Page 34 of Worship Him

I adjust my hold, feeling Avery's warm weight rest once more against my chest. She latches onto the bottle with a small, hungry noise that makes my heart twist in ways I didn't expect.

“She’s got quite an appetite,” I comment, unable to keep quiet while I’m so in awe of the tiny human in my arms.

Destiny gives a small smile. “Yeah, she does. She's a very healthy baby.”

I smirk slightly but keep my eyes on Avery. Her tiny hands pat at the bottle, her eyes closing as she drinks contentedly. The simplicity of the moment tugs at something deep inside me—a connection that feels both new and familiar.

“How often does she eat?” I ask, wanting to know everything.

“Every three to four hours,” Destiny replies. “Sometimes more if she’s feeling particularly sassy.”

I absorb this information like it’s a crucial business detail. I don’t want to miss anything about her now that I’m here.

“What about sleep?” I continue.

“She’s still figuring that out,” Destiny says with a soft laugh. “But usually, she sleeps for two to three hours at a stretch.”

Avery finishes her bottle, and I hand it back to Destiny. She takes it and places it on a nearby table before stepping back slightly, watching us with an unreadable expression.

“Do you want to burp her?” she asks after a moment.

“Sure,” I say, though I have no idea what I'm doing. But if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s learning fast.

Destiny shows me how to hold Avery against my shoulder and gently pat her back. The rhythm feels almost natural after a few moments.

When Avery lets out a tiny burp, it feels like a victory.

“She’s amazing,” I whisper, mostly to myself.

Destiny nods, tears welling up in her eyes but not spilling over. “She really is.”

I pretend not to notice, focused on my child.

The room fills with the soft sounds of Avery settling back into my arms. The silence between Destiny and me isn’t uncomfortable—it’s filled with unspoken words and emotions too complex to unpack right now.

But I ignore those feelings. This isn’t the time. All I want right now is to get to know my child, bond with her like I couldn’t for the past three months.

I can’t keep my eyes off Avery, absorbing every detail of her existence. Every minute makes the reality of fatherhood sink in deeper.

I love it, more than I ever imagined I could.

Eventually, we move from Avery’s room to the living room. I adore how her tiny fingers wrap around mine as we play on the floor, surrounded by soft toys and colorful blocks.

Once again I’m amazed at how easily every negative emotion I felt before knocking on Destiny’s door this morning just fades into the background, replaced by an overwhelming sense of dedication to this little person I've just met.

I stare at Avery when she suddenly turns red and a look of deep concentration settles on her little face.

For a moment, I’m frozen, unsure what’s happening. Before I can ask Destiny if something’s wrong, the smell hits me.

I bite back a chuckle, feeling relief wash over me. She continues to focus on the task at hand and I watch her expression with a bit of wariness.

A few moments later, she’s relaxed, clearly done with her business, grabbing my fingers with all her might.

"Time for a diaper change," Destiny announces, moving to pick up Avery.

"I'll do it," I say, scooping Avery up before Destiny can reach her.

Destiny raises an eyebrow but doesn't argue. She leads me to the changing table, hovering nearby as I lay Avery down.

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