“She’s literally like a leech, only it’s milk that she’s sucking from me, not blood,” she said, stroking the baby’s soft black hair. So far Fiona was the only one who had inherited her father’s hair color.
“It’s a good thing she’s cute.” I smiled down at the round sleeping baby. She had puffy cheeks and was just the cutest thing. People always say that all babies are cute, but that is definitely not true.
“I’m so glad I don’t have to lie to you about her being adorable. She really is beautiful.” April sighed and closed her eyes.
“Thanks.”
She sat so still for so long, I thought she’d powered down and fallen asleep.
“I wish I could leave her, but she nurses constantly and won’t take a bottle. She also screams bloody murder anytime anyone other than me or Tate holds her. The other two weren’t nearly this much trouble. I think she’s my punishment for the other ones being relatively easy.” Even though she was complaining, it was all said with a tone of affection, and there was no hiding the smile that emerged whenever she looked down at the little bundle of trouble.
“Maybe that means she’s going to be easier when she grows up? Get all of that out of the way now?” April laughed softly.
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
The sounds of screaming were still audible in the backyard, but much less intense now that they were outside.
“Do you want to go somewhere, or just stay here?” I asked. She didn’t look like she was up for much of anything, and I didn’t want to pressure her to do something she didn’t want to.
“No, I want to get out. I just… I have to put on new clothes and wash my face. A shower is only possible in some faraway magical land where all my lost hours of sleep have gone.” I really wished there was something more I could do, but this was definitely out of my wheelhouse.
“Why don’t you see if I can take her from you and go upstairs and get ready?” I asked. This could be a total disaster, but hey, it might work.
“We could try,” she said and what proceeded was like the two of us trying to defuse a bomb. As slowly as she could, April shifted Lola from her chest to mine. There was a moment when we thought all hope was lost, but Lola just blinked a few times and then closed her eyes again. Somehow, we got her transferred to my chest and I looked down at the tiny little human sleeping deeply on top of me. I felt a twinge of something. I wasn’t calling it baby fever. It was just PMS. IT WAS JUST PMS.
“It’s a fucking miracle,” April said, stretching her arms above her head and then cracking her neck from side to side. She almost never swore, so I knew just how tired she was.
“Okay, I’m going to go upstairs. If she wakes up…” I waved her off. I could handle a fussy baby. At least I hoped I could. Besides, she would only be gone for a few minutes, tops.
April nodded and trudged up the stairs and I tried not to panic as I held the little person.
~*~*~
Holding a sleeping baby is much like (or what I imagine it would be like) holding a bomb. I didn’t want to move for fear of waking the beast, so I sat with my back rigid. Of course, after only a few minutes, I had an itch on my nose. Slowly, I moved the hand that wasn’t holding the baby up and scratched. Lola didn’t even notice. Victory!
“See? I got this,” I said. Ever so slowly, I brushed the top of her head. Her hair was so soft. Like fluff. And her head smelled amazing. Okay, I could definitely see the appeal of babies. I wasn’t saying that I wanted one, but I could see why other people did. Definitely in another six years. Seven years. Maybe eight.
I was sitting in an awkward position, so I took a risk and stood up. Lola dreamed on. I took a step and then another and started walking around the room with her. It was hazardous because of all the child debris, but it was nice. She was so warm and cuddly.
“Wow,” someone said behind me. I turned slowly to find Lucah standing in the kitchen and watching us.
“Hey,” I said with a smile. I was pleased with myself that I was holding her and she wasn’t crying. I’d never babysat when I was younger and I didn’t have siblings, so my kid experience was limited. I could do this, though. If I was alone with her? Hell no.
Lucah just stood there and continued to watch me like I was something miraculous. I knew seeing him with the girls was a turn on, so maybe things went the other way around?
“How’s it going?” he finally said, walking slowly toward me through the mess. He had a determined expression on his face and I had the feeling if I hadn’t had a sleeping baby in my arms, he would have rushed me out to the car so we could get busy in the backseat.
“We’re fine. I think. I keep checking to make sure she’s breathing,” I admitted. He chuckled softly and leaned down to place the most delicate kiss on Lola’s head.
“I think Tate and April do the same thing, so that’s normal.” I nodded and Lucah smiled at me.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Of what? Holding a baby? It’s not bad when they’re asleep.” Lola’s mouth was slightly open. How precious.
“Of having one of our own.” Oh no. Not right now.
“I think we’ve talked about this before and I told you I wanted to wait a few years. This is the worst possible time, Lucah.” I didn’t want to argue with him while I was holding the baby, so it was fortunate that April walked down the stairs looking much more refreshed.