Me: Of course.
Chapter Twelve
Alan
Lainey came out of the kitchen and called, “Jess is done nursing, and Ruthie is still awake, if you want to meet her.”
I hopped up from where I was sitting by myself and headed toward the swinging doors. Jade had left to pick up Brian from the police station since his shift was over.
“Make sure you wash your hands first!”
“Of course,” I replied like I was saying, “Duh!”
Except I was secretly appreciative of the reminder.
The only thing I knew about babies was what I’d learned by playing with Lainey’s son, Conor. And he was at that sturdy stage—crawling and getting into shit. Jess’s baby was still a very tiny, fragile human.
After quickly washing my hands in the sink marked “Hand Washing Station,” I dried them as I walked toward the office.
I could hear Jess’s voice singing quietly to her daughter and couldn’t help but smile when I imagined her cradling her baby in her arms.
The real thing was so much better.
I paused to watch the two of them as Jess bounced in place while she patted Ruthie’s back, and my heart skipped a beat.
Finally, I murmured, “All done?” as I approached her.
“Her tummy is full, now she just needs to burp—which she doesn’t seem to want to do today.”
“Can I try?”
She stood still and looked over at me.
“She usually spits up.”
I shrugged. “That’s okay, my shirt needs to be washed anyway.”
I’d meant it as a joke, but she hung her head and whispered, “I really am sorry about that. I was serious when I said I’d wash it for you.”
“I was just teasing; I don’t give a damn about the shirt.” I paused for a second before asking again, “So, can I try?”
She eyed me warily, so I added, “I’ll sit on the couch if that will make you more comfortable.”
“No, I trust you.”
“Two for two,” I mused as I carefully took the tiny bundle from her.
She removed the cloth from her shoulder and placed it over mine, asking, “Two for two?”
“Lainey told me earlier she trusted me, too.”
Ruthie made little noises when I patted her back, and my heart melted into a puddle on the floor.
Jessica looked me in the eye and asked, “Are you trustworthy?”
I felt my mouth turn up when I replied, “Semper fi.”
****
