We turned a corner and run straight into Tess and baby Brooklyn. She smiled brightly at me as we both stopped our carts right there in the middle of the aisle.
“Cap? What are you doing here?” she asked, shocked that she found one of us shopping. Usually, the prospects or the girls at the clubhouse did all the shopping. We never really did any of that shit ourselves.
“I’m helping Ruby stock her fridge with groceries. I’m planning on making her some spaghetti tonight.”
Tess nodded her head, smiling at Ruby. “You must be Ruby. Hi, I’m Tess, Zodiac’s wife.”
“Who’s Zodiac?”
Tess giggled. “President of the Celestial Sons MC.”
“Oh,” was all Ruby said in response. She went back to looking at random things on the shelves and putting them back.
Tess frowned. “She okay?” she asked me so only I could hear.
I shook my head, that frown on her face dropping even more.
“How’s the baby?”
Baby Brooklyn’s bright eyes were wide and focused on me. She smiled when I handed her my finger, and she greedily took it to gum it like a toy. “OW!” I bit out, pulling my finger away. “There’s something sharp in there.”
Tess laughed. “She’s teething, Cap. It’s normal. She’s been the fussiest little thing lately, but now I know why. I came to get some things for her to cut her teeth on, and some formula, since we’re out.”
Ruby glanced over at us, her eyes focusing on the baby. Tess must’ve seen her curiosity, because she picked Brooklyn up and motioned to Ruby. “Would you like to hold her?”
Ruby’s eyes grew three sizes bigger, and she quickly shook her head. “I couldn’t. I wouldn’t even know how. I’d be afraid of hurting her.”
Tess smiled. “Nonsense. There’s nothing more comforting than holding a baby. And you look like you could use some comfort. Here, place one hand behind her back to support her, use your other to hold her under her bottom, then your hip will do the rest. Trust me. It comes naturally.”
Ruby kept shaking her head until the baby was placed in her frantic hands. She tensed up, staring at Baby Brooklyn like she was a gremlin ready to devour her. For two whole minutes she held the baby away from her body, staring at her like she was fragile glass ready to break. Then, it was like all that fear melted away when Brooklyn started to wiggle, and she quickly tucked her closer so that she wouldn’t fall.
“She smells like baby powder,” Ruby said quietly.
“Yeah, she had a bad diaper rash. Baby powder helps. I think she likes you, Ruby.”
A tiny little fist curled into Ruby’s hair, pulling at a tendril that was hanging down, then the cutest little giggle followed, and I watched Ruby melt. “Oh my gosh, she’s adorable. She looks just like you, too.”
The smallest frown turned Tess’s face, before she reached out to take the baby back from Ruby. “Actually, she’s not mine. Well, she is, but not by birth. Her momma was shot and died after giving birth to her. She left her to me and Zodiac.”
“Oh wow, I’m sorry. I didn't know.”
Tess smiled, rocking Brooklyn back and forth. “It’s okay, we’re getting through it day by day, but it just makes me sad to think that her momma will never get to see her grow up. I have a feeling this wee one is going to be quite special.”
I nodded in agreement. “Well, she is the first club princess.”
“Club princess?” Ruby asked.
“When a club Prez has a daughter or son, they’re considered the club prince and princess. We’ve never had baby girls around the club, not until this little darling came into the world, isn’t that right, Brookie baby?”
Brooklyn giggled.
“Anyway, we should get going. It’s almost Brooklyn’s nap time. It was nice to meet you, Ruby. Hope we can see each other again soon.”
Ruby nodded, but it was more of a formality than anything else.
We moved up the aisle without saying a word, and after a few minutes of silence, I broke it. “You were great with Brooklyn back there.”
“Me? No, I’ve never been good with babies.”
