Bullet held baby Lulu in one arm, adorable in a pink sleeper. She had so much black hair, it looked like a wig, and the way Bullet was holding her made it clear she wasn’t leaving his arms even as he hauled Quincy into a one-armed embrace and said, “Love you, dude.”

“You too. Congrats on this adorable little one.” Quincy tickled the baby’s feet. “Tallulah, huh? Great name.”

“Yeah, Kennedy came up with it. I’d have called her anything that little sweetheart wanted. We’ll catch up,” Bullet said as Penny pushed past him and plastered herself against Quincy.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Penny said with tears in her eyes.

“Me too, Pen. You and Scott good?” He looked at Scott standing at the edge of the foyer with Truman, Bear, and Bones, all of them grinning.

“Mm-hm.” Penny sniffled, tightening her hold on him.

“Let me in there.” Dixie threw her arms around both of them and said, “You finally got your girl after all those months and just had to give her a big old test, didn’t you?”

He chuckled. “Missed you too, Dix.”

“Okay, blubbering Bettys, let Mama Red in there.” Red pried them off Quincy and hugged him even tighter than they had. “I’m glad you’re home, sweetheart. We’re all here for you.”

Hell if he didn’t get choked up all over again. “Thanks, Red.”

Jed sidled in, and Quincy accepted that choked up was probably how he was going to spend the next several hours. “Sorry about your wedding, man.”

Jed clapped him on the back. “No worries. I’m just glad you’re okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” Quincy said as he was pulled into another embrace. Several hugs later, he stood before Truman, who was holding Lincoln, and his heart felt like it might beat right out of his chest.

“You did it, bro.” Truman pulled him into a one-armed hug and said, “I’m so effing proud of you.”

“Soeffingproud,” Lincoln said, making everyone laugh.

“Get over here, little man.” Quincy settled Lincoln in his arm and pressed his cheek to his, whispering, “I’ve missed you, buddy.”

“Me too!” Kennedy hollered as she ran over, arms up.

“Get up here, jelly bean.” Quincy hoisted her into his other arm and kissed her, too. “I’ve missed you guys.”

“Isleepedinboo­ful’sbed!” Lincoln rattled off loudly, earning more laughs.

Quincy winked at Roni, standing with Penny and Angela, loving that she’d included her and Joey in their celebration, and said, “I go away for a month and you move in on my girl? I’m going to have to teach you about respect, little man. It’s a good thing I love you.”

Lincoln wriggled out of his arms and said, “Loveyouuncaincy!”

“Come into the house! I wanna play!” Kennedy said as Quincy set her down, and she ran out of the foyer.

Everyone headed for the living room, but Quincy reached for Roni, wanting a moment alone with her.

“Take your coat off and stay awhile,” she said. “Is this too much? Everyone wanted to see you.”