I tilt my head toward the stairs. “Go to bed. I’ll sit with this little man and rock him to sleep.”
Her tired eyes widen. “You can’t be serious.”
I smile down first at my nephew and then at her. “Of course I am. That’s why I’m here—to help out. Now spend time with your husband. I saw his truck in the driveway, so I know he’s home from the firehouse. Go!”
She doesn’t hesitate. Kels rises to her feet and kisses my cheek and the top of Liam’s head.
“You’re the best, bro.”
“I know.”
I stand there for a few moments, mesmerized by this perfect bundle of joy in my arms as I hear my sister’s footsteps go up the stairs.
“Mommy and Daddy need some alone time, so it’s just you and me, kiddo,” I whisper so as not to disturb him.
I decide to stay downstairs with him versus going upstairs to his nursery, which is right next door to my sister and brother-in-law’s room.
Liam is the perfect combo of Kelsey and Chase. My mind drifts to where Lauren and I would be had we not broken up.
Would this be our son or daughter in my arms that I’m rocking to sleep?
Would they look more like Lauren or me?
Would we have other children running around?
“I’m going to win her back, Liam. Uncle Finn is going to get the girl.” Liam, of course, doesn’t say anything back since he, of course, can’t talk yet, but in his sleep, his mouth curves upward as if he were smiling. I think he agrees with my plan.
I awkwardly reach for the remote on the coffee table without disturbing Liam and turn on an episode of The X-Files on Netflix.
I’m halfway through my second episode when I hear footsteps walking down the stairs. I turn to see Chase putting his arms through the sleeves of his T-shirt.
“What are you doing down here?” I ask. “I sent Kelsey upstairs to you. I can take care of Liam on my own.
“Ha.” He bellows out a
deep laugh. “Oh, I know you sent Kels upstairs. She’s now passed out.”
I grimace while he smiles wide. “Gross, dude.” I reach for the pillow next to me and toss it in his direction.
He throws his arms up, catching the pillow. “What? How do you think that little one in your arms got here? Didn’t you learn anything in health class?” He disappears into the kitchen.
“I must have skipped that day.” I shake my head. “What are you doing down here anyway? Shouldn’t you be asleep too?”
Chase returns with two beers in his hand. He twists the top of one and sets it in front of me before settling on the other side of the couch, propping his feet on the coffee table. “Nah, I’m still a little hyped up from my shift to go to sleep, so I figured I would come down here and hang with the boys instead of turning the TV on upstairs and disturbing her.”
I genuinely admire Chase for his line of work. Being a firefighter is no easy task. I don’t think I could ever do what he does—walking into buildings, not sure if you are going to come out.
I finally notice the T-shirt he’s wearing. It’s a black T-shirt that says, “I Put Out” with a fire extinguisher.
“Classy shirt.”
“Thanks, Kels got it for me last Christmas. It’s true, in case you were wondering.”
I shake my head, silently laughing. “Again, can we talk about anything other than yours and my sister’s sex life?”
I adjust Liam in my arms, making sure not to disturb him. I feel like I could be a creeper for how much I stare at him when he’s sleeping. Lord, help me if I have kids of my own one day. And once again, my mind drifts back to Lauren. Picturing her belly swollen and holding our child.
“You know, I can take him from you,” he says, settling on the other side of the couch.