Page 19 of The Secrets We Built Together

Delaney gasped softly from across the room, and Blake's cheeks flushed with color.

"I'm not a doctor, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to hold a baby," she said, her voice tight.

I sighed, realizing how my words had come across. "That's not what I meant. Just—let me examine her properly."

Blake stepped back. Her arms wrapped around her body and she watched the baby unblinkingly, not letting her out of her sight for a second. I could feel the tension radiating from her as I laid the infant on the dining table.

It didn't take long to check the baby over. I carefully examined her reflexes, checked her ears, and gently palpated her abdomen, narrating each step in a low voice that seemed to calm the crying somewhat.

"Hey little bug, you're okay," I murmured to the infant as I worked. "You're okay, little bug."

The baby hiccupped mid-cry, her big eyes focusing on my face for a moment before she resumed wailing, though with slightly less intensity.

"She's a perfect, healthy little girl," I announced, picking her up and cradling her against my shoulder. I began patting her back in a specific rhythm, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet.

"A very unhappy one. But healthy nonetheless."

Blake didn't look convinced. "Are you sure? Why won't she stop crying then?"

"How long was she outside for?" I asked, continuing the rhythmic patting.

"We don't know. We called you as soon as we found her." Blake looked near frantic and I was starting to worry about her more than the little thing in my arms.

"I went out for my coffee at about six and she wasn't there then. I think I was out there for about half an hour." She looked at Trace who nodded in confirmation, then turned back to me. "So an hour, an hour and a half maybe?"

"She might be cold," I said. "Her body temperature is normal now, but being outside in the morning air for that long could have upset her system. Plus, she could have swallowed a lot of air if she was crying the whole time. Or she could—"

And then the baby let out an unholy loud belch and immediately stopped crying.

We all froze, staring at the suddenly quiet infant.

The silence was broken by a wet sound and a warm sensation spreading across my chest.

"--have colic," I finished dryly.

Blake's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. For a moment she seemed torn between concern and amusement until the latter won out. She burst into laughter, the sound filling the room and breaking the tension that had been building between us.

"I tried to burp her," she said between giggles. "For ten minutes."

"Clearly, I have the magic touch," I replied, unable to stop a small smile despite the mess soaking through my shirt.

Trace appeared with a towel. "Here you go, doctor. A professional hazard I guess."

"It's not the first bodily fluid I've been covered in, and it won't be the last," I said, accepting the towel with one hand while still holding the baby.

Blake stepped forward, her expression softening as she looked at the now-calm infant in my arms. "May I?" she asked, holding out her hands.

I carefully transferred the baby back to her, our fingers brushing in the process. That brief contact sent a current through me that I wasn't prepared for.

"Support her head like this," I said, adjusting Blake's hold slightly. "And when you're trying to burp her, use firmer pressure here." I demonstrated on the baby's back. "Sometimes, if they’re prone to being a bit colicky, they need a good whack to get it all up."

Blake nodded, her eyes fixed on the infant who was now contentedly studying her face. The baby reached up with one tiny hand and grabbed a strand of Blake's hair.

"She has a good grip," I observed.

"She does," Blake said softly. She sank down into a chair with the baby, a sigh of relief escaping her. "This is crazy. What am I supposed to do now? I can't believe Madison would do something like this. What kind of person do you have to be to just decide to leave your baby on someone's doorstep and then fly out of the country?" Blake was shaking her head and I could see the shock on her face.

A thousand questions filled my mind. All I knew was that the baby was Blake’s sister’s and she’d apparently abandoned her here this morning. But the questions that I had relating to that meant getting in deeper. Meant putting myself inside this messy situation and getting involved.

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