Page 70 of Luci’s Lullaby

“Huh.” I cross my arms. “Tell me more.”

She looks over at me. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I say with wide eyes. “I don’t have a clue, Charlee. Other than there’s this ring of old milk under her chin.”

“Yes, there can be.” She snickers. “So she’s a girl.”

“Duh. What else?”

Her eyes flutter to mine. “Don’t rub her raw, gently cleanse.”

“Rub her raw? I didn’t plan on taking her skin off.”

She shakes her head, turning to me. “You know… down there.”

I stare at her. “Down where?”

“Her girly parts.” Her face goes blood red.

“Oh!” I knit my brows. “Can it be rubbed raw?”

She raises her brows. “I don’t know, can it?”

“Why yes, yes it can.” I waggle my brows at her.

“Ewe, you’re such a perv.” She cringes.

I poke her side. “You like it.”

“Once you’re done, she’ll be slippery. So have a towel ready and against your chest. That way, once she’s out, you can wrap her into a warm towel.” She demonstrates on herself.

“She hasn’t cried yet.”

“Because she was stinky too.” She coos at Luci. “I know I feel better after a bath.”

“Let’s see.” She frowns at me before walking past me. “Where you goin’?”

“Clothes.” She disappears behind the door. “Come on.”

I jog into the room. “Yes, ma’am.”

“That may work on my momma, but I know you—don’t try it.” She levels me with a glare.

“What?” I bat my lashes. “Alright, what are we doing now?”

Charlee takes her time showing every little trick in the book, including a few things Reese hasn’t told me. I follow her into the kitchen as she makes a bottle and feeds Luci. She eats every bite and even burps for her.

“Do you mind to go flip the clothes I put in?” Charlee asks while she’s rocking Luci.

“Not at all, I’ll be right back.”

I switch the laundry in record time, seeing that Charlee had done everything without me knowing. My chest has that odd stitch in it, like the one you get when you’ve been running too long.

I rub it out and join them in the living room. Walking around the corner, I’m taken by surprise when I hear Charlee actually singing. Not just any song either, but one of mine from high school.

When she realizes I’m close, she stops. I round the couch and sit beside her, rubbing Luci’s head with long, soft strokes. Her face relaxes, and I can see her giving up the fight.

“She loves that, Alden.” Charlee beams at me.