I lead the way up the steps. “Just knock and go on in,” Evan says from behind me. I do as he says and hold the door open for him.
Evan heads down the hall and turns left into a room that I assume is the living room. “Surprise!” he says.
His gran clutches her chest. I’m thinking that was not the best way to announce our arrival.
“Sorry, Gran,” Evan says sheepishly. “Would you like to meet your great-granddaughter?” he asks them.
“What kind of question is that, boy?” his grandfather’s hoarse voice says. “Bring that girl here so we can get a better look.” They’re both sitting on the couch.
Evan sets Lexi’s seat down, carefully removes the straps, and cradles her in his arms. “Gram, Gramps, I would like to introduce you to Lexington Rae Chamberlin,” he says proudly, handing her over to his grandmother.
I watch as tears well in her eyes as she takes in baby Lexi. I catch Gramps swiping at the corner of his eye. I feel like I’m intruding on a precious family moment. Stepping back, I plan to escape to the Durango to give them some time when Evan turns to me. “Kinley, would you mind taking a few pictures for us?”
“Absolutely,?
?? I say, happy to have a reason to be here. I reach into the diaper bag and pull out the camera. I snap a few shots; well, maybe more than a few. You can never have enough pictures.
“All right, I need to get this little one home. It’s almost time for her to eat.” Evan takes her from his gramps and kisses the top of her little head before placing her back in her seat.
We say our goodbyes and load back up to drive just a few hundred feet to Evan’s place. I text Mom on the short trip, asking her to come pick me up. I’m sure Evan doesn’t want me hanging around his first day home with his daughter.
“Mom’s on her way,” I tell him once we have carried everything inside.
“I can’t thank you enough, Kinley.”
“You’re welcome, and I wanted to.”
The sound of tires crunching gravel gets both of our attention. “I hope you’re ready to give her up, at least for a few minutes. Mom’s going to want to love on her.”
Evan smiles. “Yeah, I figured she would.” He looks down at the little pink bundle in his arms. “You ready for some Grandma Mills loving?” he asks her.
At first, I’m surprised he referred to my mom as grandma, but I shouldn’t be. Evan has practically grown up at our house and has always referred to my parents as his “second set.”
I make my way to the door and pull it open before she even has time to knock. “Is she sleeping?” Mom asks as she passes me to walk into the house. I can hear Evan chuckle in the other room. He obviously heard her.
I point toward the living room and Mom doesn’t waste any time as she heads that way. “Oh, Evan.” Her voice cracks. “Can I hold her?”
When I join them, Mom is sitting on the couch, Lexi in her arms as she unwraps her from her swaddle. “Ten fingers and ten toes, you’re such a cutie. Your daddy’s going to have his hands full with the boys when it comes to you,” she tells the baby.
Evan groans. “She’s not allowed to date.”
Mom laughs. “Oh, Evan, she’s going to date and you’re going to have to learn to deal with it. All you can do is give her the values and make sure she respects herself enough to make good decisions.”
“Or,” Evan says with a grin, “she can not date until she’s at least thirty.”
Mom focuses her attention back on Lexi. She offers the baby her finger and Lexi latches on. “You’re just going to have to wrap Daddy and Uncle Aaron around your finger. Don’t worry, Kinley and I will be there to guide you.” She laughs.
“Hey now.” Evan grins.
We spend the next half hour talking while Mom loves on Lexi. It’s me who finally suggests we head home. “Mom, you about ready to go?” I ask. She insisted she feed Lexi to give Evan a “break.”
“Oh, I guess we should let these two settle in.” She stands and hands Lexi back to Evan. “You call if you need anything,” she tells him with a pat to his cheek.
“Yes, ma’am. Kinley, I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done for us.”
“I’m happy to help. Call me if you need anything. Oh, and I bought an adorable outfit for her newborn pictures. Mine will be way better than the hospital’s. Maybe I can stop by tomorrow sometime?” I ask.
“We’ll be here,” he says with a smile.