Harper stood in the nursery in the med center watching Chantal feed Lisette. The nursery had added two more newborns from the displaced they were sheltering.
“Harp, she’s sucking,” Chantal exclaimed.
“I told you she would.” She watched her niece, bundled in pink. “Um, I spoke with Logan this morning; there is an entire room filled with gifts for her. I was thinking if we took one bedroom set, a porta crib for each of us, then all the other stuff we don’t need could be donated to an infant room at the building’s day care center in Lisette’s name. We could also create gift bags to give as donations to the displaced. I kept every card, and, on the back, I described the gift.”
“Harp, those are great ideas.” She lifted Lisette to burp her.
“Kip ordered the rebuild on the cottage and expedited permits for a third bedroom. Owen will be by as soon as he can get to town to decide on décor.” Harper smiled.
“He’s been so great, even sick. How is he?” Chantal worried.
“Healthy. He asked me to stay with him. Emotionally, he’s going through some things. He’s very restless, but his friends, they’re helping, and so is Hunt.” She looked at her sister. “Hunt’s helping me too. I told him about Jerrold.”
“Wow. I’m happy for you.” Chantal offered a half smile before tears welled up in her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Baby blues, or something more?” Harper worried.
“Kyle. He can’t stay here forever. His job is in DC.” Chantal sniffled.
“Tell him how you feel. I know before all of this, you were planning on talking with him,” Harper suggested.
The door opened, and Kip and Kyle, wearing isolation gowns, joined them. Kip kissed Harper on the top of her head through his mask.
Kyle crouched beside Chantal and Lisette. “May I hold her?” he asked.
“Um, sure.” Chantal got teary-eyed again.
Kyle’s face showed concern when he spotted Chantal’s tears. Harper helped him scrub his hands and sit, then she carefully lifted the teeny baby into his hands. She fit in his palm. He cradled her, looking between Chantal and the baby. His eyes softened, then he met Kip’s stare. Kip met him back with a nod.
“Tally, Lisette is beautiful.” He stared at the newborn. “She has to be; she has a beautiful Mommy. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and…” He took a deep breath. “My momma said women who give birth have a lot of extra emotions and may have trouble making decisions. But I’m also—give me a safe F word to use in front of children.” He blew out a breath.
“Flummoxed?” Kip suggested. “What? In the hospital, I did crosswords. Plus it has an X, good for Scrabble.”
Kyle stood and placed Lisette in Harper’s arms. He dropped to one knee in front of Chantal and took both her hands. “Tally, I want to be the only full-time man in your life. I want you to be my wife, and I want to adopt Lisette. I spoke with Kip. He has office capacity for me to work here. I spoke to my boss, and he said, if that’s what I want, they were sure they could fill my old office. What do you think?”
Tears dropped down Chantal’s cheeks. Her jaw went slack.
Kip reached in his pocket and pulled out a small ring box, handing it to Kyle. Inside was a large halo diamond surrounded by citrine, amethyst, emerald and blue topaz stones. Kyle took a deep breath. “Chantal Rousselle, will you marry me?”
Chantal looked at Harper and then Kyle. She pushed up from the chair, almost falling. Kyle swept her into his arms and sat holding her, his hand gently palming her cheek. “I’m emotional, but yes,” she cried.
He lifted the ring free and slid it onto her finger. “I love you and Lisette.” He caressed her lips with a soft kiss.
Kip leaned over and grabbed Kyle’s shoulder. “Congratulations.” And then he leaned down and placed a kiss on Chantal’s cheek.
Harper, crying, placed Lisette in her isolette before she kissed Kyle’s cheek and hugged her sister. The girls talked a few minutes. Kip took a moment to look at the three boys he helped save, who were only a little bigger than Lisette. He worried about their fate.
“Sweetheart, let Kyle and Chantal spend some time together. We both need to get home,” Kip said. Harper had slept beside him since he was discharged. Tonight would be the first time he would be home without needing IV antibiotics.
A Crescent 1 operator drove the Tahoe toward Kip’s home. He elected to sit in the back with Harper. “How was your first day back?” she asked.
“Long but good. How was your day? I want to hear everything.” He wrapped his arm around her.
She sighed. “I want to hear everything too. Well, what I am allowed to hear,” she giggled.
“Do that again.” He tickled her. As she laughed, he pressed her down on the seat and kissed her. The kiss was strong and possessive from the start. He took no prisoners as he licked each lip and pressed his probing tongue into her mouth. She grabbed the back of his head, pouring her fears and pain into a powerful return.
Kip grew aware the car had come to a stop. He managed to sit up and help her sit up. The operator driving, an experienced transfer from Epsilon Team, never changed expression. He waited an appropriate time, then said, “Welcome home, Mr. Brennan. Ms. Rousselle.” He exited the car and held the door open as Kip slipped from inside and reached for Harper. “Sir, anything else?”
