“Hey buddy.”
“Where’s Unco Ay-ben?”
“He’ll be back soon. Close your eyes and go back to sleep, honey. It’s late.”
“Am I having a sleepover?”
“I think so.”
“Otay.” He yawns and closes his eyes. I grab a bigger blanket from the linen shelves in the laundry room, and put one end over him. I curl up on the other end of the couch, putting my phone in front of me and pulling the other end over me.
I guess I fall asleep. I wake up to a text alert at 5:58. It’s from a number not in my phone.
“It’s Aiden. Baby girl is here. Five pounds, two ounces. Healthy. I’ll be home soon to get him and drop him to the hosp. His nanny is meeting us there.”
“Okay. Congrats.”
I close my eyes again.
I wake up to the blanket both Braeden and I are sharing moving.
Aiden is standing there, lifting Braeden into his arms. “Hey pal.”
“Unco Ay-ben. Is it morning? Where did you went?” Braeden rubs his eyes.
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“Your baby sister was just born. I was at the hospital with Mommy and Daddy.”
“She was?” The little guy’s face is alight with amazement.
“Yep. She’s gorgeous. Tiny and perfect. So much hair. You wanna go see her?”
The little guy nods his head. “I gots to go pee first.”
“Go ahead.” He sets him down on the floor.
I rub my eyes and sit, pulling my feet under me.
He sits for a second.
“Thanks for that,” he says, and his hand briefly lands on my leg. He squeezes and lets go.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll see you at the office. You get enough sleep?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Bring your luggage to work. Limo picks us up at the office at 5:15.”
“Okay.”
He gets up. His eyes are on me. Mine are locked with his.
We’re not saying anything.