“I want a gillcheese sammich.”
Nate grinned at them. Damn, they were cute little guys. “I can make both. Lucky for you. Where’s the soup?” He opened and closed cupboard doors, finding a can of soup and bread, then located cheese and butter in the fridge. Aware of Krissa walking and walking with the crying baby, he managed to find a can opener and heat up the soup, as well as put together some sandwiches.
The screams were quieting, interspersed with soft snuffles. Krissa rubbed Emma’s back and at one point sat down tentatively, but the crying resumed.
Nate caught her eye and she smiled ruefully. “I was afraid that wouldn’t work.” And she paced again.
“She needs to move,” he commented.
“Yes. There’s something about that rhythm…putting her in her car seat and going for a drive apparently works, too. I’ve heard of parents who put their kid’s car seat on top of the clothes dryer. The hum and the vibration put them to sleep.”
“How do you know she’s okay?”
Krissa shrugged. “If she’s not hungry, wet or poopy, she’s probably okay. The first time this happened when I was here, I freaked out just like Cameron. But after a couple hours of crying, Emma was exhausted, fell asleep and was fine. Nobody really knows what this colic thing is. Some think it’s gas. Others think it’s just the stress of the day built up to a point where the baby can’t handle it anymore.”
He nodded, ladling soup into bowls. “Now this is hot,” he cautioned them. But impatient, Ben had to try it, then started crying when it burned his mouth. Shit.
“Here.” Nate poured him a glass of cold juice.
“Mommy puts ice cubes in our soup,” Alex said helpfully. Okay. He could do that.
When the twins had eaten, the baby had fallen asleep and Krissa sat down with her. “I don’t want to put her down.” She’d changed Emma’s position so she cradled her in her arms. Nate watched the tender expression on her face as she gazed down at the sleeping little bundle. Now she was quiet,she was adorable.
Nate played with the twins, although he felt he should clean up the kitchen and do the dishes, but they dragged him outside to see their play structure. Outside it was easy to amuse them, and he let them run and swing and slide until Cam arrived home.
Inside, Krissa was handing the baby over to Cam. “She just woke up, and I think she’s hungry, so it’s perfect timing.”
The baby nuzzled at her mother’s breast. Cam looked much better, exhausted but in control. “Thank you.” She sighed, dropping her purse to the floor. She sank onto the couch and unbuttoned her blouse.
Startled, Nate averted his eyes. Uh, yeah. That’s how babies were fed.
“You remember Nate, don’t you?” Krissa asked Cam. “I didn’t get a chance to say anything earlier.”
Forced to turn to her, Nate kept his eyes above Cam’s shoulder level.
“Of course.” Cam gave him a wry smile. “Sorry about all the drama, Nate.”
“No problem. It was fun playing with the boys. They’re good kids.”
She rolled her eyes. “They’re little monsters.”
“Cam!”
Nate’s gaze went to Krissa’s horrified face.
“They are,” Cam said.
“They have a lot of energy,” Nate said. “They’re kids.”
Krissa nodded, glanced at her watch. “We should go. Derek was planning to be home around eight.” Then her eyes drifted to the kitchen. “I’ll just clean up a bit…”
Nate followed her and helped do the dishes and wipe the counters.
“Thank you again. You’re a lifesaver, Kris, truly.” Nate read the gratitude in Cam’s eyes, dropped his gaze to the nursingbaby for a fleeting look, then turned to Krissa. She watched the baby with a look in her eyes that was…hunger. Longing.
How hard was this for her, to come and help her friend, see the baby, knowing she was never going to have this? He rubbed at a strange twinge in his chest.
“Any time, Cam. You know that.” Krissa met Nate’s gaze. “Shall we go?”
