“He’s eaten and been changed. He’s teething and missed his morning nap. Yes, just like that.”
“I got him. You go do your thing,” Belle assured her.
“Thank you,” Remy said before dashing back to the counter to take care of the growing group of customers.
Belle hugged the baby boy close as she hummed and moved closer to Lyra’s table, swaying back and forth. He quieted, clutching a strand of her hair in his tiny fist. She smiled. It had been a long time since TJ was this little, and she was not much older than Lyra when she’d taken care of him by herself. Something about holding a sleeping baby made everything calm and peaceful inside her.
“Is he asleep?” Lyra asked, whispering.
Belle lifted her head and sure enough, his eyes were closed, his tiny fist partially inside his mouth. Drool slid down his hand, no doubt spilling onto her jacket.
“I think so,” Belle said, sitting across from the little girl. “What are you coloring?”
“Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.”
“Oh, she’s very pretty,” Belle said.
“She’s the only princess with skin like me. Well, except for Moana and Pocahontas. They’re light brown too.”
Belle nodded. The little girl had already noticed the vast underrepresentation of people of color in the media. Why was it so hard for most adults to see? What child didn’t want to see someone who looked like them saving the day and finding their happily-ever-after?
“What about Doc McStuffins? Have you ever seen that show?” Belle asked.
Lyra stopped coloring and smiled at her. “Yes! I love that show. And Nella the Princess Knight.”
Belle nodded. “Can you draw me your favorite character? You are great at coloring.”
Lyra took a sip of her hot cocoa, leaving a mustache of chocolate on her upper lip and a dab of whipped cream on her little nose. She grinned. “When I grow up, I’m going to be an artist.”
“I bet you will.” Belle handed her a napkin.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Lyra asked, her face serious as she wiped her mouth, leaving the spot on her nose.
Belle bit back another smile. “Well, I am pretty grown up. I’m a nurse.”
The little girl’s mouth dropped open. “Do you work with Doc McStuffins?”
Belle chuckled. “Not exactly.”
Lyra scribbled across the page, her little body hunched over in focus as her pink tongue stuck out the side of her mouth in concentration. Lyra turned the page upside down to put what appeared to be the finishing touches on her drawing. Belle breathed in the scent of the baby as his little chest rose and fell.
The bell jangled as a couple of patrons left the café. Remy set a steaming latte in front of her. “This is on the house. Along with my eternal gratitude. Did you want anything else?”
“I would love a couple of those mermaid cookies. But I insist on paying.”
“It is the least I can do.” Remy left and quickly came back with a bag full of the dessert.
“Thank you.” Belle grabbed one cookie and bit into it. “Delicious.”
“I don’t suppose you want to keep him for a little while longer, do you? If I move him, he’ll wake up and then be miserable the rest of the day.” Remy bit her lip.
“I’d love nothing more. I’ve got an adorable baby on my shoulder, caffeine, cookies—heck, I should be paying you to enjoy this.” Belle smiled, hoping to set Remy at ease. Taking care of people was what she’d done for as long as she could remember. It made her feel needed and appreciated.
“You are a godsend.”
“She’s a nurse, Mommy! She works with Doc McStuffins,” Lyra added excitedly.
Remy smiled, eyes widening towards her daughter. “That sounds super fun.” Remy kissed Lyra’s forehead before grabbing another chair to sit by them. “Are you new to town, then?”
Belle took a sip of the latte before she answered. “I moved here a few months ago with my younger brother after I got the job.”
“How do you like Shattered Cove so far?”
“It’s a nice place,” Belle said honestly. The town was nice—and Remy was nice too. Maybe she was another potential friend—someone outside of work. The other nurses had been kind but, aside from Katy, she hadn’t really bonded with any of them. Remy was different. There was a feeling of potential here.
The bells jingled above the door behind her as a gust of wind blew into the café. Her skin prickled in anticipation as Lyra’s face broke out into a wide grin.
“Uncle Bently!”
No.
Chapter 12
Belle
Belle froze, the blood draining from her face. Bently? As in, Bently Evans? Sheriff Bently Evans was Lyra’s uncle and Remy’s brother-in-law?
“Hey, sweetheart. You ready to go to my house? I thought we could play with that new dollhouse I set up for y—Oh. Hi, Belle.” Bently looked as surprised as she felt.
“Hi,” she said, much steadier than she was. His gaze was fuel to an instant ache. Those blue eyes sent her tumbling, plunging into darkness so she didn’t know which way was up or down. Longing and uncertainty clamored in her chest as she took a wavering breath.
“You two know each other?” Remy asked, pulling her from the trance as more customers entered the café.
“She’s the one who found Mia,” Bently’s gruff voice answered.
“Oh! You did? You’re just an everyday heroine, then, aren’t you?” Remy joked.
Bently cut Remy a questioning glance before focusing on the sleeping babe on Belle’s shoulder.
“Can you wait until Phoenix wakes up before you go? I know it’s not ideal, but if we move him, he’ll be in a horrible mood for the rest of the day. He’s already been asleep for thirty or so minutes,” Remy asked Bently.
“Uh, sure. Whatever you need,” he said.
“Color with me, Uncle Bently,” Lyra directed.
He grabbed a chair and sat beside his niece, his tan police uniform clinging to his muscled shoulders. A few stray locks of black hair
