He looked up, momentarily surprised as recognition flitted over his face.
“Right. You’re…” He was drawing a blank at first.
“Darcy,” she filled in for him with a smile. “Whitaker. You and my husband, Emeric, have been negotiating.” She rubbed the infant’s back, but he continued to fuss in her arms.
Ayla glanced between Darcy and Kong quietly. She wasn’t sure what she was picking up on from Kong, but Darcy sure had a sparkle in her eye for him.
Darcy smiled warmly, too damn warm as she recalled the meetings and how closed off he seemed. It only intrigued her more about the handsome stranger. She made it a point to be present when Emeric met with him, so she could get a glance at Kong.
“This is the last place I expected to see you.” She sniggered.
“Everything alright?” Kong nodded to the baby in her arms.
Darcy softened and peeked at her baby boy.
“Yeah, just his one month follow up appointment,” she announced, glowing when she grinned at the baby boy.
It was obvious she adored him. Ayla couldn’t bring herself to lift her head to look at him too long. His cries grew sharper, more upset. The more Darcy tried to soothe him, the fussier he became. Nothing seemed to be working. Suddenly, Ayla cleared her throat and spoke up without thinking.
“He doesn’t like that blanket,” she said, then silence.
Darcy blinked, a little resentment in her stare.
“What?”
Ayla finally brought her eyes up and stared at the bundle in her arms, mesmerized.
“He’s too warm.”
Darcy was hesitant to listen. Ayla had this emptiness behind her eyes and her tone was flat, void of emotion. She suspected she might have some kind of mental issues or depression. Laughing lightly, she peered into her son’s unhappy face again.
“I think he’s just cranky,” she replied, unsettled by something in Ayla’s expression.
Kong watched her closer now, because Ayla hadn’t looked away. Darcy turned the little boy and cradled him so that he was facing both Ayla and Kong. Still crying, his tiny hands waved frantically like he was trying to grab onto something. Ayla gasped.
“Do you mind if I hold him?” she whispered, catching both Darcy and Kong by surprise.
Although Darcy was hesitant, she didn’t want to come off as a bitch in front of Kong. His impression of her mattered. She didn’t know what his relationship was with this girl, and she didn’t care, but she had to play her cards right if she wanted to remain on his good side. Darcy stood with Ayla, and the two met in the middle. She carefully handed him over, and the second Ayla cradled him in her arms, he calmed. The waiting room filled with complete silence, and Darcy stared on in amazement.
“That’s so weird,” she said softly. “He’s been screaming and fussing all morning.”
Ayla barely heard her because something inside her had cracked wide open. The baby blinked up at her. Calm, safe, and content in her arms. Tears misted her eyes as if she might cry. Kong spotted it, all of it. She held him so naturally, and he settled instinctively into her softened body.
“He likes you.” Darcy smiled when he started to root against Ayla’s breasts instinctively.
She thought she might fall apart in that moment, and Darcy noticed the pain flickering behind her eyes.
“Looks like he’s hungry.” She reached out to pull him back into her arms. “I’ll take him now.”
A nurse stepped through one of the doors from the patient area and called Ayla’s name. She sniffled and watched Darcy go back to her seat to retrieve a bottle for feeding.
“Come on.” Kong nudged her along toward the door.
Darcy stared curiously after them once they were gone as she held her son and tipped his bottle to his mouth. In the hallway, they were directed to the exam room registered for her, and Kong fell in stride quietly beside her. Ayla shuddered and stopped mid step, which gave him pause.
“What’s wrong?”
Confusion bloomed over her face as tears stained her eyes. Ayla looked down. A small wet spot spread through the fabric of her shirt and hoodie. The color in her face drained. Her body reacted to holding a newborn, but her brain couldn’t catch up.
