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It’s early in the evening and the party has started to wind down. I put my dad and Ava’s mom in a cab and wave them off before turning around and walking back into the house.
I’ve kept these shoes on even though they’re really killing me because I don’t want to give Liam the satisfaction of seeing me barefoot again. Luckily, he’s been mostly circulating with the guests. As always he’s the center of the party, charming everybody he meets.
Occasionally our eyes have met and I’ve hastily pulled them away. I don’t want him to think I’m watching him when I’m not.
Walking into the kitchen I find Ava scooting down filling the dishwasher. “Can I help?” I ask her.
She looks up smiling, though there are shadows beneath her eyes. I bet she just wants everybody to leave so she can catch some sleep. “I’ve got this,” she says softly. “You’re a guest, you shouldn’t help clean.”
“I’m your friend,” I remind her. “Of course I should.” I start to round up some dirty glasses that are scattered around the countertops. As I hand them to her, the baby monitor on the kitchen window lights up. And Charlie lets out a low moan.
Ava sighs. She really does look tired. “Do you want me to get him?” I ask her.
“Would you?” She looks like I’ve just offered her one of my kidneys. “He’s in the nursery. There’s some milk I just warmed up for him.” She walks over to the warmer and pulls out a bottle.
I take it from her, the plastic warm against my palm. “I’ve got this,” I say because I want to help as much as I can. And feeding Charlie is one of my favorite things to do.
Since I’m going to the second floor I take my shoes off before hitting the carpeted stairs, then walk along the galleried hallway to Charlie’s room. I can hear him snuffling as I push open the door.
And get the fright of my life, because somebody’s in there already.
Liam Salinger is cradling Charlie against his broad chest. His tie and jacket long since disappeared, leaving him in a white shirt and dark pants. His shirt sleeves are rolled up, his collar unbuttoned far enough that I can see a hint of hair through the gap, and he’s murmuring softly to Charlie in a way that would make most women weak.
A glance at the monitor tells me he’s turned it off. Presumably to give Ava and Myles a break from listening to Charlie’s cries. I was planning to do the same thing when I got up here.
“Hey hey,” Liam whispers, not seeing me standing here. “It’s okay, bud. I’ve got you.”
Charlie snuffles loudly but it doesn’t sound like a cry anymore.
“We’re gonna give your mama a break, okay?” Liam continues. “She loves you but she’s tired. You think you can get back to sleep for me?”
Charlie blinks, his beautiful blonde lashes sweeping down and then up. He’s fascinated by Liam. Maybe I am a little too right now. Seeing him hold his nephew so tenderly makes my chest ache.
Charlie coos up at him and Liam winks. “That’s it, buddy. I think we have a deal here.” He sways for a minute more before walking Charlie back to his crib. But as he leans over to put him back on the mattress, Charlie lets out a piercing wail.
Liam immediately pulls him back against his chest. “I thought we had a deal?”
I clear my throat. “I think he might be hungry.”
Liam startles, just like Charlie does when he wakes up suddenly. I bite down a smile. “I have some milk,” I say, ignoring the weird tingle pulsing down my spine. “Ava said to feed him.”
Liam holds his hand out for it. For a minute I think about asking to feed Charlie myself, because there’s nothing more satisfying than that. But Liam was here first and I’m all about fairness.
A minute later, Liam is sitting in the rocking chair Ava bought when she furnished the nursery, Charlie cradled in his left arm while he holds the bottle with his right hand. Charlie’s a noisy feeder, smacking his lips and making soft sounds as he drinks it down.
I lean against the door and watch. I’m waiting for Liam to tell me to leave or at least make an annoying comment about why I’m watching him like a creep. But he’s too caught up in Charlie for that.
Before I can look away, Liam lifts his gaze to me.
“He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”
I smile because this is something we can agree on. “He is. He’s going to break a million hearts.”
“I never thought Myles would have a kid,” he continues, as though we’re always having conversations like this. “But he sure makes beautiful ones.”
“So does Ava.”
He grins. “Touché.” He blinks and then looks at me. “You think they’ll have any more?”
