Page 26 of Callahan

She didn’t move to get up. “It’s okay. We’ve got a routine.”

“I’ve been trained in tactical maneuvers and combat skills, Lainey. I can burp a baby and change his diaper.”

I should have been scared at how easily she acquiesced, and the smirk on her face as she stood up and gestured to the now-empty seat.

After I sank into the chair that was still warm, she placed Conor in my arms, so his face was at my shoulder. He whimpered as he got situated but quieted quickly when he got comfortable and I patted his back.

Lainey picked up a remote control from the armrest, the sound of Velcro echoed off the walls.

“This button makes it recline; this one makes it rock.”

After placing the remote back where it belonged, she pointed to a changing table on the opposite wall by his crib. “Diapers and wipes are in the top drawer; the diaper pail is in the corner. If you need new pajamas, they’re in the first drawer of his dresser.”

I nodded. “I’ve got it. Go back to sleep.”

There was that smirk again.

“Oorah, big guy.” She paused at the doorway and turned back to look at me. “Try to keep it down, will ya?”

“Piece of cake,” I replied far more confidently than I was now really feeling.

After hearing her bedroom door close, I fiddled with the reclining button until I found a comfortable position, then pressed the glider control.

“I got this,” I murmured to myself.

Famous last words.

****

Lainey

I woke with a start.

Something was wrong.

Light was peeking through my blinds. That was not right.

I was up before the sun.Always. Well, at least since becoming a mother. Even with the summer sun rising early, I was still up before dawn. Or rather, Conor was.

What is wrong with my baby?!

A feeling of panic overwhelmed me as I threw the covers off my legs, practically leaped out of bed, grabbed my phone off thecharger on the nightstand so I could call 911, and hurried down the hall, chastising myself the entire way.

I should have never left him with Adam. The guy didn’t know anything about babies. He probably laid him down on his belly. Or covered him with a blanket.

In the short distance it took to reach the nursery, I’d worked myself into a frenzy and rushed through the doorway. Then stopped short at what I saw.

Still in the chair was a shirtless Marine, fast asleep, with my baby, also asleep and wearing only a diaper, nestled against his broad chest.

Adam’s blue shirt lay crumpled on the floor next to Conor’s pajamas.

I’ll admit it, I stared for a minute. Seeing Adam’s muscular arms around my son might have caused me to start ovulating.

It was such a sweet sight; I couldn’t help but snap a picture with my phone.

The sound of the photo being taken must have woken Adam because his eyes immediately flew open. Luckily, he wasn’t looking at me, and I quickly set my phone on the dresser before softly calling, “Hey.”

His handsome face lit up in a bright smile when he noticed me in the doorway.

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