“First, and this is extremely important, always keep your head down and hands up in a fight.” He lifts one of AJ’s little hands to his face. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that that’s the first piece of advice he shares with his son.
“Second, ketchup is delicious on eggs. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Especially Mommy.
Third, don’t be afraid to talk to girls. Uncle Jett may need to help you with this in the future. Daddy isn’t very good at it. It’s the only thing Daddy isn’t good at.” The arrogance is blatant in his voice. Heaven help me.
“Lastly, and this is the most important, it takes courage to love. Mommy taught me that. She’s the strongest, most resilient person I know. She was brave enough to love me, and it changed my entire life. So try to be a good boy for her. I already give her enough grief.” Kayne’s tone gets softer as he kisses AJ’s forehead. He’s so sweet with him I could melt.
“When did you learn to swaddle?” I ask, interrupting the love fest.
Kayne looks up at me and smiles the most brilliant smile I have ever seen.
“While you were sleeping. The little man and I were having some quality father-son time.”
“And how is that going for the two of you?” As if I didn’t already know.
“Amazing.” Kayne glances down lovingly at AJ. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” I sigh. “I want to see him.”
Kayne walks AJ over to me. He handles him like a natural. When I take my first good look at his little face, my heart nearly explodes with joy. His eyes are open and alert, and he’s trying to fit his entire fist into his mouth. I think someone’s hungry.
“He’s so perfect, Ellie,” Kayne breathes.
“He is,” I agree.
Ten tiny fingers and toes, a little mouth shaped like a heart, and vibrant blue eyes just like his daddy.
Kayne sits down on the edge of the bed, reluctant to give AJ up. “For nine months, I felt like a spectator, and now that he’s here and I can actually hold him, it all suddenly feels real.” Kayne draws his gaze away from the infant. “How did this happen?” he asks in awe. “How did this become my life?”
I laugh softly. “Evolution?”
“No.” He shakes his head resolutely. “A miracle.”
“Knock knock,” a soft voice rasps just before Jett, Layla, Beckett and a very pregnant London walk into the room. She’s having a girl, and they’re naming her Shia.
Kayne turns his head, and clears the emotion from his throat before he faces our extended family.
“I want to see!” Layla rushes to Kayne, and stands on her tippy toes. He leans in slightly to show the children AJ.
“Baby.” Beckett giggles trying to touch him.
“There’s going to be one of these in your house soon,” Kayne tells him.
“They can’t wait,” London informs us, putting a loving hand on Becks’ blond head. He returns a little chicklet-toothed smile.
Kayne hands me AJ and steps back so Jett and London can get a better look. I cannot put into words what it feels like to hold my child. It’s surreal. A manifestation of two people who’s more beautiful and more perfect than I ever dared to imagine.
London caresses AJ’s sweet little cheek with the tip of herfinger. “I love him already, Ellie.”
“I do, too,” I reply, brimming with emotions I never knew I had.
Kayne and Jett just look on like two proud lions protective of their pride.
“You’ve done good, grasshopper.” Jett elbows Kayne.
Kayne clenches his jaw and flares his nostrils.“Pleasedon’t make me kill you. I don’t want to shed blood on such a happy day.”
Jett laughs melodramatically. “Likeyoucould ever killme.”
