“I heard this voice asking me what was wrong and I looked up at him. Even though tears were clouding my vision, I could still see those blue eyes behind his glasses and I swear, my heart stopped for a second. I know that’s a cliché, but it happened.” She’d just blurted out her story and he sat there with her, listening and giving her comfort. Afterward she was horribly embarrassed, but he gave her a smile and told her not to worry about it. He even walked her back to her dorm room to make sure she got back.
“He was so considerate that I just didn’t stand a chance. Plus, you know, the red hair and the blue eyes and the glasses. Oh, baby.” She smiled down at Lola.
“I know what you mean.” I’d known the second Lucah walked into my office that things were going to change. I just had no idea how much.
“So, do you want to go shopping or anything?” April thought about it for a second.
“I would say let’s go to a bar, but that would just make me sad. Can we go to a shoe store? I need a new pair of ballet flats.” I grinned.
“I know just the place.”
Four
An hour and one more Lola meltdown later, April not only had a new pair of flats, but the most gorgeous pair of black motorcycle boots and also a pair of heels that I was considering stealing from her and taking myself. I’d limited myself to two pairs of pumps. It was against my nature to go into a shoe store and not buy anything. I just couldn’t do it.
“This has been so great, thank you.” She had to settle for giving me a side hug as she held the baby.
“You’re welcome. I’m happy to shop for shoes anytime.” She smiled and then sighed.
“We should probably get back to the boys and the girls.” Probably. I hoped Lucah would be wearing a tiara and be covered in glitter makeup when we got back. It usually happened during our visits and I loved it every time.
~*~*~
Lola was screaming again by the time we pulled into the driveway and April got her out of the car seat so fast, I wondered if it was some kind of record. She took her into the house and I followed.
“Oh my God,” she said as she took in the now-spotless living room, the banister that was devoid of little fingerprints, the stairs that were free of obstructions. It even smelled fresher, like flowers.
“You’re back,” Tate said, coming out of the dining room, a vase of white flowers in his hand. April opened and closed her mouth a few times and then handed me the squalling Lola before nearly tackling her husband and kissing him so hard, I felt the need to avert my eyes. I heard noises upstairs and assumed that was where my soon-to-be husband was with the girls.
Deciding to give the two some time to make out, I took screaming Lola upstairs and found Lucah reading a book to the girls. They were cuddled into Gracie’s bed and he was narrating in a silly voice.
“Well, hello there,” I said.
“Roar!” Fiona said, putting her hands up.
“Hey, Fi. I can’t pick you up because I’m holding your sister right now.” I was sure April could probably juggle all three at once, but I didn’t trust myself to hold an infant and a wiggly toddler.
Fiona pouted and Lucah got up from the bed. It was pretty silly to see him sitting on it. Like he was a giant.
“Somebody is not very happy,” I said, pointing to Lola. Lucah held his arms out and I handed her over.
“Oh, my goodness, so dramatic,” he said, patting her back and gently and joggling her up and down. Her cries slowed and then stopped.
“Oh, I see who’s the favorite,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him as he grinned in triumph. But then Fiona seized her moment and threw herself at me and I caught her little flying body before she hit the floor and did any kind of damage.
“Roar!” she said, hugging me around the neck with her little arms. God, she was too cute for words.
“See? You’re someone’s favorite,” Lucah said, leaning his head against Lola’s and winking at me.
Oh. God.
I swear, my uterus cried out when I saw him cuddling that baby. It had to be some sort of primal thing, that at that moment, I wanted to take him home and make a baby with him. It was the urge to keep the species going.
I had to look away as Gracie also begged to be picked up, feeling left out.
I sat down on the bed with the two girls, who were supposed to be napping, and Lucah sat down on the floor with Lola in his lap since there wasn’t enough room on the little bed for four of us.
He started the story again, holding it up so the girls could see. He really threw himself into it, giving each character a different voice and putting as much into the performance as an actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The three of us laughed and clapped when he finished.