greetings from the others. “Before I forget, Mum said breakfast is in thirty minutes.”

“Ah yes, I’m starving.”

Aubrey laughed as she rolled her eyes at Will, coming to stand beside her man. “You’re always hungry.”

Will slid his arms around her, pulling her close, his head resting on her belly as she brushed her hands through his hair. “Because you wear me out, baby.”

“Gross. Stop that right now before I fucking shoot you,” Jack declared with a withering glare at his brother, who just smirked.

“You need to find yourself a woman, big brother.”

“I’m perfectly fine the way I am,” Jack insisted as he crossed his arms over his black tee.

“Of course you are.” Aubrey laughed as she kissed the top of Will’s head and smirked at Jack.