Page 90 of Safe and Sound

Slowly, I turned the doorknob on Juliana’s nursery. With quiet steps, I made my way over to her crib. As I gaze over the railing, I smiled down at her sleeping soundly. Although I knew Caterina and Mam would kill me for waking her up, I just couldn’t resist.

Leaning over, I eased her into my hands. Even at almost five months, she felt ridiculously tiny. When I lifted her up, her tiny brows furrowed as her fists pinwheeled. “Tá tú agam, mo storin,” I cooed against her ear. I’d called her my treasure since the day she was born.

At the sound of my voice, her eyes popped wide. As her gaze focused on my face, the corners of her lips quirked up. Returning her smile, I said, “There’s my sweet girl.”

After shifting her into the crook of my arm, I turned off the monitor so as not to disturb Caterina or Callum. I eased downinto the rocker and sat her on my lap. Staring into her dark eyes, I said, “I don’t know why, but I needed to see you,mo storin.”

Gnawing on her fist, Julianna babbled something in response. “I know you don’t understand, but for your Uncle Dare, that’s saying a hell of a lot. Outside of you and Henry, I really don’t like babies or kids.”

At her agitated snuffle, I patted her back. “Hey now, I didn’t say I didn’t likeyou.” I pulled her up to stand on my thighs. Peering into her face that was so much her mother’s, I pronounced, “You’re everything to me, Julesy.”

As if she understood my words, she gave me a beaming grin and a loud coo. “And I’m your favorite uncle, right?”

Her answer came in her slobbery hand patting my cheek. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

When she bent over and started nuzzling my chest, I mused, “Hmm, I think that must mean you’re hungry. Since I don’t have the goods your mammy does, let’s go get you a bottle.”

After feeding Julianna, I don’t know how long I’d been rocking her when the nursery door creaked open. At the sight of me in the glider, Caterina jumped in surprise. “Dare? What are you doing here?”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

Caterina cocked her brows at me. “So you decided to drive over, let yourself into the house, and rock your niece?”

“Something like that.”

Cutting her gaze to the side table, Caterina eyed the empty bottle. “You fed her?”

“And changed an epic shit bomb.”

Caterina laughed. “Thank you for that.”

“No problem.”

“It must’ve been you who turned off the monitor.”

Wincing, I replied, “Sorry about that.”

Caterina closed the distance between us. “It’s okay. Even if she doesn’t wake up, I still do when it’s time for her night feeds.” After we sat in silence for a few moments watching Julianna concentrate on sleep, Caterina eased down on the ottoman in front of me.

With an imploring look, she said, “Go to her, Dare.”

“Who?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an ass. You know exactly who I’m talking about.”

“Why would I need to go see Ava?”

“Because you’re miserable without her.”

“I am not.”

“Yes, you are,” Caterina countered.

“Don’t tell me how I feel.”

Throwing her hands up, Caterina cried, “You Kavanaugh men are so fucking stubborn!”

“Shh, you’ll wake Julesy.”

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