“Where Ottie?”
“Lottie is with her mum today.”
His little shoulders sag, but he shifts his focus and grins.
“’Kay,” he says before turning around in my arms and pointing. “Ant Pen here.”
My eyes meet Pen’s over my nephew’s head. She’s shifted position to sit cross-legged on the carpet. She’s surrounded by a barrage of stuffed and plastic toys.
“I can see,” I say, unable to keep the mirth from my tone.
Pen looks disgustingly refreshed seeing, like me, she had no sleep last night.
“Morning sunshine,” she says. “Come to join the fun?”
Gabriel groans, and Leah chuckles.
“This is my workplace,” he grumbles. “Caleb’s away. Now I get my big brother instead.”
“I can leave,” I say, turning towards the door, Callum still in my arms.
A resoundingnogoes up from Leah and Pen, followed by laughter.
“I’ll get more coffee,” Amanda says, reaching up and tickling Callum, making him squirm before she leaves.
“Juice pees,” he says.
“Of course, young man.”
“Enclosed cups,” Gabriel calls after her.
Gabriel won’t have open mugs of coffee or tea around Callum, not after he nearly pulled one onto himself when he first started walking.
“Come in and sit down,” Leah says, pointing to the sofa near where Pen is sitting.
I close the door and put the now squirming Callum back onto the floor. He returns to Pen, who opens her arms and has him fall into them.
She tickles him until he’s squealing with delight.
“More,” he says breathlessly when she stops.
“Enough, Callum, let poor Pen come up for air.”
Pen cuddles him close to her chest, and he rests his head against her shoulder. The sight does strange things to me. I think back to how she was with Lottie. Not that I got to appreciate it very often. We made her Lottie’s godmother, along with Jaxson and Zach as godfathers. Or should I say, my father insisted, even though we were barely talking at that point. He must have had foresight into what an amazing godmother she would be. She’s always been there for Lottie, still is. Day trips and homework. Nothing is or has been too much trouble for my daughter, but with me, she always made sure I was absent.
“Getting ready for your own?” Leah says as Callum snuggles deeper into Pen’s shoulder.
He’s clearly exhausted himself and is beginning to fall asleep listening to Pen’s heartbeat.
She looks across and smiles.
“I can only hope,” she says, her gaze wistful.
My heart gives a kick at the thought of Pen’s stomach growing round with Lansdown’s child.
“Not long until the wedding,” Leah says, grinning. “How are the preparations going?”
I want nothing more than to tell my sister-in-law to stop, but one look at Gabriel, and I swallow my retort.
