Page 42 of The Devil on my Chest

Rocky was amazing. He took over cooking duties full time as well as pushing the vacuum around when needed. Mal had lost count of the number of times he saw Rocky vacuuming the floors with one of their sons on his shoulder. “I didn’t want him waking up the other one,” Rocky would say when Mal asked, and honestly Mal was grateful for an extra five minutes to himself.

They finally decided on Hector and Samuel as their sons’ names. Rocky was strangely attached to the name Hector, and while Mal didn’t understand why, he had to admit it seemed to fit.

Samuel was Mal’s baby name choice. He felt the name was quiet, but also strong, and in his opinion his son was like that. Samuel was a totally different personality to Hector – he didn’t cry as often or fuss over his food at all. Hector on the other hand would cry until the teat from the bottle was shoved in his mouth and then make a pig of himself, burping merrily for at least half an hour afterward.

“It’s almost as though Samuel knows Hector will cry on his behalf if he just waits five minutes,” Mal had said one night when they’d just got the two boys down to sleep.

“I can see them being a lot like we are,” Rocky said, his arm heavy over Mal’s shoulder. “I have no doubt that Samuel will watch out for Hector when they are older, probably curbing his reckless nature, but yeah…I guess we’ll see. They are the best kids in the world when they’re asleep. We should probably head to bed ourselves if we want any hope of getting some sleep.”

“I’ll just go and throw the towels in the dryer and fold a couple of loads of the dried baby clothes.” Mal yawned. “Then I’ll join you there.”

“You go and get the shower running,” Rocky urged him toward their bedroom. “I’ll throw the towels in the dryer.”

“But the folding mountain’s getting huge.” Mal let himself be urged in the opposite direction.

“Baby’s don’t care if their clothes are folded or not. They’re only going to get them dirty again,” Rocky said firmly. And really, Mal couldn’t argue with that.

Three weeks of days blurred in together while the new family of four learned to live with each other. Rocky and Mal learned they could get a lot done, and still have time for snuggles when the little ones were asleep, and Mal hoped that Hector and Samuel were learning their daddies loved them dearly.

But Monday morning on the fourth week rolled around and Mal pulled out a clean shirt and pants and actually put his boots on. It was back to work day, and Mal was struggling with the mere idea. It’s not like they had remained totally isolated in their house for three weeks. Mal and Rocky had taken the boys to Ra’s to meet the children there and catch up with their friends, and that was a lot of fun. Mal came away, his ears ringing with somuch helpful advice on juggling babies and chores from the likes of Seth and Simon.

They’d also attended the daycare opening the previous weekend. Mal had been blown away with the love and caring the community had put into the larger-than-expected space. Every room was welcoming and friendly, and totally geared toward children. There was even a fenced off play area outside. One area inside the daycare had been roped off for the larger kids, and then there were sections for babies and then a separate area for toddlers. There was a sleeping room, with mats for the bigger children and cribs for the smaller ones.

“We know you and Rocky were originally wanting a space for you and your darling sons,” Molly said, opening yet another door. “So we created the baby room with you in mind.”

Mal had been speechless. Instead of two cribs, they’d installed a double crib which Hector and Samuel preferred. There was a large double rocking chair, a small refrigerator for formula bottles, a covered diaper bin and a sturdy changing table. The room had been painted in a pale yellow that gradually changed as the wall hit the floor where it was a darker green shade. There were curtains on the window and a night lights attached to the walls all around.

“There’s also a monitor,” Molly pointed out. “That way if you’re caught up with work and busy, either me or Nancy will take care of them.”

“It’s beautiful,” Mal had managed to stutter out, and then when they got home, he cried in Rocky’s arms.

“We can quit our jobs,” Rocky had said at the time, holding him close. “We don’t have to work again if you didn’t want to.”

“But I do want to, and I know you do, too.”

No one said it made any sense, least of all to Mal, but Rocky took advantage of the boys being asleep after their big day out and kissed him. Half an hour later, Mal was feeling a lot better.

But now it was “DC” day. The boys were off to spend their first day at daycare and it was time to go. “Rocky, is the boys’ bag all packed and ready to go?”

“You did it last night.” Rocky came out of the boys’ room. Hector and Samuel were both in his arms and awake. “I have the bag on my shoulder.” He swung around to show Mal, gently rocking the babies in the process. “They are fed, clean diapers, clean clothes, and looking awesome.”

“Why do I feel like the worst parent in the world?” Mal went over, plucking Hector out of Rocky’s arms and hugging him against his shoulder.

“I’m sure all over the world there are thousands of parents who do this and feel the same way,” Rocky said. “I’m going to miss these little darlings too, but I’m looking forward to,” he paused and then added, “reading monthly reports.”

“Sleeping in your chair, you mean.” Mal shook his head. “Come on boys. You can go and use your gummy charm on the ladies at the daycare.”

On the drive into town Rocky said, “I think we should get some household help as well, don’t you?”

“Already on it.” Mal put his hand on Rocky’s knee. “The last thing I want to do when we get home is try and reduce the footprint of our laundry mountain. I got in touch with Mrs. Hooper yesterday. I think she’s sending someone in to meet us at the office later today.”

“Time with our boys and with each other is definitely more important than conquering that mountain.” Rocky chuckled andjust hearing that simple and normal sound, and knowing that Rocky and he were on the same page about every aspect of their lives, had Mal’s soul feeling so much better about the day to come.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“I got an email from Doctor Nelson today,” Mal said as Rocky drove them home. Their boys were happy and tired, sleeping quietly in the back of the cruiser, and the car was rich with the smell of beef ribs. Hazel at the diner had dropped the food off at the daycare for them just before they headed home.

It was Friday and all Rocky was looking forward to was a sweet weekend with his boys and some not-so-sweet bedtime shenanigans with his mate. Liam and Joe were alternating being on call over the weekend and barring emergencies, Rocky and Mal had a weekend to enjoy just being at home.

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