“Yes, I guess I am.” Adelaide’s attorney hurried out.
Kip lifted his chin, and one of the security team followed the man out.
“Harper, congratulations. Brock, lunch next week. Kip, meeting tomorrow at nine.” Nelson Folcroft waved and headed out.
Keri-Lynne, the head nurse, smiled. “Ready?”
“I am.” Harper beamed.
She walked into the room. Desirée was asleep in a crib, sucking her thumb. Babette was playing on her bed with a young volunteer. “’Arper…” She pushed off the bed and ran as fast as her little feet would take her, two little arms waving in front of her.
“Bonjour, Babette. Ça va?”
“Bien.” She snuggled into Harper’s neck.
Babette’s nose scrunched as she pointed at Kip. “Beau.”
Harper laughed. “Oui, mademoiselle.”
“What did she say?” Kip asked.
“Beau. It means handsome.” Harper sat on the bed with Babette. “Would you like to come home with me?”
The toddler’s eyes went wide. She stood on the bed and cupped Harper’s ear. “Please.”
“Yes,” Harper answered. The little girl whispered again, and Harper said, “Yes.”
Keri-Lynne and Kip packed the clothes the girls had in the hospital. Once they were packed, Harper picked up Desirée.
“Shh, shh.” Harper bounced the barely awake little girl.
Babette toddled over to Kip and pulled on his pants leg. When he crouched down, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her up and carried her out of the unit.
Harper noticed how much closer the security team was to them. Holding Babette, she realized, blocked Kip’s sightline.
With both girls in their car seats, Harper rode in the back between them, while Kip rode in the front passenger seat. His head never stopped scanning. He sighed with relief as they pulled up to the house.
Kip carried Babette inside while Desirée sucked her thumb, tucked against Harper. “Where to, Momma?” he asked.
“Lunch.” She led the way into the kitchen area, where two highchairs sat waiting.
“This one,” Babette chose her chair.
“Okay, miss.” Kip lifted her up, blew a bubble against her belly and sat her, giggling, into the chair.
Kieran walked around the corner. “Hello, sweet one.” He headed to the pantry and returned with a box of Cheerios, then poured a handful on the tray table.
Babette squealed with delight, and she picked up one and put it into her mouth.
“Cheerios dissolve quickly,” he announced in a silly voice that sounded like Smokey the Bear.
After lunch, Harper and Kip took the girls upstairs for a diaper change and to play. When he put Desirée on the changing table and started changing her diaper, Harper stopped what she was doing and smiled.He’s perfect.
Chapter 41
“Who were they visiting?” Kip asked.
“They were visiting a Mr. Eduard Jeremy,” Zayne replied.
