Page 89 of Ho Ho Oh No

“Uh-oh,” Leo mutters when he returns to my side, adding a playful sigh.

He knows what’s coming.

Daring to pull one hand free of the baby, I test my hold of him. He’s still solid in my grip, so I boop him on his little pixie nose. “Yep. You’re so lucky, Logan. Unlike me. I have the unfortunate distinction of being named after the most hated character on a children’s TV show. A baby-hating brat with pigtails and a horrible attitude. I’ll never forgive my parents for it. Count your blessings, little one.”

“Well, I happen to think Angelica is a beautiful name,” Madeline offers in a pathetic attempt to placate me.

Still making moon eyes at this adorable cherub, I widen my eyes and mouth comically. “Did you hear that, sweetheart? Grandma’s had too much reindeer punch.”

“Ahem,” Sammy pretends to clear her throat. It’s the same move her husband did a few minutes ago. They’re such a pair, those two.

“Yes?” Leo asks her.

“While we’re discussing names, I have something I’d like to share.”

Sawyer’s voice and expression grow deadly serious, which is unsettling. “Princess?”

Sammy looks at the baby in her arms, then back at her husband. A crooked grin settles on her face. “After much reflection, I’ve decided to take my husband’s last name, even if it’s weird as hell since he uses it as a first name. However, I’ll gladly do it because I love him.” More quietly, she adds, “And I also forgot to get him a present.”

As soon as the sentence ends, his lips are on hers.

“Excuse me, you two,” Madeline chides. “We need to keep it PG around the babies.”

A knock at the door cuts off everyone’s laughter. Except Leo, who seems especially proud of his mother for dropping that zinger.

Big Al sticks his head into the room tentatively. “Safe to enter?”

“Come on in, Boss,” Sawyer responds after silently checking with his wife. He’s finally stopped kissing her.

Sammy’s got their daughter on her breast but is mostly covered. I’d imagine she isn’t going to be the type of woman who shies away from feeding her babies when and where she wants. I’m a tad envious. Even if I wasn’t firmly onteam formula, I don’t ever see myself being confident enough to just whip out a boob in mixed company.

When I confessed my decision not to breastfeed to Madeline earlier, she didn’t make me feel guilty about it. I can’t remember how she phrased it, but the message was clear—just because a mother doesn’t nurse her babies doesn’t make her less of a mother.

That was it.

Boss, still partially dressed as Santa, bounds into the room. “The lobby has gotten substantially more chaotic in the last few minutes. And the new people are asking for Sue.”

“Me?” I ask, my blood pressure spiking. “New people? Why?”

Seriously.Ew.

“Don’t worry. It’s friendly fire,” he jokes as he approaches. “I’ll take the baby, and you can go say hi to your extended family.”

Extended family? Sounds like Amos-holes. What would they be doing here on Christmas Eve?

As much as I don’t want to let my nephew go, I gently pass him off to Big Al so I can satiate my curiosity. Leo and I scurry out to the waiting room, hand in hand.

When we turn the last corner, the double doors come into sight. And the decibel level on the other side has reached alarming levels.

“Definitely the Amos-holes,” Leo quips before pushing the door open.

As suspected, the lobby is full of redheads, pranksters, and laughter. This hospital has no idea what it’s in for.

Chapter 23

Whale, lookie who it is!

CJ BLISS - THE HEROINE FROM “LOVE & OTHER TROUBLE” (ONE OF THE LEGENDARY AMOS-HOLES)

---