Bring Me Back(96)

“I also brought breakfast.” He sets a brown paper bag on the counter and starts pulling out sandwiches.

“I love you,” I say, setting down the coffee so I can grab a sandwich. “Hey, Cole.” I smile down at the little boy. “I missed you.”

He smiles and holds up the book he has grasped in his chubby hands. “Weed! Weed!”

Ryder cringes. “I tried to get him to leave it, telling him that you’re tired, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“That’s okay.” I shrug, biting into my sandwich. “I can read it to you.” I smile at Cole and he jumps up and down with excitement. “I was thinking,” I begin, rocking Ava in my arms, “it’s probably one of the last nice days we’ll have for the summer so maybe we can go for a walk around town? What do you think?” Before Ryder can answer, I look back at Cole. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Walk! Walk!” he chants, still jumping up and down.

Ryder scoops him up and sets him in a chair with his sandwich. “Sure—” he smiles “—that sounds nice.”

“I’m going to go put her down right now.” I pad down the hall to my bedroom and lay her gently in the bassinet. I pray that she doesn’t stir. Thankfully, she doesn’t. I might manage to eat in peace and get a shower. I smell like sweat and spit up and it’s not a good combination.

I sit down at the table with the boys and finish my sandwich and coffee.

“Do you mind keeping an eye on Ava so I can shower?” I ask Ryder.

“That’s not a problem.” He wipes his fingers on a napkin.

“If she starts screaming she probably needs her diaper changed,” I tell him, starting for the bathroom.

He chuckles. “I can handle it, Blaire.”

I know he can, but I still worry.

I grab some clothes from my room and lock myself in the bathroom.

Even a ten-minute shower feels like a luxury at this point.

I turn the water on until it’s practically scalding and slip inside.

It feels good to have the hot water beat on my coiled muscles. I wash my hair and soap up my body. I finally smell like a human again.

I get out and dry off my body and ruffle my hair with the towel to help it dry. I get dressed and pull my hair up in a messy bun so it’s out of my way. It’s been my go-to hairstyle since Ava was born.

I step out of the steaming bathroom and head down the hall to the family room and kitchen area. Cole’s sitting on the couch watching a kid’s show, but Ryder’s not there.

I head back the way I came and peek my head in my room. Not there.

I turn to the opposite side and find him in the nursery, holding Ava against his chest.

My heart lurches and speeds up, pumping blood rapidly through my whole body.

He hasn’t noticed me yet.

He stands near the window that overlooks the street below, swaying back and forth. Ava makes a little noise that means she’s happy and I smile, leaning my hip against the doorjamb.

It makes me happy to see the two loves of my life together.

Ryder turns then, murmuring something to Ava, and looks up to find me.

“Oh, hey.” He smiles, rocking her in his arms. “Someone woke up and needed a diaper change, just like you said.”

“She likes you,” I comment.

He chuckles and looks at her. “Everyone likes me. I’m irresistible.”

I roll my eyes and then bite my lip in thought. “Do you … Do you think Angela and Ben would be happy for us?”

He nods. “Yes,” he answers without a second of thought.

“How do you know?” I step further into the room.

“Because we’d be happy for them if the situation was reversed.”

I nod, smiling softly. “You’re right. You’re always right.”

“I know.” He winks.

I come to stand beside him and lay my head on his shoulder, gazing down at Ava in his arms. “We should get ready for our walk.”

He nods. “You’re right.” He hands Ava to me. “I’ll carry the stroller downstairs and you can meet me down there with the kids.”

While Ryder wrangles the beast—that’s what I call the stroller—out the door, I grab Ava’s diaper bag and sling it across my shoulder.

I find Cole still quietly occupied by his show. “You ready to go for a walk?” I ask him. He tears his gaze away from the TV and nods eagerly. I grab my keys and hold my finger out for Cole to grab onto. I close the door behind us and lock it, giving Cole my finger again. With a squirming baby and a toddler to manage it takes me a little while to get downstairs and outside.

We burst outside to see Ryder just finishing with the stroller.

“I forgot how difficult these can be.” He stood back to appraise his handiwork. “But I got it done.”

I set Ava inside and she makes a happy cooing sound. I adjust the brim so that the sun’s not in her eyes. I smile down at her and I swear she smiles back, but it’s more likely gas, but I can dream.

Ryder lifts Cole onto his shoulders and the little boy giggles. “Do you like it up there?” I ask him, slipping on my sunglass.

“Yes!” he cries, tugging on Ryder’s hair.

“Coley, don’t do that,” Ryder scolds, holding on tight to Cole in one hand and reaching up to pry his hair from his grasp with the other.