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“I can feed him,” Darlene announces.

Damian looks up from the book he's reading to Arian. “You have to hold his head.”

“I know.”

“You almost dropped your doll yesterday.”

“She's not real.”

“She still fell.”

Darlene glares at him.

I settle Arian into her arms while keeping one hand beneath his head. “Both of you relax.”

Darlene carefully holds the bottle. Arian drinks.

Her entire face lights up. “He's eating!”

“That's generally what babies do with bottles.”

She gives me a look.

Arlene's look.

Fuck.

I look away before the grief can swallow the moment. Damian turns another page and continues reading aloud. Arian stares toward his brother's voice while Darlene feeds him.

For a few minutes, I just watch our pups.

Then I smell it.

Damian stops reading. Darlene's nose wrinkles.

“Oh.”

I look at Arian. He looks perfectly content with himself.

Damian closes the book. “He pooped.”

“Yes.”

Darlene pushes the bottle toward me. “Daddy.”

I fold my arms. “You two wanted to help.”

Both of them stare at me.

“You can learn.”

Damian looks suspicious. “Both of us?”

“Absolutely.”

Ten minutes later, I stand against the wall watching my six year old and four year old attempt to change their baby brother.

“Hold his legs.”