Nothing seemed to be holding it up, but there had to be something in the back of the drawer.
She stuck her hand inside and felt around until her hand brushed something cool and hard.
“There you are,” she said, grabbing it and giving a tug.
The whole drawer almost came out, but she caught it with her other hand and steadied it as she pulled out the source of the jam-up.
“Oh,” she breathed, looking down at the little shadow box frame in her hand.
It contained medals that were clearly from Grayson’s time in the service, their ribbons in pristine condition, as if they had never seen the light of day.
“Oh, Grayson,” she murmured.
Honors like these didn’t belong in a junk drawer. IfGrayson’s house was going to start looking like his home, this display of what he had contributed to his country should have a proud place in it.
She got to work right away, finding a perfect spot for the medals and carefully putting a small nail in the wall where she could hang the shadow box.
He’s a hero,she thought to herself in wonder.
She didn’t know the exact meaning behind the medals, but she definitely knew that one meant he had been hurt in the line of duty, and the other seemed to be for bravery.
She gazed down at them for a moment, until Leo began reaching for the pretty objects in the box.
“Okay,” she told him. “Let’s put them up.”
Once they were in their place of honor, she stood back and nodded to herself.
Leo whimpered and wiggled in the carrier, so she got him out right away.
“Are you ready for a little something?” she asked him. “Is it time to eat?”
He nuzzled her neck and then bumped his head on her shoulder.
“Okay, okay,” she said, laughing. “You’re such a good communicator. Did you know that?”
She managed to fix his bottle while she held him and sang to him a bit. He was definitely ready for a meal and a nap. She probably should have started this round sooner.
This is how I learn,she told herself.
Soon she had a nice warm bottle all ready to go, and she decided to curl up on the sofa to feed him.
Leo looked right into her eyes as he enjoyed hisbottle, a solemn expression on his little face that went right to her heart.
Between the soft lamplight, the sweet scent of the Christmas tree, and the warm baby in her arms, Evangeline felt a sense of peace come over her that she had never experienced before.
Tears prickled at her eyes and she didn’t even know why.
“This is nice,” she murmured to Leo. “I wish I could stay forever.”
When he was finished with his bottle, they headed upstairs and she gave him a bath and a fresh diaper and cozy pajamas before bringing him back downstairs and placing him in his bassinet in the corner of the family room.
She was sure that Grayson would want to see Leo when he got home, but at least this way there would be less for him to do after his busy day volunteering.
When she put Leo down, he whimpered and kicked his legs.
“You’re sleepy,” she told him, reaching down to rub his little belly. “You just haven’t noticed yet.”
He stuck his lower lip out and he was so cute she almost couldn’t help picking him up again. But she knew that if she let him get too sleepy without a nap he would be miserable.
