Beckett: She’s sleeping. I’ll be there in a sec.
I walked from Charlotte’s crib to the door of the bedroom. Damn it, was leaving her alone even allowed? It was goingagainst my every instinct. I wanted to protect this little nugget from absolutely everything.
I headed to the foyer and opened the front door. Chad had come with my niece, Bella. Celine and Isabeau were both here as well.
“You look like shit,” Chad said.
Bella glanced up at her dad with a raised eyebrow. Chad usually minded his words in front of his daughter.
“I didn’t sleep at all,” I said. “Where’s Simone?”
“Life with a newborn. Simone’s with the babysitter today. I highly recommend you hire one as well,” Chad said with a chuckle as I welcomed everyone in.
“Can I see my cousin?” Bella asked excitedly. Hearing the word “cousin” made this whole thing a million times more real.
“Not right now, honey. She just fell asleep. Let’s not wake her up.”
I was surprised Mom hadn’t dropped by too. She probably wanted to stop over when no one else was here so she could have all the time she wanted with my little girl.
“Anyone want coffee?” Isabeau asked.
“Yes, please,” I said.
“I’ll help,” Bella said. She looked at me with a stern expression. I couldn’t read it at all even though I was usually good at deciphering everyone’s moods. But right now, I was toast, beyond exhausted and trying to grasp my new normal.
I sat down on my pristine white—for now, anyway—couch along with Chad and Celine while Bella and Isabeau went into the kitchen.
Celine placed her hands together in her lap, sighing. “Beckett, how are you doing? And how can we help?”
That was what I loved most about my family. We always had one another’s backs, and right now, I needed them more than ever.
I laughed, running a hand through my hair. “You know, I’m not even sure. My assistant already bought the basic necessities.”
Hillary had been a lifesaver. I definitely needed to give her a raise.
“I want to buy some presents for my cousin,” Bella said from the kitchen island. The penthouse had an open floor plan, so no matter where you were, you could pretty much see everywhere.
“Can we do something to help with the baby?” Celine asked in a calm voice that was a lot like Mom’s.
I shrugged. “I’m not even sure what a baby needs.”
“Lots of cuddles and patience,” Isabeau said, coming over with a tray of coffees.
“She definitely wanted to be held all night. Here, let me set that down.” I took the tray from my grandmother and set it on the coffee table so everyone could grab their cup.
“We’re here for whatever you need,” Celine said. “And I can’t wait to spend the morning with her.”
“Thank you.”
Hillary might be a whiz, but even she couldn’t come up with a nanny who would stay overnight. Bottom line, I needed a person I trusted 100 percent to be with my daughter.
Isabeau frowned. “Seeing you so tired is giving me flashbacks from my own time with a newborn. I’ll stay here with Celine so she’s not alone with Charlotte.”
Celine whipped her head in Isabeau’s direction. “But who’s going to open the store?”
Isabeau waved her hand. “Nothing will happen if we don’t open for a day.”
Celine didn’t even hesitate. “You’re right.”
