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Elena handed her over along with a bag. “She’s already eaten so you can put her to sleep, but there's another bottle in her diaper bag just in case.” She then carried in her car seat. “I appreciate it, Heather.” Elena paused once she focused her eyes on Allen. He gave a wave, and she smiled. Elena headed back to her car and Heather closed the door behind her.
She shrugged with Gabriela in her arms. “Looks like we have another guest.”
“We’re old friends,” he said. He stepped closer and tickled the baby’s chin. She giggled. “I can help.”
“You’ve babysat before?” Heather raised an eyebrow.
“How hard can it be?”
They took turns holding the baby and by the time the gingerbread finished hardening in the refrigerator, baby Gabriela got fussy.
“Is she hungry?” Allen asked. He rubbed at his temple.
“No, we just fed her.” Holding Gabriela close, she didn’t detect another diaper change. Sitting on the couch she rocked the baby, and then she heard Allen humming. Heather looked over at him. “Singing?”
“It could work,” he said.
Heather shrugged and handed Allen the baby. He stood to his feet and paced the floor as he sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Heather folded her arms. “Really? Mr. ‘I’m not into Christmas?’”
He winked at her and continued to sing. Gabriela’s scrunched face softened, and she relaxed in his arms. He even caught Heather staring as he sang.
Gabby’s whimpers returned, so Allen sat down next to Heather. “Got any more suggestions?”
Heather gazed upward. She hummed long enough for him to recognize “Jingle Bells.” Allen chuckled as he sang along with her, adding the “hey” to the song. Gabby settled in his arms again and rested as he rocked her.
“You’re good at this,” Heather said.
“I worked at a daycare for two years?”
Her eyebrows etched together. “You did?”
“Some men do, you know.”
She raised her hands, palms up. “I didn’t know you did. It’s... interesting.”
“You work with kids at your gym?”
“We have a few programs for them, especially in the summer. I love it. We have great kids in this town.”
He bobbed his head. Gabby tucked her head in the hollow of his neck.
“Did you ever want kids?” Her mouth fell open as soon as the words left her mouth. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
He sighed. “I did. She didn’t.”
Heather touched a hand to his arm.
He turned his head to face her. “Don’t worry about it.”
Heather stood to her feet. “I’ll finish the gingerbread.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he said.
Heather wobbled to the kitchen and Allen smiled after her. Gabriela twitched in his arms, but her eyes remained shut. He rocked her as he hummed.
His stomach clenched. He wanted kids. Crystal didn't want them. The words rang in his ears like fire alarms.
