Brooke settled onto the loveseat.
Danielle set Lily into a wide saucer thing while Amy put Amelia into a jumping chair which hung in the doorway which she assumed led to bedrooms. Faint noises came from the kitchen, running water, bustling of pots, and laughter. Brooke peered over at the men busy cleaning then reverted her attention back to those in the family room.
With the girls occupied, Amy and Danielle sat opposite of her on the couch. For a minute, they watched the babies bounce and play.
“Do you want kids?” Danielle asked out of the blue.
“Oh,” Brooke shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I—I—well.” She didn’t know how to answer. Sure, in a fantasy scenario where she married the perfect guy, she’d want kids. But she knew the consequences of having kids with someone who wasn’tready or didn’t want them. She’d never put herself in that position. “Maybe, if I found the right person to have them with.”
Amy whacked Danielle on the arm. “You’re coming in a little strong there. Let’s not scare her off.”
Danielle rubbed her arm where Amy had whacked her. “I need to know, because Logan wants kids.” She caught Brooke’s gaze. “He’s great with the twins by the way.”
Brooke crossed then uncrossed her legs. “I would imagine he is.”
“I think what Danielle is trying to say is—” Amy shot Danielle a pointed look. “If you and Logan continued to date, just know he’d be a good dad someday.”
“Okay. I’ll certainly take that into consideration.”
Lily started to fuss. Danielle lifted her out of the saucer then placed her on the floor with a selection of toys. Amelia whined to be freed from her contraption. Danielle retrieved her too and set her down next to her sister. She let out a heavily tired sigh then brushed back some loosened strands of hair with the back of her wrist.
“I can only imagine how tired you must be,” Brooke heard herself comment. Danielle plopped herself down on the floor next to her babies. “Whenever I see new mothers at the hospital, being around them for even minutes, I can sense their exhaustion. How is it going with not one, but two babies?”
“Honestly?” Danielle asked.
Brooke nodded.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m always tired, always running on empty. Luckily, my parents have helped me a lot. Michael is a great dad too, so that is a bonus. But sometimes it feels like I’m drowning, and I wondered if I’ll ever get to come up for air.”
Suddenly, the dark circles under her eyes seemed more noticeable. Brooke wondered when the last time Danielle hada full night’s sleep was. The twins crawled around on the floor then up and down on Danielle’s outstretched legs. They clawed at every part of her, her pants, shirt, and necklace. Twins, wow, she was exhausted from only watching them. One crawled off of her first then the next. They scampered across the carpeted floor. Brooke tried to remember who Lily was and who was Amelia.
“I’m sorry. I’ve heard it gets better, at least that’s what the moms who I see say,” Brooke offered.
But her heart pinched tight, and she sincerely wanted to give help to Danielle, but she didn’t know how. After today she’d drift away from this family’s life never to be seen again. The twins moved on and fought over books then blocks. The three women watched the twins play and chatted about nothing of consequence.
Eventually, Logan came into the room. A few seconds later, Michael and Paul appeared behind him.
“Done already?” Brooke lifted her eyebrow.
Paul walked over and sat down next to Amy, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“Logan here,” Michael came up and clapped his back, “managed to clean up in record speed. I think it might have been due to him wanting to see someone.”
“Guilty. Brooke is my number one girl.” Logan winked at her but then went over and plopped himself down next to the twins. He picked up Lily and held her high up in the air. She giggled with delight. Then he brought her back down and snuggled her against his chest. “But I needed to see my other girls before I have to leave, too.”
Lily wiggled out of his embrace and crawled out of his lap. Danielle scurried off of the floor due to Logan occupying up so much space. To her surprise, she came and sat next to Brooke on the loveseat. Michael lowered himself into an accent chair.Logan stretched his legs out then twisted onto his side, propping himself up with one elbow. The twins quickly crawled over him. Up and down, they went over his body like it was a wonderful jungle gym. He laughed and tickled them. Love radiated in the room. Brooke watched in awe. She’d never seen a man interact with children in such a natural and easy way. Her pulse raced. If Logan didn’t become a father someday, the world would be deprived of his goodness.
“See,” Danielle whispered. “I told you he was good with kids. I’d hate to see his fatherly instinct wasted.”
“I—I—” Brooke swallowed. Perspiration tickled her temples. She hated lying to these kind unassuming people. His family wanted the best for him, and he deserved it. He deserved anyone but her. “I agree.”
Danielle patted her on her forearm. “Then we are on the same page.”
What page?
Marry and have a couple of kids page?
If only they knew this was a lie, a lie that would only carry on until her friend’s wedding.
