“Good. Lex is keeping me updated because Woodcroft wants me to actually enjoy paternity leave. They got Hunter Page, and his plane was full of shit, so it’s going to take a while to go through. Hopefully he talks too, although I’m not hopeful for that.”
“I still can’t believe Nico survived.” I shake my head.
“Me neither.”
We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. Adam opens the door, Charlie in hand, to the squealing of four women.
“Shh, Jesus. You guys are going to hurt her ears,” Adam scolds.
“Oh, she’s beautiful, Claire.” Daisy comes over, side-hugging me.
“She is.” I smile.
It’s incredible just how much your priorities change when you have a baby. All the stress about the blog, about Cano—none of it matters as long as Charlie is happy and healthy.
The four of them fight over who gets to hold Charlie first, and all I can do is smile.
“We got you these,” Heather says, putting a gorgeous bouquet of tulips on the dining room table.
“Oh my gosh, those are gorgeous.”
“We’re also cooking dinner!” Ruby calls over Daisy, who is currently holding Charlie.
“Please tell me Autumn isn’t actually cooking,” Adam says as he sits next to me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Oh, absolutely not. I’d like to keep Claire alive long term. She’s obviously my new favorite.” Autumn smirks at Adam.
This family dynamic is something I’m so glad that Charlie was born into.
The day is long and more fulfilling than I could ever imagine. I don’t have to move a finger. They clean the house, take over watching Claire while I take a nap, and make all the meals. By the time dinner rolls around, I actually feel some form of myself again.
They dish out the most delicious lasagna I’ve ever tasted while they never stop talking.
“So, is this home base now?” Daisy asks Adam.
“I mean, yeah.” Adam shrugs.
“What she means is are you living together?” Heather asks pointedly.
I haven’t thought about the long term. I just pushed out a seven-pound baby with no drugs; my mind has been elsewhere.
“Uh, for now, I guess,” I say at the same time Adam says, “I’d like to keep the living arrangements.”
I look over at him in shock. “You do?”
“I mean, yeah. If you want to move back to your apartment, I’m coming with you. I’m not leaving my family.” He says it like it’s a no-brainer, but I had no clue this is how he felt. Maybe it’s the huge trauma I just experienced, but I didn’t exactly think he’d want to live together.
“You need a bigger place,” Ruby says before shoving a bite of lasagna into her mouth.
“That’s what I told Adam. I’ve been looking at places for them,” Daisy adds.
My eyes are so wide it feels like someone is holding them open.
“Guys …” Adam runs his hand behind his neck.
“Oh shit, you haven’t talked about it?” Daisy asks.
“No.” Adam reaches for Charlie, but I know it’s just a means of pushing off the topic.
