Giving her a soft kiss I murmur a sincere, “I love you too, Partner,” and get quiet to watch my wife feed our child from her very own body. “This is a miracle.”
“I don’t know if it’s a miracle,” she smiles. “Let’s not get carried away.”
Running gentle fingers over the black peach-fuzz that covers his tiny head I ask him, “Logan, do you think it’s a miracle? No, don’t answer. Just keep sucking with your eyes closed. Maybe you’ll fall asleep again.”
With our shoulders pressed together Natalie sighs, “Oh please God. They never warn you how tired you’ll be.”
Closing my eyes a wishful second, I confess, “My cousins warned me, but I didn’t believe them.”
“You have to experience it firsthand to really understand.”
“Ethan laughed his ass off when I told him that I need more sleep.”
We lean our heads together as she says, “He’s got a funny laugh.”
“He does. And he laughs a lot, which is good. I’ve gotta get some water, Gorgeous. Throat is parched.” Stretching out my fatigued legs, I stand and pad over to our kitchen, rubbing my eyes the whole way. It’s dark, and the light that explodes from the refrigerator is intense. That’s when you know you’re sleep-deprived. Feels like you’re hungover but you haven’t had a drink in forever.
Pouring a large glass I drink it all down and refill it for Natalie. “You want any snacks?”
“Cheese?”
Snagging a couple string cheese sticks from the crisper I mosey back to bed, my eyes growing accustomed to the dark again as I go. “Got you two.”
“My hero.”
“You’re easily impressed,” I chuckle.
“I was craving some but didn’t want to get up. That’s hero-material.”
“Want some water?” She nods and I place the glass in her hand, climbing into bed and getting settled. “Mmm, warm.”
“Set this on the nightstand for me, and maybe open one of those string cheeses?”
“What would you do without me?”
“Cry.”
Laughing at her flat delivery, I help her and ask, “What’d you think of Ethan’s house?”
“Amazing,” she distractedly replies, chewing the end off a stick. “I love Charlie, too. She said I could call her any time for tips.”
“But Ethan is the stay-at-home Dad.”
A sharp look slashes from Natalie’s exhausted peepers. “She’s still his mother! Charlie was there every day when Kaya was an infant And that’s what Logan is!”
“Whoa Captain Girl Power! We’re just talking here.”
My wife’s eyes lose their edge and she takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry, babe. Really tired.” Giving me a kiss she adds, “I’ve been sharp with you lately.”
I pull the blankets up over them both. “I snapped at you yesterday. We’re human.”
“Yes, but you own up to it faster than I do.”
“We’re learning. That takes time.”
Switching Logan to the other breast, she meets my eyes for a second as her fingers press down to position the tip of her nipple for his reaching mouth. Then her gaze drops and she sighs, “Communication is crucial. You hear people say that all the time, but it never sinks in until you find yourself acting like an asshole.”
Chuckling I reassure her, “You’re not an asshole. You’re a new mom and that’s not easy. Neither is admitting when you’re acting…well, in a way you don’t want to be.”
“A way I’m not proud of,” she mutters and rolls her eyes as Logan closes his again.
“Watching my parents hash it out all my life I learned one thing. If you talk to each other, hash it out with respect, and without blaming, you can become closer.”
We cuddle up, getting quiet.
Logan falls asleep as my hand strokes his hair while her body nourishes him. When his mouth goes lax she glances to me with the silent question, Dare we put him back in the crib?
I shake my head and whisper, “Let’s just enjoy this.”
Her long eyelashes drop to watch him. “You’re right. They always say this time passes so fast.”
“One can dream.”
CHAPTER 43
BONUS SCENE 2
M AX
Emma has been walking us through the first floor of a Craftsman home in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood. It’s very charming over here. Trader Joes is within walking distance, as are countless restaurants and shops that Natalie and I can push the stroller around.
But the main reason we want to move here is that my brother said if he ever settled down it would be in this area. I want to be like Emma, Hannah and Ethan—buy homes near the people I’m closest to. Mom and Dad are just a ten-minute-drive away.
Emma has pointed out the newer amenities, the older ones that make the house affordable for a couple of Indies like us, and the things we’d definitely need to fix at some point. She glances from me to my wife, including us both. “I used to hate this question, but as your realtor I’m asking for practical reasons not pressuring ones. Do you plan on having more children?”
Natalie and I lock eyes. I’ve got our eight-month-old strapped to my chest in whatever they call this contraption. He’s happy as a clam, like all successful cock-blockers.
“That’s why we want to move,” my wife hesitantly admits since she and my cousin are not close yet.
Emma frowns her confusion. “Because you do want some?”
Cupping his dangling feet I explain with a smirk, “See the thing is, Emm, this smiling guy right here has made it difficult for me to get busy with my wife.”
Emma laughs, “Lofts are sexy until there are three of you!”
“The bathroom is begging us to find a new spot.”
“And I’m tired of making no noise,” Natalie adds, shooting a look to me, then back to my cousin. “If you know what I mean.”
“Oh hell yeah!” Emma waves her hand. “Say no more.” Walking toward the stairs she explains, “This home has three bedrooms, as you’ve seen. So I’m not sure if you’re like me and my husband, and plan to have a large family. That’s why I wanted to know. There’s not enough room for huge growth.”
As Natalie glances to me I
