Chapter 11
Nate glanced at Krissa, feeling lost.
Krissa reached for the baby and Cam released her.
“Have you fed her?” Krissa asked.
“Yes.”
“Changed her diaper?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. Go. Go wash your face, change or whatever, and go.”
Cam stood there. She glanced at Nate who forced a smile. “Go where?”
“Wherever you want,” Krissa said patiently, giving her friend a small push. “Shopping. A movie. Go sit at the beach for a couple of hours. You have to get out of here. If you can hear the baby crying, you’re too close.”
Cam turned, but looked over her shoulder at them as she went down the hall.
Krissa shifted the baby in her arms into a strange position where she lay on her stomach across Krissa’s forearm. Krissa patted the baby on her back. “Okay, boys, what’s the problem here?”
They both sniffled and hiccupped. “I spilled my cereal,” one said.
Nate looked from one identical twin to the other. “Let me.” He strode into the kitchen and snooped through cupboards until he found paper towels and something to clean the carpet with.He crouched down in front of the boys and started scooping soggy cereal into the bowl. He scraped up as much as he could, then blotted the milk with towels.
“I’m Nate.” He smiled at the now quiet boys. “You guys help me clean this up and we’ll get something else to eat. Okay?”
They nodded, wide-eyed, and helped clean, pressing paper towels with all their little might to absorb the milk, then scrubbed at the stain. Krissa walked with the baby, rhythmically patting her back and murmuring soothingly to her. The wails seemed a little less frantic, although they continued.
It was enough to drive you insane. He could see why Cameron was freaking out. She appeared in the door, car keys in hand, brows drawn together and her mouth a thin line. “Are you sure…”
“She’ll be fine, Cam.” Krissa walked over to her friend. “You know she’ll be fine. You just have to get away.”
“But she’s crying…”
Krissa nodded. “Yup. Now, go.”
Cam left. Krissa walked another circle around the room and Nate took the boys into the kitchen. “I don’t know your names.”
“I’m sorry.” Krissa walked over. “This is Alexander.” She put her hand atop one blond head. “And this is Benjamin. They’re three.”
“We’re twins,” Ben piped up.
“I see that. I can’t even tell you apart.” Nate grinned. “What’s the secret?”
Krissa smiled at him. “Ben has longer hair.”
“Ah.” He studied them. “Okay. But I bet you’re different in other ways aren’t you? One of you is the good twin and one is the evil twin. Right?”
The boys laughed. “I’m the good one!” Ben cried.
“No, I am!”
Their tears were apparently forgotten. “Okay, you guyshungry? What do you want?”
“I want chicken noodle soup.”
