With Katie.
He tapped lightly on the door. No answer came. Was she up and around somewhere? She'd come to see him twice that he knew of, but he'd been so groggy, he could barely remember her visits. But that meant she had recovered enough from the journey she probably wasn't lying in bed all day.
Then a muffled voice sounded from inside. "Come in."
He turned the knob and nudged the door open.
Katie sat on the bed atop the covers, legs extended in front of her. Sarah lay in her lap, both tiny legs raised in the air. Katie had the babe’s hands wrapped around her thumbs. The sight of the two of them there and the smile that bloomed across Katie's face sent a surge of warmth through his chest.
"Come see her. She's learning a new trick."
He hobbled forward with the walking sticks, and Katie tugged the chair beside her bed a little closer. He lowered into it, then leaned forward to see Sarah.
Her dark eyes scanned the ceiling, then landed on him.
"Hello, little girl. I think you grew while I slept."
She flapped one hand, almost as though she was reaching toward him.
"You think so too?" He slipped his finger against her palm, and she wrapped her tiny digits around his.
"See? That's her trick. She can hold onto your finger now." Katie's tone matched her smile, and he couldn’t help grinning at her.
"She's a smart one, this girl." He almost saidour girl, but he couldn't call her that yet. Not until Katie gave him permission.
Was it too soon to ask? He wanted so badly to let her know exactly how important she and Sarah had become to him.
He sat up and met Katie's gaze. "Katie, I—"
"Look who came to see you two."
A voice from the doorway interrupted his words, and he turned to see Mrs. Ingrid motioning to someone just outside. His chest squeezed with disappointment, but he tried to keep a pleasant expression.
Nate's head poked through the doorway, his teeth flashing in a grin. "You're alive." He directed that comment to Aaron, then shifted his focus to Katie. "Sorry to interrupt, ma'am. It's just good to finally see him up and around."
"Come in." Katie offered a welcoming smile. "Have you two had a chance to catch up yet?"
Nate stepped into the room, then motioned for someone still in the hallway. Laura edged in with him, and Nate drew her close with a hand at her waist. She looked uncertain, her gaze shifting between him and Katie.
But then her focus caught on Sarah. "Oh, look."
Katie turned her daughter so they could see, and Laura stepped closer.
"She’s beautiful. And so tiny." She gave Katie a self-conscious smile. "I'm used to how big Micah and Ingrid’s son William has grown. I forgot how small a newborn is."
Her voice shifted as she spoke directly to Sarah. "I'm not sure William was ever as tiny as you are, though."
"Would you like to hold her?" Katie's voice came softly.
An instinct in Aaron wanted to rise up and refuse. To keep Sarah protected in Katie's arms. But that was silly. Laura would be careful, and she deserved the chance to get to know this babe so important to him.
Laura took the infant gently, supporting her head as she laid her in the crook of her arm. "Look how precious you are." As she spoke to Sarah, she started a light rocking. "You barely weigh anything compared to William. I'll bet the two of you will be good friends."
The light brightening Laura's face reminded him of the day she’d married Nate. He glanced past her to his brother, and his besotted expression was hard to miss.
For the first time ever, Aaron could understand that feeling. His eyes traveled to Katie, who'd been watching Laura as she babbled to the babe. She must've felt his gaze, for she looked over at him, and the sweet smile curving her mouth made something in his chest flip.
He slid his hand across the blanket to wrap his fingers around hers. Even if he couldn't ask his question yet, just being with her was enough. And from the contentment in her eyes, maybe she felt the same way.
