Back in the dimly lit bedroom, she sank down on the edge of the bed. As she watched TJ sleep, she wondered if she was going to hear him when he cried. She was so tired that she was afraid that being back in the comfort of her own bed would make her sleep too soundly.
A light knock on her open door drew her attention. She looked over to see Julian standing there in a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt. Even dressed casually, he managed to look handsome and put together. Meanwhile, she still looked nine months pregnant, her hair was frizzy, and she was wearing a T-shirt that might have baby drool on the shoulder.
“Can I come in?” he asked, waiting just outside the door until she nodded. “I want to propose something to you. You’re welcome to say no, and I won’t be upset, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to do everything with the baby.”
“There’s not much you can do at this point,” she said.
“I know, but I still want to help you.” He came to stand next to the bassinet and looked down at TJ with a smile. “I want to do my part.”
“So what are you proposing?” At this point, she’d consider pretty much anything if it helped her take care of TJ.
“Let me sleep in here with the two of you,” he said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Then when he wakes up, I can help you by getting him out of the bassinet and changing his diaper if necessary while you get ready to feed him.”
“You want to change his diaper?” Kiara could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“Wantmight be a strong word when it comes to changing diapers. However, it’s not when it comes to helping you. Iwantto help you.”
Kiara hadn’t imagined that he’d want to pitch in, especially with diaper changes.
“Well?” he prodded.
“You’re sure you want to sleep in here? I have a feeling it’s going to be a pretty fractured night.”
“That’s fine,” Julian said. “I told Duncan I was going to take the next week off. I’ll still do some work, but if I need to catch a nap during the day, I can.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’d appreciate the help.”
The designer had chosen a king-size bed for her room, so there was plenty of space for Julian on the far side of the bed. Still, it was weird to share a bed with someone who wasn’t Angie. They’d always shared a bed growing up.
But she and Julian were married, so if things had been different, they would have already been spending nights together.
“I have a nightlight on, so I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
“It won’t,” Julian assured her as he walked around to the other side of the bed.
She carefully maneuvered herself into the bed, then pulled the bassinet right up against the mattress. The meds she’d taken a short time earlier had kicked in, and the pain was more of a dull ache.
With a sigh, she laid down on her right side, facing the baby, then pulled the comforter up over herself. She felt the bed shift as Julian settled himself.
Reaching out, she snapped off the lamp that was on her side of the bed. The room didn’t plunge into darkness like it usually did because of the nightlight, which cast a soft light near the floor.
“Goodnight,” Julian said.
“Goodnight.”
Kiara hadn’t been sure she’d be able to fall asleep because of worrying about the baby, and then with Julian sharing the bed, but as soon as she closed her eyes, sleep claimed her.
It felt like just minutes had passed when the soft cries of the baby woke her. She glanced at the clock and saw that two hours had passed since she’d climbed into bed.
Julian stirred beside her, then flung the comforter off himself. He was a shadowy figure as he came around the bed to the bassinet.
Moving it out of the way, he held out his hand to her. Kiara was grateful for the help in getting to her feet. Julian then bent to lift TJ from the bassinet.
“Hey, buddy,” he said. “You’re okay.”
“Can you bring him here?” Kiara said, moving toward the change table that she’d set up in the room.
Julian carried him over, then laid him down on the change table pad. “Show me what to do so that next time I can do it myself.”
