Page 165 of When a Soul Cries

Both of us stared at him.

Rome lifted his hands slightly.

“Y’all got her worked up. Let me take her while y’all talk.”

Sol’s arms tightened around Halo automatically.

I looked at Sol.

Sol looked at me.

Then something happened that shut all three of us up.

Halo lifted her little head from Sol’s shoulder.

She looked at Rome.

And reached for him.

My eyebrows shot up.

Sol froze.

Rome looked just as surprised.

“Well, damn,” I whispered.

For the first time all morning, Sol almost smiled.

Rome stepped closer slowly, giving her plenty of time to change her mind.

“You good?”

Sol swallowed.

Then nodded.

Rome carefully lifted Halo from her arms.

Halo settled against his chest like she had done it a hundred times, laying her cheek against his shoulder.

My mouth fell open.

Rome looked down at her, then at us.

“What?”

I blinked.

“Oh, nothing.”

I wiped my face.

“Just didn’t know you was the baby whisperer.”

“Neither did I.”

**DING-DONG.**