Page 107 of Second Chance with Seth

“Her timing…” I whisper, kneeling up and lowering her legs to the mattress.

She shakes her head, glancing at the clock, and frowning. “What’s she doing waking up at this time of night?”

I check the clock myself and see that it’s just after eleven. “You said her routine was shot to pieces.”

“Yeah, but not this shot.”

I move aside so Everly can get up, and I crawl to the edge of the bed, pulling off the now superfluous condom and standing up, too.

“I’ll fetch her bottle, shall I?” I suggest. Everly shakes her head, and I turn to face her properly, surprised by her response. “I only wanna help, babe.”

“I know.” She grabs her sleep shirt, pulling it on over her head as she wanders to the door.

I stand with my hands on my hips, staring after her. “The whole point of me being here is that you don’t have to do everything yourself.”

She turns, looking at me, and shakes her head. “That’s not thewholepoint in you being here,” she says, glancing down at my erection, a smile tweaking at the corners of her lips. I have to smile despite my confusion, and I’m about to ask what she means when she says, “I wasn’t gonna suggest I’d do it all myself.” She spins around, grabbing my robe, which she throws across the room. It falls short, landing at my feet, and she giggles. “I never was great at throwing.”

“No, you weren’t,” I say, stepping forward to pick it up. “But if you don’t want me to fetch River’s bottle, what do you want me to do?”

“See to her,” she says, opening the door, the sound of River’s cries filling the space. I pull on my robe, fastening it, and join her at the door. “I sometimes lift her out of her cot in her sleep sack, but you’ll probably find it easier to take her out of it, and then change her diaper. By the time you’ve done that, I should be there with her bottle.”

“Okay.”

“Remember to keep as quiet as you can.”

I nod my head, just as she turns to go, although I grab her and pull her back. “Thank you.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know why you’re thanking me. We’re her parents. This is what parents do.”

She dashes away before I get to tell her I haven’t been a very good parent so far… although I intend to change that from here on in, and with River’s cries ringing in my ears, I rush up the stairs, opening the door to the nursery. I find it tough having to keep quiet, when what I really wanna do is tell her how much I’ve missed her, but I’m rewarded with a smile the moment I pick her up, which is lovely.

She seems less impressed at having her diaper changed, and grizzles the entire time, so I’m kinda relieved when I look up to see Everly standing by the door when I lift River into my arms again. Everly nods toward the chair by the window and I carry our daughter over there, sitting down and getting her settled, taking the bottle from Everly. She’s already removed the lid, and River wastes no time in drinking down the contents.

I remember to sit her up, trying hard not to laugh when she lets out the most enormous burp, and although Everly steps back to let me stand, I take a moment and just hold River against me for a while, rubbing her back, and enjoying the feeling of her tiny body against mine. I look up, and even in the dim light, I can see a glistening in Everly’s eyes, and I reach out a hand to her. She takes it, and I give her a squeeze, smiling when she nods her head toward River’s cot.

As much as I’m loving this, I know the importance of routine in our daughter’s life, and I don’t want to get her into the habit of thinking we can sit here all night… so I get up, and gently place her into her sleep sack, zipping it up. She’s already half asleep, and I bend over, kissing her forehead, watching asEverly moves to the opposite side of the crib and does the same, the two of us staring at each other for a moment, before I take Everly’s hand and lead her from the room.

“Are you okay?” I whisper the moment the door has closed behind us. She nods her head and I pull her close. “I’ve missed her.”

“She’s missed you, too.”

“I was only here for five minutes.”

“I know, but she still missed you when you left.”

“How do you know?”

“She just hasn’t been herself. It was literally the day after you left that she changed her routine… like she was mad at you for leaving.”

“And taking it out on you?” I say.

“It felt that way.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I understand why you had to go now… and I’m just relieved you’re back.”

“So am I.”

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