Page 17 of Artemis

“She is, but Maddie’s pregnancy is considered high risk.” Jaden frowned. “Something about her pelvis being too narrow. Hera wants her to be checked out at the hospital and to meet the team that’ll be on hand when the time comes for the delivery. While we’re there today, the doctors want to do some routine checkups and ultrasounds.”

“Sounds a little scary,” Finley said.

“Hera said that it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’m inclined to agree with her. I want Maddie to be as safe as possible.”

“Me too. Sounds like she’s in good hands.” The daycare was visible now and Finley felt his anxiety rise, the contents of his stomach flip-flopping around.

Why did I agree to this?

Maddie’s beaming smile when she met them at the door reminded him.

Right, because it’s hard to say no to her.

“Come on in!” she said, opening the door fully. “Lyta and Atlanta are still sleeping and Hestia is reading to Alexander and Damien. Do you remember who everyone is?”

“I’ve got it, thanks,” Finley replied anxiously.

“Hestia is in charge, so just do what she says and you’ll be fine.” Maddie patted his arm. “I should be back near the end of the pick-ups to help clean up. See you then.” She took Jaden’s arm and they left.

Finley wandered into the large playroom and sat on one of the big couches to listen to the story Hestia was reading. It was about how a prince and a farm boy met and fell in love. The art was pretty, he could see from his position, and the boys were entranced by the story.

A piercing cry cut the story short and Hestia moved to put the book away, but Finley got to his feet. “Keep reading, I’ll get her.”

“Holler if you need help,” Hestia replied with a smile. “That sounded like Atlanta, but she’ll wake Lyta in— Oh, yeah, there she is. Can you handle both?”

Finley swallowed hard. “I’ll try.”

“I can help, Lee!” Alexander cried, jumping to his feet.

“No, you finish listening to the story. I’ll be fine.”

Much to his surprise, hewasfine.

He gave his tail to one girl to play with while he changed the other, very grateful to Alexander for showing him how to do a diaper properly the day before, and then switched them places. Atlanta shifted into her winged-wolf puppy form and tried to attack his tail.

And so it continued for the rest of the day, Finley overcoming any challenges thrown at him in his own way. By the time parents started arriving for pick-up, he was exhausted, but honestly impressed with himself.

Maybe kids aren’t so bad.

He waved goodbye to a yawning Atlanta cuddled in her imposing father’s arms.

Maybe I could manage to envision a life with Artemis and her kid.

He gave himself a shake. That was unlikely. Just because he’d gotten on well enough with these kids under Hestia’s supervision didn’t mean that he was ready—or willing—to be around a kid he didn’t know.

A black sedan drove up to the front of the daycare.

“That’s Alexander’s mom’s car,” Hestia said. “Get your things, sweetie, and I’ll walk you out.”

Finley was handing Lyta blocks for her to stack in her artistic representation of a tower when she let out an explosive fart. And the smell didn’t dissipate.

“Uhhhh, Hestia?” Finley called. “Not sure I can deal with this one.”

“Oh, fiddlesticks. Can you bring Alexander out to his mother, please?” Hestia said, scooping the baby up under both arms and turning her. “Yup, a complete blowout. I think you need to be moved up a size in diapers, missy.”

“Ready to go, young man?” Finley asked Alexander as Hestia vanished down the hallway to the bigger bathroom.

“I’m not a young man,” Alexander said.

---